Page 29 of Howl Me to the Moon
PIPER
Rex winked at me as I found a spot next to Kylie in the Nocturnal Lounge. A pleasant heat danced through my body the way it always did whenever I was around him, even more so now that we’d bonded as mates. I smiled and instinctively raised my hand to travel from my neck toward my shoulder, finding the tiny scar left by the mating bite. Something about it was so comforting. It felt so right. We were connected. Before I touched the scar for the four-thousandth time, I lowered my hand and took a sip of my colorful cocktail, a Ruby Red Slipper.
My gaze drifted down to Rex’s hands. I loved watching how he moved his fingers over the bass strings and how his body moved with the music.
The band launched into Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion,” and Rex's bass line thrummed through me. He looked so natural up there, like he’d finally found his place with the band. Just as I’d found mine—not just with saving my job, but with him.
“You have that goofy smile again.” Kylie nudged my arm.
I turned to her and said, “Had a great night of sales at the auction.” Since we’d sold the Armando painting for almost three times what I was expecting after a bidding war, I had job security for some time to come. It turned out the painting was even more valuable after stories of it got out—and likely twisted—with each telling. That helped alleviate Sloane’s guilt over his hand in the role when the demon had persuaded him to hide the painting. Before putting it back up for auction, we ensured the painting was safe by having three powerful witches clear it of any lingering dark magic and ensure no demons lurked within.
“Sure, that’s what you’re thinking about,” Kylie teased. “Nothing to do with making eyes with your hot shifter mate.”
Heat fluttered up to my cheeks. “Okay, busted.” I laughed and turned to her. “I’m sure I’d catch you doing the same with Damien.”
She tipped her head. “You’re not wrong.” After sipping her bright blue cocktail, she turned her attention back to the band. “Who do you think is next?”
I snorted. “Ha, what is this? A supernatural love boat?”
She chuckled and motioned outward. “Could be something in the water. Or the sea air.” She turned to me. “Care to make a friendly wager?”
I glanced at the two unattached bandmates. “Van?” I shook my head. “No way. Look at how he eyes all the women. And he loves slinking around all serpentine-like with his hip movements, getting them all worked up. My money is definitely not on him.”
“Then Cal?”
“That grumpy gargoyle who’s set in his ways?” I huffed. “That’s probably even less likely.”
Kylie cackled. “When it comes to finding your mate, strange things can happen.”
I hmphed. “Yeah, you’re right there.” Rex caught my eye and gave me a devilish smile that sent heat flaring inside. Being a shifter’s mate was something I never would have contemplated, but it was incredible, and I was more content than I ever thought I would be.
Would Van and Cal ever find their fated mates?
EPILOGUE
VAN
The show went great tonight. It was the best one yet since Rex had joined us. But hey, adjustment pains were expected when going from selkie to furball, especially with their different personalities both onstage and off.
Luna Blue Shadows closed the night with drinks at the crew bar. Piper and Kylie joined us, each with a sly grin as if they shared a private joke.
“What’s with that look?” I asked them.
Piper took a sip of her drink. “What look?” she asked with faux innocence.
I snorted. “Come on, now. We don’t all have heads made of stone.” I threw a playful grin at Caleb. Funny how he could take ribbing when it came from anyone else but our former bassist, Angus. The two of them just breathing in each other’s space could set the other off as though one had exhaled fire in the other’s face. Fortunately, that aggressive tension was gone now as we moved on with Rex. I leaned back in my chair and glanced at Piper. “Spill.”
A mischievous glint gleamed in her eyes. “Okay, Kylie and I had an interesting chat this evening. We were going to bet on who’d find their fated mate next.”
I rolled my eyes. “Here we go.” I fake gagged, knowing where this was going. “Whenever someone gets mated, they start to play Cupid.” I raised my index finger. “Keep your arrows away from this fine gluteus maximus.”
I lifted myself off my chair just enough to smack my ass.
Rex growled beside me. “Keep your gluteus maximus away from my mate.”
I laughed. “Damn, mated shifters are possessive as hell. Keep it in your pants, furball.” I turned back to glance at Piper and then Kylie. “So, who did you bet on?”
“Definitely not you,” Piper said.
