Page 29 of Knot Their Opening Act

“I can’t keep you to myself. We’re a pack, Jesamine. But if this was just help, one time, I won’t mention it if that’s what you want. If you need help again, though?—”

He knows I will. I’m in heat. He doesn’t know I don’t have my suppressants and won’t until London. I have a doctor appointment in the Guild network of physicians for lunchtime on the day we arrive in London, but that’s the day after tomorrow.

“If the others are around, do you want their help, too?” he asks.

I don’t want anything to do with them. Panic starts to well in me, and I squirm against him, which he takes as me seeking friction with his cock, as he presses it harder against me and cups my breast.

“But Kai—” I start.

“He’s our pack leader. And our frontman,” says Thomas. “I’d have to tell him.”

“But he HATES me. I thought you all did, but now?—”

“No. I never did. And I’m pretty sure Nico and Holden would say the same. We went along with Kai. He was determined you weren’t on that show. We couldn’t really disagree with him with so many eyes on us. I think he had his own reasons. I just don’t know what they are yet.”

“So will you tell him right away?”

I turn slightly to see his face when he responds. He bites his lip. “How about this: if you need help again, and Kai is there, he will know. If he’s not, he doesn’t need to.”

“Okay. Because there’s no way I’m letting him get a finger on me. Or in me. Either way.”

Without warning, Thomas slides two fingers down to my clit, which responds with lightning-flicks of pleasure. “Mine are always available.”

But I’m worried now. I don’t want Kai to know anything. For one thing, and it’s a big thing, I don’t want my actions or Thomas’s to cause friction with his pack and his band.

Thomas is the quiet one. And this shouldstayquiet. The other big reason is this: the crowds might love the drama and the romance, but to me it would feel like the world thinks I’ve used them. That I didn’t earn my way here on this tour. That I’m not just their opening act, but theiropeningact,opening my legs to get myself where I actually worked really fucking hard to be. And I want Fable to know I did. That I’m strong, and brave enough to push through my condition and any limitations.

This morning Viv said,They know you’re brave and strong because you performed that first show flawlesslydespiteyour fears. You held your head high and did it. It was afterwards when you let stuff crash down, and you have that right, behind closed doors, to respond to an external situation any way you feel like. It’s okay. It wasn’t on stage.

But if this gets out, it will be. And everyone will say,Kai was right all along.

CHAPTER14

Kai

“You needto say something about it tonight or it’s going to start to look really weird, Kai. You guys know that—it’s nothing new,” says Ash, standing with hands planted on our table in the hotel bar. We’re due to leave for soundcheck ten minutes ago but slow-ass Ashcroft’s still finishing up his video game or some shit, so we’re just downing some sodas while Holden polishes off his order of barbecue wings. And that’safterbrunch of BLTs, French fries, and chocolate mousse. Dude could eat for England.

I’d like to ignore Ash, to be honest. I sigh demonstratively and stare into my pint glass before finishing the dregs and crunching loudly on an ice cube. I’m being a dick and I know it. But I just don’t have the energy and patience for his patronizing. It’s all been siphoned away by that girl’s heat, and if I’m honest, her return into our lives in general.

I’ve had a full night and morning to consider what approach to take. Do I tell her she’s our match and agree to stay out of each other’s ways? Because I can’t deny it. It’s impossible to hide. God forbid if she goes into full heat around me. But she can be our match without ever becoming our mate. And that’s the only way this can go.

Do I tell the guys and make sure they all stay on suppressants, and then force myself back on mine, risking the terrible allergy symptoms returning? Because what I really don’t need is my throat closing up in the middle of a show and an ambulance racing to the scene.

Holden’s messing about with a pack of tartan playing cards he bought off a street vendor. “If that’s all you’re upset about, Ash—I mean, c’mon, Kai. We come out, balls to the wall, play the first two, and then you say, ‘How about Jez Jacobs—was she spectacular or what? Let’s make some noise for our amazing opener,’ or whatever and then call it day. That’s all he’s saying.”

Liana the road manager appears at the door, looking at her watch then pointing toward the front of the hotel before disappearing.

“Okay mates, minibus. Time to head out,” says Ash. “Kai, can you manage that for me, pretty please?”

I try not to roll my eyes, and instead nod, push my chair in and give Holden an elbow in the back. “I don’t recall her thanking us for the opportunity.”

“Were you even watching her play?” Nico asks as we head out the door. “Dead curious, mate. The three of us were watching in the green room the whole time.”

“I was mostly asleep, to be fair,” says Holden.

”It was actually really good,” continues Nico. “She had energy, emotion, didn’t pause for a beat. She had the front row screaming. Not bad forthat girl with the airy-fairy voice, huh?”

“No,” I declare. “I was trying to get in the zone. Listening to our last live show on my phone.” I don’t add,But obviously I wanted nothing to do with her set.

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