Page 49 of Bound By Song (Evie Quad Omegaverse #1)

Xar leans back in his chair, his arms resting on his knees. “Wow,” he says finally, his voice steady. “I had no idea.”

Dane nods, his tone quiet but reassuring. “Thank you for being honest with us, Eviana. I’m sorry it came out like this, but I’m glad to know a bit more about you.”

She looks away, her posture still tense, and for a moment, I think the conversation’s over. But then an idea sparks in my mind, and I can’t help myself.

“Evie?”

“Hmm?”

“Will you sing for us?” I ask sweetly. She looks at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“No! No way. Are you insane ?”

“Tell you what,” I say, grabbing the acoustic guitar I left propped by the wall. “If you won’t sing for us, I’ll sing for you.”

Eviana’s head snaps back toward me, her eyes narrowing. “Absolutely not.”

“Why not?” I strum an exaggeratedly loud, off-key chord, grinning as her expression shifts from disbelief to something almost amused.

Xar sighs heavily. “Blaise?—”

“Too late!” I say, cutting him off as I launch into the worst rendition of one of our songs, deliberately messing up the lyrics and hitting all the wrong notes.

Eviana lets out a sharp breath, and for a moment, I think she’s going to yell at me. But instead, there’s a twitch at the corner of her mouth – a hint of a smile she’s clearly trying to suppress.

“Stop,” she says firmly, though there’s a thread of laughter in her voice now.

“Not until you join in!” I challenge, strumming another ear-splitting chord.

Her lips press into a line, but the spark in her eyes is unmistakable. “You’re impossible.”

“That’s what they tell me,” I reply with a wink, plucking at the strings again and continuing my horrible vocals.

Dane shakes his head, but there’s a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Even Xar looks like he’s fighting the urge to laugh.

Eviana sighs, finally sitting up a little straighter in her nest. “Fine,” she says, her voice sharp with exasperation. “Fine. Just stop murdering it.”

I immediately stop, grinning like I’ve just won the lottery. “Deal.”

Xar leans back, his expression softening slightly. “Take your time. No pressure.”

Eviana hesitates, glancing at the guitar in my hands before shifting her gaze to the corner where another guitar is propped against the wall.

Why didn’t I pay attention to it before now?

I mean, I knew it was there, had noted how worn it was, but I just didn’t think it might be hers. How stupid of me.

Slowly, she stands and retrieves it, her fingers brushing over the worn wood like she’s drawing strength from it.

She sits back down, the firelight casting a warm glow over her face, and adjusts the guitar in her lap.

“I’ll have you know, I prefer the piano, so this might be a little rusty,” she warns, tuning the guitar perfectly by ear.

Like we care.

When she starts to play, the room falls completely silent.

Her voice is soft at first, almost hesitant, but it grows stronger with every note. The melody is haunting, pulling at something deep inside me. I glance at Dane and Xar, both of them completely still, their attention locked on her.

She finishes the song – our song – and the last note hangs in the air like a heartbeat, delicate and lingering.

“Bloody hell,” I mutter, breaking the silence, my voice low with something closer to reverence than sarcasm.

Xar nods, his voice calm but firm. “You’re incredible, Eviana.”

Dane leans forward slightly, tone soft but sincere. “Thank you. For sharing that with us.”

She doesn’t answer right away.

Her gaze darts between us, something unreadable flickering in her eyes.

She clutches the neck of the guitar just a little tighter, her fingers stilling on the strings like she’s grounding herself.

There’s a war happening behind her expression – one I’ve never seen this close.

Not fear exactly, but something raw and defensive, like she’s waiting for one of us to ruin the moment. Or for herself to do it.

And then...she doesn’t.

Instead, she draws in a slow breath, one hand brushing her hair behind her ear as she stares into the fire.

“I’ve spent so long guarding every piece of who I am,” she says, voice barely above a whisper. “Not because I wanted to be alone, but because it felt safer that way. Safer not to need anyone. Safer not to hope.”

She swallows, eyes on the flames. “But...I’m tired. Of hiding. Of carrying everything alone. Of being alone.”

Her voice is steadier now, but there’s a tremble just beneath it. Not of weakness. Not of regret. Just truth.

“I’ve been so quick to push people away,” she admits quietly. “But...maybe I don’t have to anymore.”

Xar gives her a small smile. “You don’t.”

Dane nods. “Not with us.”

And me? I flash her my best grin, even as something tight and warm coils in my chest. “Definitely not. You’re stuck with us now, Evie. For life.”

Her lips twitch slightly, and she glances back down at her guitar, her fingers brushing over the strings like they’re still holding her steady.

As the storm rages outside, I can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, she’s starting to let us in.

Not all the way. Not yet.

But it’s a start.