“Saint, the piano is yours now.”
“Oh.” I hand her my champagne flute. “Thank you.”
The room remains silent as I sashay across the floor, making my way back to the small stage I spent an hour at tonight without burning out my voice.
I clear my throat slightly, adjusting the mic. I assume the boys are back, since everyone is eerily silent. So my fingers float over the keys to the intro of “Familiar Taste of Poison” by Halestorm. I’m so lost in the lyrics and hypnotic tune of the song that I don’t realize when the song is almost finished. I slowly open my eyes mid-chorus and catch Bishop staring from across the room, his mouth snapped shut. I don’t need to be near him to know I’ve struck a nerve.
Good. Well done, Madison.
I pelt out the rest of the song, keeping my eyes on him as I sing through every lyric. I feel Madison’s pain as I drag each note out, but I can’t acknowledge her pain without being consumed by his. When the song is finished, I watch as he remains frozen to the spot. Nate, Eli, Cash, and Hunter are behind him, with Brantley slightly beside.
I take a sip of water, stretch my neck and fingers, before I slowly begin the final song.
The song I chose.
This time, my eyes are not on my broken brother, but rather on my dark King.
I allow the beginning of the song to drag out a little longer, playing the keys effortlessly as I find my breath and the notes I need to hit in order to do this song justice. Miley Cyrus is an underrated artist, with people too busy focusing on her life and her mistakes, forgetting about her talent. I’ve always had a soft spot for “Look at You,” and aside from the fact it was one of the first songs I played on the piano, the lyrics, as of late, have become increasingly relevant to me, my life, and my feelings where Brantley is concerned. My mouth opens as I start the song, no longer wanting to watch him. He’s in a dark button-up, unbuttoned at the top, jeans that are destroyed at the knees in the name of vanity, and black Jordans. His hair is messy, his face paint immaculately haunting, but his eyes… his eyes are wild. Untamed for his beast.
I sing through the song, hitting the chorus and notes perfectly while surprising myself. I go through the whole song without allowing myself to catch his attention. It’s not until I’m close to the end that I snap and allow our eyes to connect. My world tilts at the venomous connection, and if I wasn’t seated, my knees would give way. A small smile pulls on the edge of my mouth as I belt out the rest of the song.
I finish the final line when the light above me completely cuts out. There’s a pause of awkward silence before clapping breaks through. I thought they were silent because of The Kings, but that wasn’t the case.
It was because of me.
And then I remember the face paint I’m wearing. Half-Vitiosis, half-Hayes.
Hands are on my stomach, pulling me into a hard chest before I can even make it across the room.
Brantley’s mouth is on my neck, his teeth across the thin skin that stretches over it. “Miss me?”
“A little,” I say truthfully, turning in his grip. We’re standing near the table when Scarlet takes the stage with Hector. “How was tonight?” The lighting remains low, everyone seated silently.
“You don’t want to know…” he growls, his fingers flexing on my belly. I look down at his hands, at the ring that’s now on his finger.
I trace it with the tip of my finger. “I would want to know.”
He hardens against me, and I take it as he understood my double-edged answer. “You think you do, but you don’t.”
I suck in a deep breath and lean to the side so I can look up at him. “Brantley, I would want to know. You think I’m weak.” I pause, pinching his chin with my thumb and forefinger to bring his face lower to mine. “As if you forget who raised me.”
His eyes come to mine, searching them lazily. If only I knew what was going on inside his head.
The lighting further darkens, and there’s a spotlight that’s pointed on all of The Kings who are on the stage.
Brantley releases me, bringing his lips to my head before ducking to my ear. “We’ll talk about this later.” Then he pushes off me and I watch as he makes his way onto the stage. He stands beside Bishop and Nate, with Eli on the other side of him and Cash and Hunter beside him. Hector stands beside Bishop, with the other older Kings beside him. Scarlet is behind Hector.