Page 108 of Poet & Protector

Hearing his name, Ansel spun toward us. “What? Why is Mason going to be cranky?”

“Never mind,” I told him. “We should sit down.”

“You should,” Nev agreed. “It’s time to get this show going.”

Ansel, Shay, and I took seats around the table where the other Guardians were gathered.

“Hey, guys.” Ren greeted us with a smile that was a little too easy. His eyes were sharp when he looked at Shay. “Glad you could join us, Shay.”

There was no mistaking that the alpha was not at all glad Shay had joined us. I was relieved they were sitting on opposite sides of the table. Even with the distance between them, Calla was on edge, her gaze sliding back and forth between Ren and Shay. She expected trouble.

“Isn’t that the bartender from Eden?” Bryn suddenly asked.

Her eyes were following Caleb as he and Tom joined Nev on stage.

I stifled my laugh. Of course she remembered Caleb. He was way too attractive to forget, which was why he was the bartender in the VIP section of Efron Bane’s most exclusive club.

“That’s Caleb,” I told her. “And yeah, he works at Eden. He’s a good friend of Nev’s.”

Bryn blinked, frowning at the trio on the stage as if trying to puzzle out how someone who worked at Eden could also play bass at a dive bar.

“Who’s on the drum kit?” Ansel asked.

Tom had been on drums the last time he was here, but it had been long enough that Ansel must have forgotten.

“Tom,” I replied. “He owns this place and he likes to sit in with the local musicians.”

Ansel flushed slightly and it was obvious he thought he should have remembered that. He gave me an accusing look as if it were my fault he’d asked. I guess it kind of was, since I hadn’t been bringing him with me.

“Sabine. We could use you.” Nev spoke into the mic. “Why don’t you get up here and bring your chair?”

All my packmates except Ansel were shocked as Sabine picked up her chair and went to the stage. The Banes smiled at each other knowingly.

When Nev handed Sabine a tambourine and put a mic in front of her, Bryn asked, “What’s going on?”

“Sabine sings back-up for Nev,” Ren answered. “Sometimes they do duets. She’s got a great voice.”

“Really?” Bryn grabbed a handful of peanuts. “Who’d have thought?”

Oh my god, Bryn. Tact. It’s called tact.

Cosette glared at her.

I sighed inwardly. The rest of my pack hadn’t caught on to the fact that Sabine wasn’t as awful as they assumed she was. To be fair, she hadn’t cared to try proving them wrong.

“Evening.” Nev spoke into the mic again. “I’m Nev. Caleb’s on bass, you all know Tom, and the lovely Sabine is gracing us with her presence tonight.”

Everyone at our table clapped. The other bar patrons did not. I smiled to myself. It was always like this, but by the end of the night everyone in the Burnout would be in front of the stage cheering the band on.

My anticipation simmered when Nev nodded at Tom. Drummer and bassist exchanged a look and started to play. I loved this moment. My skin became electric, knowing Nev was about to sing. The moment the first words and notes slipped from his throat, chills traveled up and down my limbs.

I glanced at Calla and grinned. She nodded at me and my chest swelled with pride.

Yeah, my alpha totally gets it.

Sabine began to sing. Her voice and Nev’s rose into the air, weaving a mesmerizing pattern with the instruments. The music had an effect on all the Guardians. I watched as they instinctively leaned forward, captives of the spell Nev cast.

“So, I was promised there would be dancing?” Bryn said with a pointed look at Ansel.