Page 50 of Howl for the Gargoyle

"We'll need more rehearsals, but we should say yes," I said to Kiernan. "Run it by George?"

"You got it," Kiernan said, grinning.

"Man, it's been forever since we gigged. It's been—" And then Mikey stopped abruptly, remembering exactly how long it'd been. Since a week before I was attacked.

I just nodded, letting the slip float by. "We need it. This will be good."

"Lawrence will die," Mikey whispered, eyebrows waggling.

I snorted and turned away. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Kelsey's approach.

"The moth cultivates relationships with those he finds curious or rare, like himself," Kelsey said, lowering her voice. "He probably knows more about you than you realize."

I stiffened. "You think this is about me?"

"Probably. Maybe he really does have friends who are fans, but that wouldn't be enough to interest him. A werewolf lead singer about to go on tour? More exciting to the general mixed-species crowd. It's why I auditioned," she admitted.

"You auditioned because I'm a werewolf?" I asked, frowning.

"Because I thought I had a better chance of getting in a band that had a non-human front person. A band where it won't be…a gimmick. A 'monster band,'" she said, finger quotes in the air.

I blew out a breath, her words grinding through my head uncomfortably as I twisted my hair up off my neck. "Do you think us becoming a gimmick is a possibility?"

Kelsey shook her head. "Not with the label you have. But it would be if I tried to start a band on my own."

I stared at her, noting the feathers, the dart of her eyes. Not quite human. "Do you sing?" I asked.

"I can harmonize, if that's what you're asking," she answered, bucking her chin up.

I nodded. "Good. Let's put something together. Kiernan and Mikey can't sing for shit."

She smiled, and I turned away, hiding my frown as I reached for water. I didn't want to be a token novelty in the music scene—the werewolf's band. But I wasn't going to hide my howl or push Kelsey away because she would stand out. Part of me wanted to grab onto the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip, map out every move we made, control the new dynamic of the band and how we would be seen. But a new instinct was growing in me, and for once, it was calm instead of aggressive. My life had changed. I couldn't take that back. Now I had to find balance—as Hannah, and as a werewolf.

I turned back to my band, shoulders square and the ground beneath me steady, if not entirely solid. "Let's work on a set list for our mothman benefactor. Kelsey, give us some clues."

A throat cleared behind me as I helped myself to the fruit buffet at the support group. I turned, smiling and expecting Theo, and then froze.

"Hi. I'm Fletcher."

The new guy. "Hey, yes. Hi," I answered, clearing my throat. He had a strong scent, sharp and warm at the same time, and he was standing a little too close, but something bristled in me at the idea of backing up, so instead I stood straighter.

"I…I just wanted to say that I…" His gaze was flashing all over my face, studying me, and I stared back. The pupil of his right eye was distorted, and I wondered if it had anything to do with the scar there, if he'd lost some vision when he was attacked. He let out a sudden breath. "Sorry, I don't know what I want to say. That I…admire you, I guess? For being able to trust someone enough to spend the full moon with them."

"Oh!" I relaxed slightly and found myself falling back a step at last, catching breathing room. "It…wasn't easy. It isn't. Trust me, I know." Fletcher nodded, but his stare was still rapt. "It was a relief though."

I'd said as much in the meeting, recalling the freedom of running with Rafe, of just collapsing into the grass with him until dawn. I'd kept some of the joy of it private, too personal, too precious to be real, almost…like I'd imagined it.

"How did you find that person?" he asked, the question desperate, his hands fisting at his sides until he stuffed them into his coat pockets.

A laugh escaped me at the thought of telling this massive man the truth. That I'd hired Rafe to be with me, that I wasn't just with a friend, that I was with someone I couldn't stop touching and fucking and playing with under the full moon.

"It's just…it can't be forced, right?" I answered, shrugging, even though that was somewhat of a lie. "Like any other relationship or friendship, you wait and see."

Fletcher frowned, lip curling slightly and brow creasing. I bristled again and sidestepped him, pleased to see Theo headed in my direction. "Excuse me."

I left Fletcher to his dissatisfaction and met my friend halfway.

"A little birdie told me you've got a gig at Nightlight this weekend," Theo said, grinning. "Actually, she screeched it at me while I was showering this morning."

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