Chapter Twenty-Three
BLISS
Between the million and one things I have to do as band manager, I finally manage to carve out some time to go check in on everyone at the townhome.
I haven’t run into Taser yet, and now that my flirting went so poorly with Simon, I’ve been keeping busy so I don’t run into him anywhere.
Between Taser, Simon, Grim, and Jordan, I’m seriously starting to develop quite a few boy problems.
I am still fucking furious with Taser—and myself.
Simon I will never be able to hang out with again out of embarrassment.
Grim is gorgeous and flirty but has no rune.
Jordan I need to avoid like the plague.
And now Pisces, who was a complete ass for absolutely no reason.
I come to a stop in the living room, looking around at everyone. Blake and Amelia are playing a card game at the coffee table and Reese is in a heated discussion with Tubbs over Voracious Maw’s drummer, Mist.
They’re both arguing that he is the best drummer in existence, but they can’t seem to agree on why.
“It’s the way he’ll intentionally lag on a beat that makes their music so interesting,” Reese is saying.
Tubbs shakes his head, pointing his set of drumsticks at her. “That part is great, don’t get me wrong, but that’s easy if you have good timing, which all drummers should. It’s the inspiration he takes from all different genres for me.”
I stop paying attention to the weird discussion.
“Would you two just get a room with Mist already? Have a threesome!” Taser mutters under his breath as he flips through a magazine. His eyes sweep over to me and I angle my head towards the staircase. I don’t check to make sure he follows. I know he will.
We end up in the primary suite. I poke my head out to make sure no one else came upstairs before I close the door. When I turn Taser is taking his shirt off.
“What are you doing?” I yell at him.
He looks at me like a deer in headlights. “What?” He throws his shirt back on. “I thought that’s why you wanted me up here. You didn’t exactly recharge much this morning. I thought you needed to power up again, my bad.”
“You and I are never doing that again,” I mutter, crossing my arms.
Taser lifts his brows at me. “Oh, because you have Grim now?”
My eyes whip back to his. “What?”
He takes a step towards me and I take one back. He stops and shakes his head, putting his hands in his pockets. “Sorry, that was uncalled for. You can sleep with whoever you want.”
“You’re fucking right I can,” I say. My voice almost sounds like Amelia’s in this moment.
“So what’s going on then, Bliss?” Taser asks, eyes boring into mine. “You barely talk to me these days, but then you used me this morning. So why am I here?”
I let out a hollow, hoarse laugh. “Is this a good time to remind you that you cheated on your girlfriend with me?”
His eyes widen. “Shit,” he mutters, sitting down on the bed. “Amelia told you?”
“She didn’t have to. I overheard you say it.”
Taser puts his head into his hands. “If it makes it better, I broke up with her the next day.”
“You broke up with her?” That’s news to me. Tension I didn’t even realize I’ve been holding in my shoulders melts, and I feel myself relaxing. If they’ve been broken up since that day, then what I did with Taser this morning was completely fine.
But you didn’t know that and you did it anyway, a voice reminds me.
He nods. “Of course I did. She obviously deserves better.”
“And what about me? Don’t I deserve better?”
He finally looks at me. “I did the best for you that I could. I wasn’t just going to let you die. I know I’m one of the few people you’d be comfortable feeding with.” He stands up and stops in front of me. “I’m not going to apologize, Bliss. I’d do it again.”
I roll my eyes. It’s the same thing Amelia said. “You and Amelia both act like the ends justify the means.”
“They do.” I start to argue, but he shakes his head. “No, Bliss. When the ends are life and death and the means aren’t, then the ends do justify the means.”
My mouth snaps shut. How the hell do I argue against that?
“So whatever,” he continues, “hate me, or don’t. But I did what I needed to. And I’ll do it again, if you ever need it.” He starts to leave, but I reach out and grab his arm. He’s completely right.
“Stars, I’m sorry.” I search for the right words. “Thanks. For being there for me. You’re a good friend. One of my best friends. And I put you in a really tough situation.”
Taser wraps me up in a bear hug. I can’t stop myself from smiling. “You never need to apologize for just trying to stay alive.” We both fall silent, enjoying the comfort we’re each getting out of this hug.
After a few moments, I break the silence slowly. “So friends do friends favors, right?” I ask, still being crushed into him.
He breaks the hug, his hands coming to rest on my shoulders. “Sexual favors?” he asks with a grin. I swat at his upper arm.
“No.” I shake my head. “I was wondering if you could track a scent for me.”
He scrunches up his face at me. “Wrong fae, Blissy.”
“Don’t call me Blissy. What do you mean wrong fae?”
“I’m not a wolf shifter. Or any animal shifter that would have the ability to sniff things out.”
“But you have all those superior senses!”
“Yeah, like, I have a great sense of smell, but I can’t track things like a fucking dog.”
My shoulders and head slump. “Damn.”
“Why?”
“I need to find the owner of this hoodie to give it back to him,” I lie.
“It’s Wrath’s hoodie, isn’t it?”
“What the fuck? How did you know that?”
Taser goes over to the bed and sits down on it. He lies back, putting his hands behind his head. “I’ve seen him wear it. He’s a huge fan of Moonstruck. The man’s got really good taste.”
“You know Wrath? Like his real identity?” I ask.
Taser just grins at me.
“Can you, uh—introduce me?”
Taser sits up and frowns, shaking his head. “Sorry, Bliss. I can’t. The guy really likes his privacy, and I’m not gonna mess with that. If he didn’t tell you himself, then I’m sorry, I can’t help.”
I let out a sigh. It’s not like I can be mad at Taser for that. And now that we are back to being friends, I don’t want to be mad at him at all. “You’re right. I’m sorry I even asked.”
“I can get the hoodie back to him? If you want?”
I shake my head. “I should really wash it,” I hedge. It’s not a lie. I do need to wash it, since I got my snot on it this morning. “And I’d like to thank him, even if it’s only to his masked face.”
Taser laughs. “Alright, well if that’s all you wanted from me, I should go back and check on Tubbs. Make sure Reese didn’t upset him too much.”
I quirk my brows at him.
“She gets mean when she debates music and music theory.”
We both laugh at that, making our way back down the stairs.
“What do you even know about it?” Reese is saying to Tubbs, who looks at us for help once we’re in the room.
“What do I, a drummer, know about drumming?” Tubbs asks incredulously. Reese is pacing back and forth.
“Reese, let’s give the poor guy a break,” Taser says, taking Reese’s arm and leading her away from Tubbs.
“Not until he admits that ‘Darkest Impulses’ is played in a four-four!” she says loudly. I stop myself from laughing at how serious she is right now.
Tubbs looks at me for backup, as Taser takes Reese out of the room completely. “It’s not a four-four, it’s a—” I place my finger on his lips and nod.
“I know, I believe you. Let’s grab some snacks, okay?”
Tubbs sighs but nods. “I don’t understand how my own bassist can doubt my timing.”
“Well, at least she lets you lead during shows,” I remind him and he laughs.
“Barely.”