Page 106 of Vengeful Melodies

And then she’s in my arms. In our arms.

We hold her like she’s the only thing keeping us upright. Maybe she is.

Because under these lights, with the world watching—

We stopped pretending.

We didn’t perform tonight.

We confessed.

And she heard us.

Even if it kills us—we’d do it all again.

For her.

Chapter Forty Two

Dreya

I’m still gasping, barely able to process the final lyric, the echo of Takoa’s voice still trembling in the air like a ghost clinging to my skin. My heart is wide open, chest cracked in two, every beat held out in offering for the world to see. It hangs in the air like a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

And then the crowd erupts. A tsunami of noise—screaming, sobbing, applause, flashbulbs like lightning.

But I’m still stuck in the silence that came before it.

Takoa’s voice broke for me.

Alix’s hands bled for me.

Kaiser and Bash poured out their hearts until I felt like I might drown in them.

The band just gave the world a confession meant only for me.

it, every lyric, every look, my soul cracked wide open under the lights.

There’s no hiding now.

My cheeks are soaked. I don’t remember when I started crying.

I’m not alone—Bash is behind me, his arm around my waist. Alix’s hand is still wrapped tight around mine.

Kai’s smile is wobbly. Takoa hasn’t taken his eyes off me since the final chord.

I turn to face the crowd. To say something. Anything.

But then I see him.

David.

My breath stops.

Everything inside me just... shuts off.

Standing in the shadows beneath the stage lights. Expression blank. Cold. His one eye left locked on mine like he’s already counted the seconds I have left.

My breath stills. My feet don’t move.