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I’m nestled in the middle of it all, wrapped up in the warmth of the blankets, but still acutely aware of them. The way their presence fills the space around me, their scents mingling in the air, grounding me in ways I don’t fully understand.

The conversation is light, the easy kind that flows when there’s no pressure to perform. They don’t push me to talk. They don’t try to pry, but I can feel them watching me – waiting for me to open up, to let them in.

Blaise is the first to break the silence. “I swear, if this storm blows any harder, we’re all going to end up in the next county.” He chuckles, but Xar shoots him a pointed look.

“Shut up, Blaise, you’re going to freak her out,” Xar mutters, though there’s no real bite to his words.

I can’t help but smile at their easy banter. I’m hardly scared of a little wind and rain. Thisisthe Devonshire coastline after all. Storms are trickier to cope with, but I’m not alone now. Still, Xar’s concern is sweet.

There’s a sense of camaraderie here that I’m not used to – no pressure, no expectations. My sisters and I never got to have that relaxed kind of relationship; we were always too tense around Grams. Every whispered conversation was had on tenterhooks. It’s no wonder we’re scattered around the country now, our bond fractured.

Dane is sitting nearby, his presence quiet but unwavering. His dark eyes are fixed on me, watching with a steady intensity, though he hasn’t said a word. There’s a comfort in the silence between us, something reassuring in the way he doesn’t try to fillthe space with words. And I don’t feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny. In fact, if anything, I feel protected by it.

I’m still not sure how to feel about this – about them, about what’s happening between us. The bond is there, undeniable, but it’s something I’m still fighting against, clinging to the last threads of independence. It’s getting harder, though.

I shift under the blankets, trying to get comfortable, but I can’t ignore the question that’s been gnawing at me since the store. The fan. The one who recognised them. I can feel her words echoing in my head – her excitement, her awe. I can’t stop wondering what it means.

I pull the blankets tighter around myself, taking a deep breath before speaking. “Hey...earlier, at the store, that girl seemed really excited to see you. She said you guys were famous, right?”

The guys glance at each other, and I see the subtle shift in their expressions. There’s a moment of silent communication between them before Blaise breaks it.

“Famous? That’s one way to put it,” he says with a grin, the teasing note in his voice unmistakeable. “We’re kind of a big deal, honeybee.”

I raise an eyebrow at him, half-amused, half-skeptical. “Abigdeal? Doing what, exactly?”

Xar’s voice is steady, but there’s a glint of something softer behind his usual coolness. “We’re a band. Been around for a few years now, working on a new album.”

A band? That’s why they look so...well,different. There’s a presence to them, a confidence in the way they carry themselves. Something that’s more than just your run-of-the-millalphaenergy. It makes sense now, but it still feels surreal. “I didn’t know,” I murmur, more to myself than to them. “What sort of music?”

Dane shifts, his dark gaze never leaving me. “We keep a low profile outside of performing. Didn’t think it’d be a big deal, us being here. But...yeah, that’s what we do. We’re working on new music. Rock music, to be exact.”

I nod, processing the information. “So, you’re musicians. Okay. But what are you doing here in Silver?”

Blaise jumps in again, his voice light. “Yeah, you could say that. Rockstars, to be exact. But don’t get any ideas, Evie. We’re not here to put on a show, just making sure you’re taken care of.”

I can’t help but chuckle at his cocky tone. “Well, I guess that explains the whole ‘too cool to be in a store’ vibe.”

Xar’s smirk deepens, but there’s warmth in his eyes. “Something like that.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognise you. I’m not very up to date with modern music.”

“That’s okay. At least we know you like us for our handyman skills instead of our fame,” Blaise quips, but there’s a flicker of something dark in his expression.

“Skills?” I laugh, raising a brow. “You broke my porch!”

“And I fixed the roof, so I guess we’re even?”

The conversation pauses for a moment as I look down at my hands, the weight of everything still pressing on me. I want to ask more, I want to understand, but there’s something holding me back. Something I’m not ready to face just yet.

Is there a reason why they didn’t answer my question about why they’re in Silver? Or did they just miss me asking?

They’re waiting for me to say something – anything – but I’m stuck, unable to find the right words.

“Come on, Eviana,” Blaise says suddenly, his tone light and teasing, but there’s a hint of something deeper in it. “How about a game? We’re all stuck here with the storm, so let’s play twenty questions.”

“Twenty questions?” I blink at him, confused.

“Yeah,” he grins, his eyes sparkling. “We go around, ask each other questions, and answer honestly. It’ll help you open up. Fastest way to get to know one another.”