Page 63 of Riot

I’m the only one in the VIP booth, which also makes me grin. He doesn’t let anyone else come here, and rumor is, he never has. Hell, when he led me to it earlier despite Elijah’s protests, he was so happy.

Elijah moves to my side now, checking on me as ordered by his boss. “You know, he’s had your name down at every gig, concert, and meeting for years, just in case you turned up, so you could have peace and watch him.” I raise my eyebrow, and he grins. “Just thought you should know, and remember, if you need to go anywhere, let one of your guards know.”

The guards are another new thing. There are so many of them, I might as well be the president. I don’t know where Kage found them on such short notice, but they are clearly capable. He explained they are the best of the best. Hell, he even bribed some to leave their current jobs and protect me, and they take it very seriously. I’ll admit I feel safer, which shouldn’t make me happy, but it does. It’s also the only reason he agreed to perform without dragging me on stage with him, because he knows I’m safe—not that anyone would try anything in this public of a venue, but he isn’t taking any risks.

“Fallon! Fallon!” My name being called brings me from my thoughts, and I smile at the fans who’ve started to notice me. They surge forward, and my guards hold them back. Laughing, I head down the stairs, ignoring Elijah’s protests.

My guards surround me, and I roll my eyes, taking the outstretched papers and signing them. I pose for photos and even get a few friendship bracelets before the lights go down, and I hurry back to my booth to watch my man.

The silence is filled with anticipation as screams split the air, then there’s a drum hit. It pounds in time with my heart as I lean over the barrier, just as excited as the fans. The lights flash with each drum beat until a guitar shreds and bright red lights shine down, highlighting Kage. He’s leaning back with his eyes closed and a smirk on his lips as he plays, his band in darkness behind him. He’s the entire focus. I’m just as hooked as the fans, watching as his fingers dance effortlessly across the cords. His leather jacket is open, exposing the sheer shirt underneath that matches my dress. There’s graffiti across the jacket that catches the light, leading down to his tight leather pants, which I had way too much fun feeling up in the car on the way here.

His hair is messy, strands falling into his face, and his eyes are blacked out. When they open, they are so bright they steal my heart all over again. They find me, and when his solo finishes, he blows me a kiss, making me grin.

When the music dies off, he grabs his mic. “How are we feeling tonight?” The crowd screams, and he frowns, placing his hand by his ear. “I can’t hear you. I said, how are we feeling tonight?”

The thunderous screams make me laugh, and he grins as he looks over the crowd. “I’m Kage, and I’m just one of the amazing acts performing tonight all in the name of the charity Open Mind, so open your wallets and your hearts and let me steal them.” He winks as he wanders across the stage as he speaks. He was born to be a performer.

Leaning down, he reaches for the crowd, and they scream louder as he grins and flirts with them, stealing every single heart, just like he is stealing mine.

“I want to thank you all for coming out tonight to play with me, so how about I get started with a favorite of mine? I wrote it a year ago, after meeting someone who I knew would become my everything. This is ‘Golden Love.’”

The crowd, if possible, screams even louder and surges forward, testing the security as the music starts and Kage’s crooning voice wraps around us. The lyrics hammer right into my chest. They are so full of emotions, you can’t help but feel the music. It’s a dark, grungy song, which isn’t my usual style, but fuck if it doesn’t become my new favorite thing.

I guess I always avoided everything to do with him, but there is no denying that Kage has a voice of a fallen angel, and as he dances around the stage, it’s obvious he has the body of one too.

His eyes land on me, trapping me as he sings the chorus.

Golden love,

I’ll be with you.

I’ll wait for you.

Golden love.

Can’t you see I’m your fool?

As he spins around, the drums and guitars growing stronger, he dances to the edge of the stage near me and mouths, “I love you,” then dances back, leaving me blushing like a fool.

He really is crazy.

Songs blend from one into another, ranging from dark to soft and loving, yet all have one thing in common—his heart and obsession. When he grins into the mic, I can’t help but fall for him all over again.

“Okay, okay, I have just one more song for you. It’s a newish one, so shh, let’s not tell anyone. I’m not supposed to play this yet. I couldn’t resist, though, since the person I wrote it for is here tonight.” His eyes land on me. “What do you think, sweetheart, should I let them hear it?”

All eyes turn to me, as does a spotlight, and I purse my lips. He’s going to die later, and he knows it if his grin is anything to go by.

When he looks at me, though, it’s like I can breathe again. I feel like I can live, can see and hear. He brings me back from black and white into full color, and maybe that’s why I fight him so much. I have never felt like I deserved to live in color, in the world he lives in. I don’t think I am worthy of his love, but I don’t care. I’m greedy and selfish, and I will take it anyway because he makes me feel alive.

I run my gaze over the crowd as they scream for us, and when I meet his eyes again, I nod.

“Looks like I have permission.” He steps back into the darkness as the lights go down. “So here it is. It’s called ‘Riot Act.’”

I frown at the name, something niggling in my head, but when he starts to sing, I forget everyone else. There is a spotlight on him as he croons a soft, lyrical melody into the mic.

Abruptly, it bursts into a rock song, but the lyrics remain the same, flowing like a promised whisper.

She’s my queen.

---