Page 90 of Bound By Song

And that’s the moment. The one that settles it for me. I could push. Iwantto. But not like this.

I step back, slow, hands raised in surrender. “Alright. I won’t push.”

Her eyes widen slightly. She wasn’t expecting that.

“For now,” I add, with a crooked half-smile.

And there – just barely – a flicker of warmth. The tiniest tug at the corner of her lips. But she turns before it can bloom, feet quiet on the stairs as she disappears, scent trailing behind her like smoke and summer, footsteps as silent as snowfall.

The storm outside has nothing on what just passed between us.

I linger.

The room still hums with her. Her presence is stitched into the lyrics, the knobs on the mixing desk, the slight wear in the floorboards from pacing. This isn’t a hobby. It’s her heartbeat.

I want to be loud.

Her words echo in my head. Doesn’t she realise how loud, how heard and seen she is when she’s performing as Honey? The real Evie shines through then, and she’s breathtaking to behold.

She’s spent so long hiding her voice, she doesn’t even realise it’s the most powerful thing about her.

I exhale, rubbing the back of my neck as I head upstairs, my boots creaking softly on the wooden steps.

When I step into the lounge, Eviana is already curled up in her nest, the blankets pulled tight around her shoulders like a shield. Xar is sitting near the fire, his expression unreadable but his focus unmistakably on her. Dane’s stretched out on the sofa, flipping through another one of the old books, but his dark eyes flick to me the moment I enter.

Xar raises an eyebrow, his tone sharp. “Find anything interesting?”

I shrug, leaning casually against the doorframe. “Oh, you know. Just a state-of-the-art recording studio in the basement. No big deal.”

Eviana’s shoulders tense immediately, her gaze snapping to me.

“Blaise,” she warns, her voice low and tight.

I grin at her, ignoring Xar’s questioning look. “Relax, love. I’m just saying, it’s impressive.You’reimpressive.”

“Drop it,” she snaps, pulling the blankets tighter around herself.

Xar frowns, glancing between us. “A recording studio?”

I nod, still grinning. “Yep. And not just any studio. It’spro-level. You wouldn’t believe the setup she’s got down there. Oh, and here’s the best part! She’s notjusta musician. She’sHoney.”

Xar’s brow furrows, the sharpness in his gaze intensifying as he glances between the two of us. “What’s he talking about, Eviana?”

Eviana’s shoulders stiffen, her gaze snapping to mine, but I don’t give her the chance to shut this down.

“She’sHoney,” I say, the grin spreading across my face. “The one everyone’s been raving about online. The one who’s been driving producers mad trying to figure out where the hell sheis. The one we’ve been desperately trying to work with.ThatHoney.”

Xar’s eyebrows shoot up, his sharp gaze narrowing on her. Dane straightens slightly, his quiet attention locked onto her.

“Seriously?” Dane asks, his voice low and steady.

Xar looks back at her, his expression unreadable. “Is it true?”

She hesitates, her gaze darting between the three of us. Finally, she sighs, her shoulders sagging slightly. “Yes. It’s true. But it’s not a big deal.”

“Not a big deal?” I repeat, unable to help myself. “Eviana, you’ve written some of the most incredible music I’ve ever heard in my life! It’s a huge deal! People would sell their souls to be half as talented as you are.”

She glares at me, her cheeks flushing. “I don’t want people toknowit’s me,” she snaps. “That’s the whole point. So thanks for outing me, arsehole.”

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