Page 2 of Bony Bony
Heknew me so well. “Don’tworry.Iheard it whenIstopped by the merch stand.Ididn’t want to miss out on this sweet tank when the lines were mobbed after the show.”Ilifted the tank top and frowned. “Shoot,Ishould have texted you the options to see if you wanted anything.”
“I’mgood,” he replied. “Ihave everythingIneed right here.”Hepulled me into his arms.
Islipped back into my spot besideSebastianas “LoveSong” began.Weswayed together as he listened to the song, and he promised that he would always love me.
“EvenwhenI’mold and gray?”Iteased, turning over my shoulder to glance at him.
Sebastiansmiled, and his soulful brown eyes crinkled.Hestepped behind me and wrapped his arms tighter around my waist. “Ialready did, andIalways will.”
Hehad indeed.SinceI’dbeen hexed by an aging curse, courtesy of my dear old mama,Sebastianhad seen me age by decades, practically overnight.Althoughthe memory of rushing headlong to my demise still haunted me,Ioften joked about it instead.Itwas easier to deal with life’s curve balls with a glass half full—preferably with chilled champagne.
Itwas a fantastic night.Notonly didIhaveSebastian, but also my friends.Whoneeded toxic family members when you had loyal friends who had your back?
Turningpartway,Icupped his cheek, and the soft bristles of his beard tickled my fingers. “Ilove you too.”
Ileaned back against his broad chest to watch the performers under the spotlights on the stage, and his shifter warmth enveloped me.
When“JustLikeHeaven” began,Lucas’sexcited cheer drew me out of my cocoon.HegrabbedZoeand spun her around.
Thenext few songs kept us on a high.Whenthe band played “TheForest,” it lulled us with its trance-like sound, captivating us all.UntilIhad the sense of someone watching me.
WhenIglanced around, that guy from the merch line was standing about thirty feet away, watching me.Hadhe followed me here?
Icaught his eye and narrowed my gaze.
Frommy right,Sebastianasked, “Everythingokay?”
Ohno.Merchguy would definitely set offSebastian’spossessive instincts, andIdidn’t want any friction to ruin an awesome night.Iturned toSebastianand smiled. “Whatcould be wrong?I’mat aCureconcert with my number one guy.”
Hisbrows arched. “Andonly,” he said, using his familiar reply.
“Andonly,”Iagreed.
Ishook off the creepy sensation of being watched and returned to enjoying the song.WhenIchanced a glance over at whereZanehad been, he was gone.Iexhaled.Good.Wedidn’t need any drama tonight.
SEBASTIAN
Asthe last notes of “TheForest” faded out,IreleasedGiannafrom my embrace.I’dbeen entranced by the song, listening to it beneath the moonlight asIdrank in her scent.Icouldn’t have planned a better night with my mate and closest friends, one we’d all been looking forward to for weeks.Sincewe all worked different schedules and many of us worked nights, it wasn’t easy to coordinate trekking to a concert like this.Life.Adulting.Allthat nonsense.
We’dlucked out with the weather since it had rained earlier.Itwasn’t overly hot either, which would have made the perspiration excruciating with my keen sense of smell.
Assoon as the first notes of “BoysDon’tCry” sounded,Lucas, a dragon shifter with a shaggy blond mane, let out an excited shriek. “Thisone’s for the boys.”
Hejumped in betweenDiegoand me and rested his hands on our shoulders.
“Settledown, fire breath,”Diegoscoffed, his blue eyes narrowing on his pale face as he shook offLucas’shold.
“Comeon and shake off that surly mantle, you ancient curmudgeon,”Lucasencouraged with a grin and gaveDiegoa light hip check.
Diegoscowled.ButasLucassang, dramatics on high, and danced with unbridled enthusiasm, it rubbed off on us both.Ijoined in, singing the chorus withLucas, and eventually our broody buddy broke.Diego’slips curled into a wry smile across his pale face, and he sang along.Althoughhe tried to maintain his sulky persona as one of the cursed undead stalking the earth, it was harder for him now that he’d found happiness after falling in love withNova.
LucasnudgedAustin, a bear shifter who was fairly new toSalem, to join us.
Austinnodded and grinned. “I’mgood right whereIam.”Heraised a plastic cup full of beer in acknowledgment and turned back toPandora.
Ofcourse he was.Hewas with his mate.Ashifter was happiest with their mate.
WhenIglanced over at mine,Ibeamed.Giannaspun without a care as she danced, enthralling me.Theway she moved her curvaceous body so sinuously never failed to captivate my attention.Shedanced without inhibition, not to capture attention but because she was so comfortable with herself.Thatwas one of the many thingsIloved about her.
