Page 20 of Rock of Stages
“I want to be with you,” he added. “However. Wherever.”
My heart swelled with happiness but then dropped with the reality of our situation. “How? You live here. I live under the sea. It’s impossible.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said quickly, his expression determined. “Strap on a scuba tank. Build a houseboat. Anything. Just say…say you feel it too.”
My chest tightened as emotions surged through me—joy, longing, fear. Yet underneath it all, a certainty pulsed. I knew what I wanted.
My eyes glistened and I blinked before I admitted, “I do.”
He let out a giant exhale.
“Caleb, I want to make it work. I want to be with you.”
He whooped and jumped out of his chair, then pulled me into his arms and spun me around in a tight grip.
“Sorry.” He put me down.
“That’s okay.” I laughed and then stared out at the horizon, pulling my lips into a tight line. “But if we’re going to figure this out, I need to go back to my pod and tell them I’m leaving.”
His wide grin vanished, and his expression turned concerned. “You sure that’s safe? What about your father?” His face contorted into a painful grimace. ”His plan?”
Dealing with my father and the situation with the arranged marriage would be a challenge, but I was determined to let no one else decide my future but me. I brushed my fingers along his chiseled jawline. “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
He studied me for several seconds. “Naiya, what would you think about singing a song during our practice today?”
I blinked at him. “Why?”
“You have a beautiful voice. And I’m coming up with ideas.” When he told me what he had in mind and asked me what I thought, I squirmed in delight.
“Do you think it’s possible?” I leaned closer.
He shrugged. “We won’t know until we try.” He gently nudged my chin up and smiled. “If anyone can wow them, it’s you.”
Later that evening,I walked into the Nocturnal Lounge with Caleb at my side. Nerves fluttered in my belly like a startled school of fish. The lights were low, the stage lit by a soft blue glow that reminded me of moonlight filtering through ocean currents. His bandmates glanced up from their instruments with curiosity.
Caleb squeezed my hand. “You’ve got this.”
“Thanks for letting me interrupt your practice,” I stammered and smoothed my hands over the sides of my dress.
“No worries,” Damien said. “Do you have a song in mind?”
My stomach flipped, twisting with nerves. “Since you play rock, one of the songs I loved when I’ve been on land is ‘Bring Me to Life’ by Evanescence.”
Rex rumbled, “Good choice.”
Van motioned to the mic. “Have a go.”
I stepped up to it, my heart thumping like the driving beat of Caleb’s drums.
I sang the first notes, which came out low and jittery, and the band joined in with their instruments. As we continued, my confidence grew. Soon, the nerves flitted away and I was soaring, like I had been in Caleb’s arms when he’d flown us to the ship.
The music flowed deep inside me. I glanced over my shoulder at Caleb on the drums and smiled.
He was right. Singing this way felt incredible. Like it was something I was born to do.
Even though I was far from the sea, I didn’t feel like an outsider here. Music had always drawn me—it had lured me here to this very ship with so many species of supernaturals. I’d always felt different from others in my pod, but here, I sensed I was finally where I belonged.
No longer an outcast. I was home.
