Chapter Thirty-Six
BLISS
Thankfully, I’m able to watch Goddess’ Trance’s full set before I need to do my vocal warm-ups and start getting ready. As if I’ve done this countless times, I find my way over to the trailer backstage.
As I enter, Simon waves me over. “Bliss, you’re up for makeup.”
“Makeup?” I ask.
He nods. “You need to be painted just like the boys.”
“Let her get dressed first,” Gwen says, motioning me over to a changing room.
I change into Niamh’s ensemble—a gorgeous black lacy dress that almost perfectly matches Wrath’s shroud.
It hugs my curves, flowing down to brush the floor.
Lacy sleeves run down to my wrists. My hair is up in a half ponytail, the white ribbon Pisces gave back to me holding it in place.
When I exit the changing room, Gwen hands me Niamh’s mask.
It’s similar to the ones Eerie, Poison, and Mist wear, except it only covers my eyes and the bridge of my nose, allowing me to sing.
The multiple straps look too complicated for me to attempt to put on myself without ruining my hair, so I clutch it, afraid to drop it.
Gwen flitters off somewhere else—a ton of stage manager tasks to take care of—and Benny is currently painting Pisces’ chest, something I should not be watching because my eyes can’t seem to break from where Benny’s hand is applying paint over Pisces’ pecs.
I swallow thickly, my eddying power reserve begging me to find release from Pisces again.
My gaze drifts down his chest, to where his pants are slung low on his hips.
Benny has already painted there. But up close I can see the slight V that urges my eyes lower.
The way his pants cling to him, it’s clear he’s big.
And the obvious thought that follows that is how much bigger he’d be if I ran my tongue over—
“My mask is up here, darling.”
My eyes snap to the eye holes in Wrath’s mask, as a blush creeps over my skin.
He’s smirking at me and lifts his pointer finger, wagging it at me. Benny grins widely, looking between us.
“Well, that about does it,” Benny says, getting the last patches of skin on Wrath’s neck and collarbone, moving the pendant he always wears aside to paint underneath it.
“I’ll do the scales later.” He excuses himself and goes to change into his outfit for the show, leaving Wrath and I there staring at each other.
“Do you need help with yours?” Wrath asks me, his voice growing deeper.
I nod. Wrath brings the paint over. “It’s better to do the paint first, then the mask.”
He covers two fingers with paint and lifts them to my cheek.
It’s a bit cool to the touch, but if he notices my shudder, he doesn’t react.
He swipes it along one cheek and then the other, and expertly blends the paint out over my face.
His fingers run along my jawline, the touch sending warmth down my body.
I can feel the callouses on his fingers that guitar strings have given him over the years.
He taps my bottom lip once. “Niamh usually wears a dark red lip color.” I nod. I’ll add some after.
He moves the paint down my neck, lifting the collar of my dress to make sure the paint doesn’t have a gap.
“Hands,” he orders softly. I place one in his and he paints it up to my wrist. He does the same to the other.
And all too soon, he’s done.
He releases my hands and steps back, looking me over.
I catch my breath. “Well, will I pass as Niamh?” I ask shakily. Stars, his hands felt good.
He smiles and shakes his head. “She’s a bit taller than you.
I’m sure some of our more serious fans will spot the difference.
” He strokes his jaw in thought for a moment and tugs my ribbon free, letting my hair cascade in waves down my back.
“Hold out your arm,” he commands, and I obey.
He wraps the white ribbon around my wrist.
Wrath takes my fingers in his hand as if he’s about to plant a kiss on my knuckles. But he just holds my hand. I can’t tell where he’s looking.
“Are you nervous?” he asks.
I half smile. “Not anymore. With the learning potion it almost feels as if I’ve done this before.”
“Good.” He smiles at me and drops my hand. “Is Grim going to watch?”
“Yeah, he’s hanging out backstage still,” I say. “We’re not together,” I add for some reason. Not that it’s any of his business.
“Does he know that?”
“Of course. He knows that, um— Well, maybe eventually I’ll find my bondmate, so…”
Wrath’s mouth ticks to the side, almost a frown. “Right.”
I hate that he’s upset about that. I reach out, gripping the front of his black robe. The material is soft and light. I want to say something but words escape me. I can hear his breath grow heavier.
He steps closer, pushing me against the counter.
I look up into his mask, trying to see through the gaps in the skeleton fingers, even though the material underneath is too opaque.
