Page 90 of Pack Fever

“Okay,” I croak, accepting the glass of water he brings me as I push myself to sit up. “How’s the rehearsal going?”

“Amazing,” he murmurs, settling down beside me. “It’s more about getting the lighting and sounds right than anything else since we’re killing it.”

“You sounded incredible, even from back here,” I say, offering a weak smile.

“What’s going on, Danica?” Seth’s gaze is intense, and I know he can sense something’s wrong.

I hesitate, not wanting to mention the heat that still lingers inside me, despite my efforts to suppress it. I won’t come between him and rehearsal and getting ready for his concert. That’s his focus, not me. But he’s staring at me, waiting for an answer, so one pops out of my mouth.

“I miss my mom and sister,” I admit. “I worry about them and if they’re doing alright. Last time we spoke, she said their street was swarming with Nexus informers. I just don’t want them to be punished for my disappearance after the bus accident.”

Seth reaches over, his touch comforting as he takes my hand. “I’m certain they’re safe.”

A pang of guilt chews me up.

“You’ll need to give me their address, and maybe I can send them a gift… something they’ll know is from you?”

I perk up instantly. “I love that idea. My sister loves peaches, and they’re so hard to get in our city. She’ll know it’s from me, as I told her once that I would get her a basket of peaches all for herself.”

“Consider it done,” he assures me, pulling me into a hug.

I melt against him, unsure if this is really happening. “No one’s ever been this nice to me,” I murmur, my eyes stinging with tears. “Thank you.”

“We’re going to do one more round of rehearsals, then we’ll head back to the hotel,” Seth whispers in my ear. “Do you want to come and watch?”

“Yes!” I practically jump off the couch with excitement.

“Good,” he says, staring at me like he’s lost himself, as though he can’t think of anywhere he’d like to be. I love that look on his face. He’s calm, tender, and seems to promise me the world with only his stare. I’m swooning, feeling dizzy, caught up in him.

I try to remind myself not to fall for him because what happens if Nexus finds me? What if I can’t stay with Fever?

Seth

Stepping off the stage, the last chord of my guitar still echoing in my ears, I make my way back through the labyrinth of backstage corridors. The others are still caught up in the fervor of rehearsal, but my mind is miles away, wrapped up in thoughts of Danica. Every song I belted out tonight felt like a serenade meant only for her, each lyric a line in the letter I’m writing her in my head.

The backstage area is deserted, the usual hustle replaced by silence. As I approach our shared room, a voice drifts to my ears, soothing and captivating. I pause in my tracks. A siren’s call that I’m powerless to resist curls around me from inside the room.

Is that Danica?

Rooted to the spot, I’m mesmerized by the melody, by the unmistakable timbre of her voice weaving through the air. She’s singing one of my songs, the very one I’d been pouring my soul into during rehearsal. But in her voice, it transforms, takes on a life I never knew it could possess. It’s my song, yet she makes it entirely hers, each note a revelation, every line a confession.

A smile spreads across my face, unbidden, as goosebumps trail down my arms—a confirmation of the magic in her voice. Danica had always downplayed her singing, content to hum along in the background, but this... this is a glimpse into the depths of her soul, a side of her she’s kept hidden. The raw, primal quality of her voice, the way she now blends my melody with words I don’t recognize. It’s intoxicating. In this moment, she’s not just the woman I’m drawn to; she's become a muse, a new addiction I never saw coming.

I’m shaking, completely crazy for her more than I thought possible.

The music stops, and time seems to stand still. I wait, holding my breath, until she starts again, her voice a thread pulling me closer to the core of who she is. When the song finally ends, I’m left in a daze, the echo of her voice the only thing grounding me to the spot.

After a few heartbeats of silence, I muster the courage to knock and step into the room. Danica straightens up, her demeanor shifting to nonchalance, as if the soul-stirring performance I just overheard was nothing out of the ordinary. But I can’t shake the sound of her voice from my mind; it’s etched into my memory, a haunting melody that I’ll carry with me.

She’s standing there, grinning, and I’m completely obsessed with her. Her blonde hair, pulled over one shoulder so she can play with it, those deep fresh-green eyes, to the cute dress that I’m drooling with on how it hugs her curves and falls mid-thigh.

“Hey, the music sounded incredible,” she ventures, her voice casual, revealing none of the amazingness from moments earlier in her singing.

I nod, my smile broadening. “I couldn’t agree more. Anyway, what have you been doing?” I probe, my curiosity barely contained.

“Just your admin stuff, nothing exciting,” she replies.

I study her for a moment, taking in the sight of her—those lips that had just woven magic, the casual shrug that belies the depth of her talent. I know her well enough by now to recognize the walls she puts up, and I understand that pushing her might only drive her further into her shell. So, I let it go, for now.

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