Page 1 of Rock of Stages (Moonlight Siren #4)

CALEB

I tapped my feet, anticipation rising as I waited for my cue to join in. Our vampire guitarist Damien kicked off the opening to Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” When my time came, I pounded the drums and adrenaline rocked through me. What a rush.

When I first started playing music, it changed me.

I had to pursue it—even if it meant leaving my gargoyle clan.

But I’d found a strange new family on this ship—specifically with our band Luna Blue Shadows.

We played rock covers on the Moonlight Siren, a cruise ship for supernaturals.

Although I wasn’t a fan of the ocean and would rather fly the night sky than put a toe into the cool wetness below, I jumped at the chance to take this gig.

Rex, a wolf shifter, joined in with bass as we practiced for tonight’s set.

Van crooned the vocals, accompanied by his usual sauntering around on stage.

My wings were retracted so they wouldn’t get in the as I played in my gargoyle form, something I couldn’t readily do in the human world without drawing stares or fear.

But among supernaturals on this ship, no one blinked.

And it gave us a memorable feature, much like Van’s suave feline appeal and Damien’s vampire speed, which gave him an edge on guitar.

Now that easygoing Rex had replaced our ego-driven former bassist, we’d finally found the perfect rhythm for this band.

When the song ended, I gave Van the usual good-natured crap. “The worst part of sitting back here is suffering through you shaking your ass. Save it for the show and stop tormenting me.”

The jaguar shifter tossed his shaggy blond hair over his shoulder. “You mean this gluteus of fine maximus?” He slapped his right butt cheek, covered by leather pants. “Hard as stone. Wouldn’t you agree, you oversized rock lobster?”

I pounded on the drums to drown him out.

My grumbling was only half-serious. The crowd went feral in response to his sauntering and crooning.

Van was the ideal front man with a Robert Plant voice and David Lee Roth swagger, which didn’t go unnoticed by our female audience.

Since he’d found his fated mate with a vampire, he’d given up his pursuit of supernatural vixens.

Almost unbelievable considering how he’d relished that pastime.

If I hadn’t witnessed Van’s transformation, I might not have believed it. But he was a changed man—like the rest of the band. They’d all found their mates, greatly changing our dynamic, and I still wasn’t used to it. But as long as we continued to play music, I wouldn’t grumble—too loudly.

That didn’t mean I understood. We had a great thing going with our band.

Why would they put it second just because they fell for a woman they’d only just met ?

Ridiculous, all of them. And the endless chiming about finding the one…

Insufferable. Whenever they told me I’d understand one day, I tuned them out, as I was doing with Van now.

We worked through our set for tonight, a classic rock setlist from the sixties. Just as we finished, someone opened the door to the Nocturnal Lounge.

“Not bad with the wolf.”

That familiar voice tightened my muscles.

“But we were better,” he added, his voice slick.

Dread clawed up my spine. I forced myself to look over. Oh, hell no.

Our former bassist Angus lurked there in all his slimy flesh, strolling back into the lounge as if he were captain of the ship. His smug grin was plastered on his face, selkie ooze cranked up to eleven.

I clenched my drumsticks and stood. “What are you doing here? Back to cause another scene?”

The air between us vibrated with tension. “Nah,” Angus said, spreading his hands like a peace offering. “I’m here to make amends. Reclaim my spot on bass.”

“I’ve got it covered,” Rex growled.

Angus narrowed his dark squinty eyes at Rex. “When we created Luna Blue Shadows, wolf, you weren’t in it.”

“And neither are you after your stunt,” Damien said, putting down his guitar.

Angus and I had never seen eye-to-eye, but it had all come to blows when he’d lunged at me during our show. We’d fought and he’d quit the band, dove off the ship, and swam away in selkie form. We hadn’t seen him since.

I hoped it stayed that way. “You have some nerve coming back here, Angus,” I growled.

He faced me and flashed a sour smile. “Still glaring from the shadows, Caleb. Tell me, do they pay you extra to work as a concrete bouncer?”

I stepped out from behind my drum set. “You need to go. Now .”

“I helped create this band,” Angus said, eyes gleaming as he stepped closer. “A boulder with a grunting problem isn’t going to keep me out of it.” He glanced around. “Now where’s my bass?” Without waiting for an answer, he turned to Rex. “Step aside, pup.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Rex said, standing his ground and staring down at Angus, whom he loomed over by several inches.

The size difference didn’t appear to intimidate Angus, just as it hadn’t when he’d attacked me. Damn fool.

“You’re fired.” Angus pushed Rex’s chest with both hands. “Leave.”

Instinct kicked in. I launched myself at Angus and knocked him to the ground.

“Damn it,” Damien muttered. “Not near the instruments.”

True. This was the worst place to get into a fight. “Outside.” I pointed at Angus.

I glared at him as he threw eye daggers at me. Once we were outdoors, I raised my index finger. “You’re not in the band. You don’t get to fire anyone.”

“The hell I don’t.” Angus’s nostrils flared as he sneered. “You’re the one I have a problem with.” He punched me in the chest, then snapped his hand back, shaking it. “Shit—what are you made of? Granite?”

“Rex isn’t going anywhere,” I snapped.

“He’s a better fit than you ever were,” Damien added.

We didn’t have any of that tension during practice and shows the way we had with Angus’s ego and surly attitude.

“We’ve decided as a band,” I declared.

Angus’s face contorted with fury as he turned his wrath on me. He lunged for me with a roar. I turned to evade him, but hit a patch of something slippery on the deck—just as he reached me with his full force.

Off-balance, my weight shifted and we were airborne. But I wasn’t flying. The rails were rushing past and my wings were retracted.

Shit. I was falling overboard.

I hurried to unfurl my wings, but the ocean soared up too quickly.

Smack! I hit it with a cold slap, and it swallowed me whole.

The last thing I saw was that damn selkie swimming away in seal form, leaving me to sink like a stone.