Page 90 of Vengeful Melodies

“You’ve gotta eat, Siren. Can’t burn yourself out.” Kai pauses, his fingers threading through my curls. “We already lost ourselves once. We’re not losing you, too.”

I close my eyes at that. The way he says it—we’re not losing you—makes something in me break and hold together at the same time.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” I whisper. “It’s all spiraling and I feel like I’m the one dragging everyone down.”

“Hey.” Kai’s tone sharpens, tilting my chin up so I’m forced to look at him. “You saved us. You’re not dragging us anywhere.”

“But everyone’s watching now. Judging. Making things up. Saying you’re breaking up. Saying I ruined the band.”

“They’ve been saying shit since we picked up instruments,” Bash mutters from the opposite set of stairs that lead to their beds, barefoot and bleary-eyed, holding a bag of Doritos and two cans of Sprite like it’s some kind of midnight offering.

Alix follows behind him, shirtless and damp from a shower, crystal-green eyes focused on me as he leans against the counter. “You didn’t ruin anything, Darlin’. Vivian did more damage with thirty bucks and a stolen notebook than you ever could.”

I flinch at the mention. I’m still reeling from everything they told me earlier. Vivian pawning his grandfather’s ashes? Selling his lyrics? Stealing his drum kit and leaving him stranded in his worst grief?

And Kaiser—struggling with drug abuse and being thrown into rehab like it was a scandal to be hidden, not a cry for help.

Bash, institutionalized for what his family called ‘a moment of weakness.’

And Takoa... carrying guilt so heavy in his silence I could feel it radiating off his skin like smoke.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt more like an outsider to their pain... or more desperate to be strong enough to stay in it.

“You guys all opened up tonight,” I say softly. “But I didn’t.”

Silence circles.

“You will,” Takoa’s voice finally says from behind me. He’s leaning in the doorway now, tall and dark-eyed, his presence somehow both heavy and grounding. “When you’re ready.”

I swallow hard and nod.

Because I want to. I want to tell them about David. About the texts. About the way my body remembers pain like it’s happening all over again.

But I’m still scared.

Still trying to find the strength to hand them that part of me.

Jack lifts his head and whines gently, nose nudging my ankle before laying back down. Bash flops beside me on the other side, tossing me a Sprite and opening the chips with a crinkle that somehow lightens the air.

“So... we hiding out tomorrow or letting the vultures circle?” he jokes.

Kaiser chuckles quietly, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Both?”

Takoa walks over and drops a kiss on the top of my head like it’s second nature, and something inside me softens at that.

Chapter Thirty Eight

Kaiser

The hum of the RV is a steady growl beneath us, wheels devouring miles of empty highway, but the tension in here? It’s feral.

She’s curled on the sofa, scrolling through her laptop like she’s actually working, fingers twitching over keys that haven’t moved in five minutes. The faint reflection of her face glows on the screen—bottom lip caught between her teeth, eyes flicking toward me like I’m gravity and she’s already halfway to falling.

The air in here’s too thick. Too hot.

Takoa’s at the small table pretending to read lyrics. Bash has headphones in, but his eyes are on us. And Alix? He hasn’t said a word in half an hour. Just watching. Waiting.

Dreya’s trying so damn hard to pretend none of us are here, but her thighs are pressed too tight. Her breathing’s too shallow. Her skin’s already flushed.