My gaze travels south, to his lips. They’re painted with the same blue-black paint, but I can still see how he pulls in his bottom lip, as if he’s trying not to say anything.
He fails. “Bliss.” It’s a murmur, barely audible, but I step forward, coming up on to my tiptoes.
I’m too short to close the distance, but he doesn’t lean forward. I can tell from the set of his mouth he’s fighting to keep what little distance between us that we have left.
“Hey, Wrath,” Reese calls from the doorway. “I can’t fit my braids into the mask.”
Wrath quickly takes two steps back and I can feel a blush creeping in. Reese looks between the two of us, grinning from ear to ear. “Sorry to interrupt.” She pauses and Wrath coughs uncomfortably. “No one is gonna mistake me for a six five British bassist, though, anyways.”
Reese holds up a black silky material that the boys usually wear underneath their masks to cover their hair. I noticed in recent shows that Eerie had ditched it, allowing his hair to flow freely.
Wrath nods. “Leave your braids out, then. I’d like people to know who you are.”
She grins at him. “Awesome,” she replies. “I’m so fucking pumped for this!”
Reese skips out of the room. I reach for my mask. “I guess it’s time to go,” I say, holding the mask out for Pisces to help put on. He secures it swiftly, making sure the straps are tight but not too tight. He places his thumb on my bottom lip, and I think he’s going to kiss me. He leans in closer.
“Red lips, remember?”
Then he’s gone from the room and I let out a sigh, feeling the pulsing between my legs and wishing Reese hadn’t interrupted.
But it’s a good thing.
Because he’s not my mate.
I’ve always loved Voracious Maw’s performances.
But it is so much better being onstage with them during one.
For once in my life I can understand why people enjoy being the center of attention.
There’s a thrill to it. Though without the mask I wear, I’d feel way too exposed to be under the spotlight.
The show begins the usual way, always with a song that starts off a bit slow so that Wrath can prowl out onto the stage, towering over the crowd.
He walks up to the microphone stand, plucking the mic off it and coming to stand in front of the crowd as he starts to sing.
The bass line starts in and Dericia walks in from the other side of the stage, flipping her braids around, drawing audible gasps and cheers from the crowd as they realize she’s filling in for Eerie, and that Eerie must have gotten food poisoning too.
The guitar starts in as Poison enters stage left.
Again a round of cheers erupts, almost drowning out Wrath’s vocals.
Mist appears behind the drum kit up on a platform behind Poison, and the crowd loses their minds again.
I follow Gwen’s direction as she motions for me to ascend the platform behind where Eerie normally plays.
I take my place at the mic stand, just before my part begins.
A thrill goes through me as the crowd cheers at seeing me up there as well.
I begin harmonizing with Wrath’s voice and he startles a bit, his voice faltering almost imperceptibly as he turns around and looks up at me on the platform. I wonder if I’ve messed up, but then I spot his grin, his white teeth flashing against the dark body paint that covers his lips.
The song ends with a flourish, my arms matching the sultry movements I learned from Niamh. Simon walks out onto the stage as the cheering starts to subside, causing another round to start up again. Wrath hands the microphone to Simon, who waves to the crowd.
“How’s everyone doing?” he says, greeting the crowd.
“Listen, we’ve obviously got a little bit of a change up here.
” He motions to Reese. “Our bassist is noticeably more attractive than usual.” He grins.
The crowd cheers in agreement, and I can’t help but think Simon is so going to pay for that comment once Evan hears.
“All jokes aside,” Simon continues, “our bassist, Eerie, and our usual backup vocalist are sleeping off a nasty bout of food poisoning. They’ll be fine, but we’re honored to have some pretty spectacular fills in from Goddess’ Trance’s band and crew with us tonight. Give them a warm welcome!”
The crowd does as told. I give a little wave and Dericia whips her braids around, mimicking how Eerie usually head bangs. Simon hands the microphone back to Wrath and the stage lights dim, even though the sky still holds onto the sun.
An atmospheric backing track to one of Voracious Maw’s heaviest songs begins playing and Wrath’s screams fill the stage, an offering of fury to the stars.
By the time we’re halfway through the set, I realize I’m quite enjoying this. My arms ache a bit from all the slow sultry dancing I’m doing up on the platform, but I’m having a hard time keeping the smile from taking over my face.
When Wrath starts singing my favorite song, I stop trying. I realize I’m not the only one having a blast. Reese spins around, braids twirling around, as she imitates Eerie. I bet she’s smiling ear to ear under the mask.