Page 39 of The Baritone's Rival

“It’s a lot. You’re worried about keeping a human safe. You’re a good person.”

Oscar let out a sardonic chuckle. “Thank you. There are quite a few people out there that would disagree with you, but that’s very sweet.”

Justin’s face was open and earnest. “I mean it! You always try to do the right thing. It’s admirable. And very sexy.”

Oscar stepped back. Was Justin flirting with him? That made no sense. Justin was like a little brother to him. He didn’t view the vampire twink like that.

And whydidn’the? He’d never normally let anything get in the way of a good fuck. Friends with benefits were his favorite kinds of friends. What was stopping him from having some fun? Justin was a little thin for Oscar’s taste—he liked them beefy and muscular—but he was still a hottie. What had changed?

Trent. That was the change. Trent was here. Trent was in his life.

No need to think about that now.

“I’m going back inside,” Oscar said, ignoring the flash of disappointment that crossed Justin’s face. “There’s nothing out here.”

“No. I guess not.”

The day passedin a lazy haze, with no more surprises. Oscar spent the time writing and thumbing through classic novels from the tiny bookshelf in the cabin. After a few hours, Justin went back to his room to take a nap. The ability of that vamp to sleep the day away was astonishing.

Sometime in the early evening, Trent grabbed his bag and fished out a big plastic binder full of sheet music. He flipped open to a piece about halfway through, studying the page slowly, his mouth shaping silent words as he ran through the phrasing.

Something about the sight of him made Oscar’s blood race. Trent was meant to sing. Even now, not making a sound, his musical intelligence and passion came through.

“What are you practicing?” Oscar asked.

“An aria fromFaust,” Trent said, his eyes still glued to his binder. “My French piece for the audition.”

“If you want to sing out loud, you can.”

Trent glanced over from his pages. “I don’t have to…”

“I’d…I’d like to listen.” Oscar pulled on his left pointer finger nervously. “If you don’t mind. I know I’m your competition, so if you don’t want to…”

Trent stared at him with an uneasy look, as if he were deciding whether to try an unfamiliar and unappetizing new food. Ultimately, he turned and picked his bag back up, fishingout a small silver pitch pipe. He put it to his lips and sounded his starting note.

Trent made eye contact once with Oscar once again. He looked vulnerable, like he was about to reveal something intensely personal. Oscar was confused. He’d heard Trent sing many times, in class and in concert. Hell, they were working on a damn duet together. Maybe it was just that they were so close in the confines of the cabin, or maybe it was that it was for an audition that Oscar would also be attending.

Whatever the reason, Trent shook off the nervousness with a few quick blinks, stood up, and began to sing.

Avant de quitter ces lieux,

Sol natal de mes aïeux

A toi, seigneur et Roi des cieux

Ma sœur je confie,

Daigne de tout danger

Toujours, toujours la protéger

Cette sœur si cherie!

Oscar didn’t knowFaustvery well, although he had a vague memory that the aria was a prayer of protection for the character’s sister. French was not Oscar’s strong suit. He found the vowels strange and difficult to place. He avoided singing in the language when he could.

For Trent, it was like a native tongue. His rich tone fit the music perfectly, and the sense of line and connection in the melody, thelegato, it was gorgeous. As he continued to sing, Oscar leaned in, unwilling to miss a second of it.

Trent’s voice was astonishing. For a man with such a large instrument, everything flowed effortlessly. He tossed off his high notes with an ease that Oscar envied.

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