Page 96 of A Taste of Bliss

“Bliss?” he asks in a confused groan. He jumps up, startled. “Did you?” His eyes go to Pisces, who’s come down the stairs behind me. “Did you and Pisces…?” He doesn’t finish his sentence, just looks between the two of us in a confused way but—is that hope on his face?

“We better have fucking not,” I snap, throwing an icy look over my shoulder at Pisces. I cross my arms to ward off the chill of the AC in the room. “Can someone get me something to put on over this, please?” I add.

A light-skinned, redheaded human woman dressed in tight jeans and a black crop top comes in from the kitchen. “What the fuck is going on?” Her accent is British but a bit different than the others. Essex, I think they call it.

I point at Pisces. “He kidnapped me somehow last night and I would just like some clothes so I can get the fuck out of here.”

Once I get my power back I am going to… Well, I don’t know. But I’ll do something, like seduce Pisces until I have him wrapped around my finger. Then I’ll encourage him to do something super embarrassing.

I let out an enraged huff.

The redhead’s eyes widen and she shoots Pisces a withering look. “Kidnapping?”

Pisces shakes his head. “I did not kidnap her. I found her sleepwalking outside and brought her here.”

She looks between me and him, her gaze softening as she takes me in.

“I’ve never sleepwalked in my entire life,” I tell her. “I went to sleep in my own bed and woke up in his.” I throw daggers at Pisces as he shakes his head, but the glare that the redhead turns on him makes mine pale in comparison.

“What did you do?” she accuses, starting to pummel her fists into his chest. He doesn’t try to stop her or ward off her attacks. But Shaun and Evan have appeared at her sides, each taking an arm and carrying her away from Pisces, who just looks exhausted. He slumps into the wall, letting it hold his weight.

“Lily!” she yells. Two other women—fae by their scents—have already poked their heads into the living room to see what the commotion is. Their amused expressions are quickly schooled into seriousness at the redhead’s tone. “Get her a change of clothes.” The redhead points her chin at me, since Shaun and Evan are still holding her back.

Lily, a lithe tall blonde, rushes up the stairs. The other fae glares at the men in the room. “Get your hands off Gwen, or I will bite your dicks off,” she informs them in a soft but lethal voice. Her canines are sharper than most fae’s, but not as sharp as a vampire’s. Probably a wolf shifter. She’s not much taller than me, wearing black leather pants, black boots, and a gold sparkly top that brings out the warmth of her brown skin. Her hazel eyes fix a withering look on Shaun, who seems to be unsure of whether to release Gwen.

The shifter growls. “Go easy on them, Niamh,” Gwen says. Niamh’s pupils contract a bit. She turns and heads back into the other room.

Shaun releases Gwen, who smacks him in the face. “Touch me again without permission and we’re going to have a problem.”

“Didn’t you just say to take it easy on us?” Shaun mutters with a hand pressed to his face. “Fuck, that hurt.”

“Sorry. Should I have used a rolled up newspaper instead?” Gwen smirks. He glowers at her and goes and takes a seat at the table. Her comment helps me place his species as well. Another wolf shifter.

I meet Simon’s gaze as he takes in everything that’s happening.

Lily comes racing back down the stairs with some clothes, which I hurriedly put on over my own.

I make sure to thank her and turn to thank Gwen, but she’s busy staring angrily at Pisces.

His head turns my way and he frowns, his bottom lip curling inwards as if he’s biting back his words. Something about the expression is familiar, but I can’t put my finger on why.

I take one last look at Simon, remembering what Jordan did to him yesterday and how close it seemed he came to death. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

I leave, running down a few houses to the one I’m staying in.

I burst open through the front door and fold over, panting. Stars, I’m so fucking out of shape.

Amelia runs down the stairs, having heard the front door open. “BLISS, WHAT THE FUCK? Where have you been?!”

The rest of the morning passes in a flurry of nerves and excitement as we all prepare for Goddess’ Trance’s first set of the festival. As I stare out onto the stage where everything from the drums to the lighting has been set up, I smile to myself. Not only is this a huge day for my sister and the rest of the band, but for me. I wasn’t quite sure I’d be up to snuff to carry out such a large show—the biggest in Goddess’ Trance history, but I was.

“You’re killing it,” Simon says at my right, coming to stand and admire the stage with me.

“Let’s wait to see how the show goes before we celebrate,” I respond, a smile coming to my lips easily. Despite my very oddand awkward night and morning, I feel surprisingly full of joy today. I actually feel like I’m on top of the world and nothing—not even a kidnapping—can bring me down.

“Nah, I’m taking notes, seriously,” Simon says warmly. “It looks like I’ll be band managing a little bit longer. It’s not really what I’m best at, but you seem almost at peace in your role.”

He’s not wrong. I do feel peace.