Page 28 of Sound
“Come, little one.” Tucking her under my arm, warmth spreads through me when she snuggles there like she belongs nowhere else. “My brother is humbled by your gratitude. Let us sit. You are barely standing on your feet.” Ignoring the incredulous look on Lucien’s face, I guide her to the living room. Her head swivels left and right as she tries to see everything she is passing.
For the first time, I wish I could get inside her head to see what she is seeing. Does she like my home? Will she want to stay or leave me? My heart skips a beat. I’ve never cared at all one way or another. I’ve always tried to make this place we’re stuck in resemble the home we left behind, at least as much as I can. Is it too foreign for my mate? She grew up as a human, living her life in modern times while I’ve been stuck in the past hoping to right wrongs. Will I lose her before I have a chance to have her? With questions weighing on my heart, I lower her gently on the large lounge, her tiny frame almost disappearing in the cumbersome thing. With a frown pulling on my brows, I glare at the damn thing. Why in all the world did we get the antique-carved piece, and how long has it been here?
“Ethan?” Melody’s soft, fearful voice brings me out of my turbulent thoughts, and I realize I’ve been growling.
“I apologize, little one.” Crestfallen at my reaction, I take a step away from her so she doesn’t fear me. “I was wondering when we got this hideous thing you are sitting on. I don’t remember it being this horrible …”
Lucien’s snickering makes me trail off, and I can scowl at him. Undisturbed, my brother saunters into the room grinning from ear to ear before he throws himself on one of the chairs, sprawling across it like an ass. Flinging one arm over the back of the armchair and a leg over one armrest, he keeps chuckling and shaking his head.
“I don’t get it.” Melody squirms on the large cushion, her eyes darting between Lucien and I.
“Ah, but I do, little demigod.” Lucien fully guffaws at my scolding glare. “And I must say I’m looking forward to the upcoming days. You see”—Leaning forward, he points at Melody with one finger, his grin turning cunning enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck. “I’ve never met anyone that can ruffle my brother’s feathers like this. And I’m planning to have a front seat for this drama. If I knew he would turn into an old lady fretting over furniture and whatnot, I would’ve snatched you that first night at the club.”
The moment the last words were out of his mouth he realizes his mistake, just as I do. All the blood drains from Melody’s face and I feel the terror coursing through her veins from the newly formed bond we have. Not an hour ago I saved her from a fate where she was snatched from her life and held against her will, and my brother had to stupidly open his damn mouth and say something idiotic to remind her of that. Before I can turn on him and rip his throat out, he jumps out of the chair and backs up until his spine is pressed against the large window behind him.
“I did not mean it that way. None of us will do anything against anyone’s will, little demigod. I meant it as a joke, albeit not a very funny one given the circumstances …” With a groan, he rubs his hand over the top of his head in frustration, messing his hair so much that it’s sticking up all over the place. “If you don’t know my brother that well, I should tell you he has a stick up his ass. Someone leaving him fretting like an old maid is not something we see often. That is all I was trying to say … it came out wrong.”
Fists balled at my sides, I take a step toward him only to stop in my tracks when a giggle bursts from Melody’s lips. A snort follows, and Lucien and I slowly turn to see the little female doing her best not to laugh in our face. Her face is red, and she’s biting her lips, her nostrils flaring while chuckles and snorts come from her throat in small increments. Faking a cough, she tries to cover up her reaction but eventually gives up and peals of laughter fill the room while her hands cover her mouth in a useless attempt to prevent them.
I’ve never heard a more beautiful sound.
Both Lucien and I sway toward her before we catch ourselves and shake our heads to clear them. I purposely ignore the pointed look Lucien gives me, the unease of our reaction all but forgotten when her face brightens with a smile. Even aware that our reaction is not normal, both of us smile at her, joining in the lighthearted feeling outside of our control.
“You should see yourselves.” Melody giggles, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes. “It’s like watching two bears ready to eat you one second and apologizing for having big teeth the next.” More laughter follows before she
can speak again. “This is my life now. Witches that hold me captive with magic, cats that turn into humans, and vampires apologizing for having uncomfortable furniture.” All humor leaves her face, and she looks at me with a somber expression. “I’ve lost my mind, haven’t I? This whole thing is in my head, isn’t it? I’m on psychotic drugs in some white-padded room while I’m rocking myself back and forth, aren’t I?” More laughter explodes from her as she shakes her head.
The worry clawing at my insides is the same worry I see on Lucien’s face. Maybe it was too much to hope that she would take everything in stride. That she would accept everything for what it is.. Being outside of that cursed place and away from the magic has finally broken her mind. Panic churns in my gut, and it leaves me frozen. I have no idea what to do.She is your mate,a voice inside me whispers.You can soothe her and calm her. You can piece her back together if she breaks.
