After the seventh or eighth introduction, I realized I wasn’t remembering any of these names, and focused on the program instead.
They were playing mostly classical pieces, of course. I recognized the composers and most of the songs since I’d played clarinet as a kid. But the last piece was supposed to be a classical arrangement of newer pop songs. To stay relevant, I supposed.
Victor’s hand landed on my knee, giving me a comforting squeeze.
“Thank you for bringing me,” I said with a happy sigh.
“Anytime, darling.”
When the lights dimmed, and the crowd’s conversations turned to quiet murmurs, I leaned forward to look over the edge and watch the musicians enter.
Victor clicked his tongue against his teeth disapprovingly, and I shot back so quickly that I nearly tipped over the chair.
Your mate is upset. You must apologize. Submit. Obey.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, already feeling my chest tighten with shame. “I just—”
“Shh,” he soothed, letting me know it was all forgiven. “Here, you can sit on my lap.”
He scooped me out of my seat, and I clamped my hands over my mouth to keep from squealing too loudly. “Victor!” I whispered loudly. “Isn’t this inappropriate?”
“Mm, that’s why I love it,” he replied, running his nose along the glamoured column of my neck. The only scar visible was Victor’s bond mark, a flashing warning sign to any potential threats that I was taken.
I was his.
His teeth found their mark, sinking into my flesh at the moment the pianist’s fingers hit the keys, my moans swallowed by the hum of the strings coming to life.
My body tensed and then relaxed. My gaze slowly shifted from the musicians to the other boxes. I made eye contact with a werewolf omega across from us, splayed between two seats, while a vampire couple drank from his neck and wrist.
In fact, most of the boxes were similarly arranged.
Blood Consorts…
Victor really had started a movement.
When my head dropped even further, he finally stopped, licking the wound closed and licking his lips.
“Exquisite.”
You are exquisite.
Ugh, that voice. What did he want?
The music washed over me and he was forgotten again, retreating to some darkened corner of my mind where I was sure he was simply biding his time.
The crowd broke into a thunderous applause, but I’d lost track of the program, and when Victor clapped in front of me, I was too weak to join him.
“And now, our final piece of the evening…”
The titles hadn’t been listed ahead of time—probably as a way to engage with the audience, to see the recognition blossom in their eyes as they figured out what was being played.
The first song was familiar… Sigil, maybe? I hummed quietly along to the chorus, and Victor shushed me with a chuckle. “We’ll be home soon. I’m looking forward to finally reconnecting with you.”
I wasn’t exactly sure why we hadn’t been connecting for long enough to need a reconnection, but it sounded good to me. My body was aching for his, for my mate, my alpha…
Where’s your alpha?
I’m right here, asshole.