I’m not sure if that’s true, but I’m willing to try anything to keep my mate well.
22
Melody
“Bring the violin,” Étienne tells his brother without looking away from me.
I’m doing my best to stop laughing, but I can’t. Tears run unchecked down my face. My whole body is trembling inside, and my blood is running cold through my veins. Filling my lungs with short gasps of air, the fact that I’m aware I’m having a panic attack doesn’t help stop it. It actually makes it worse. It’s like I can’t control my reactions and it’s making me hyperventilate. The only thing holding me together and not forcing me burst at the seams is keeping my eyes locked on Étienne’s face, so I cling to that like a lifeline.
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea with this particular female brother, mate or not.” Lucien’s unease might be comical if not for the fact that I’m falling apart in front of their eyes. The stoic, mean-looking copy of Étienne seems almost as panicked as I am.
“Do it.” The order is unmistakable in the deep voice passing the lips that kissed me tenderly not long ago, and Lucien obeys, though he mutters many foreign words I don’t understand under his nose.
“Melody, look at me.” Étienne inches closer like he is approaching a wounded animal. He drops on his knees when he is a couple of feet away to put us at eye level, which I’m thankful for since I don’t have to crane my neck to meet his gaze. Taking my cold fingers in his large palm, his thumb rubs soothing small circles at the back of my hand. “You are safe here, little one. I won’t let anyone or anything harm you. I swear it on my life. Just breathe.”
“You are a vampire and I’m a demigod,” I stupidly tell him, giggling through every word. I’m very aware how unhinged I sound, but there’s no help for it at the moment. “And magic exists that traps people, feeds off their life, and makes them do things they’re not aware of.” My free hand waves jerkily in the air as if the room is full of magic. It’s not. I should know since I don’t feel like something is trying to crawl under my skin and peel off my bones.
“That we are,” he tells me, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. The tenderness in his blue eyes forms a lump in my throat, the intensity choking me. “And what a pair we are, ma petite. Believe me when I say I will level this continent all the way to Hell before I allow anyone to get near you again.” Bringing my numb fingers to his face, he peppers soft kisses on my knuckles. “Just breathe. Everything will be fine.” His lips graze my skin with each word warming the ice that spreads inside me.
“Here it is.” Lucien walks in holding my violin in a tight fist as if he wants nothing more than to break it into tiny splinters. I can’t blame him for it since I know what me playing the instrument can do. “I still think it isn’t a good idea, but you never listen to me anyway.” He shoves the violin under Étienne’s face, wiggling it to encourage him to take it faster.
“Merci.” Étienne’s hand takes the instrument, and he doesn’t look at his brother once as he lowers it across his thighs where he is still kneeling in front of me. “I think I know what will calm you, little one, but I do need my other hand as well.” Tilting his chin, he points at the hand I’m still clutching like a drowning man clinging to a straw.
I release him reluctantly, uncurling my fingers with great effort one by one. Swallowing thickly, I ball my fist and tuck it under my leg so I don’t latch onto him again. I’ve never been a clingy person, but right now I feel like the only thing that can stop me from losing my mind is if I crawl under his skin so I can hide from everything. His features soften as if he knows exactly how I feel, and my face burns in embarrassment.Way to go, Melody. Show him why he doesn’t want anything to do with you.My inner critic helps me keep my hands away from the handsome man kneeling at my feet. Lucien stands until he is looming above us with his arms crossed across his chest like a guardian, and for some reason it makes me feel better knowing he will protect his brother. Especially if Étienne wants me to play for him.
My jaw drops to my chest when Étienne swings the violin gracefully to his shoulder and winks at me just before lowering the bow to the strings. My heart kicks against my ribs when he closes his eyes, his thick, long lashes hiding his stark blue orbs from my view as he starts playing. It’s slow at first, as if he is unsure of what he is doing, but soon enough a soothing, beautiful melody I’ve never heard before wraps around me like an embrace. Still gaping, I can’t take my eyes away from his graceful fingers as they move across the strings, and before I know it, my heartbeat is even and I’m mesmerized all over by this mysterious man that has barged into my life out of nowhere. The music stops way too soon, and he opens his eyes slowly, a smile stretching his kissable lips when he sees me staring at him like I’m looking at an alien.
“I take it I didn’t do bad.” Lowering the violin, his head tilts slightly to the side and I realize he is listening to my heartbeat. How I know this is beyond me, but I’m sure of it, just as sure as I am that my name is Melody. “It’s been a while since I’ve played any instrument.”
