Pandemonium (Tails Book Five) Read online

  “I’ll start looking for a place to rent outside of Kedrick tomorrow, assuming we get the gig,” Rhaider said, clearing the screen and turning off the tablet.

  “Sounds good. Hopefully we do,” Rafe said. He eyed the way Rebel was shoveling the cake into his mouth like he thought it could disappear at any moment. “As soon as he’s finished, we can get on the way.”

  “Fingers crossed,” Rhaider said.

  “Every single one of them,” Maverick added.

  Chapter Three

  Rhaider pulled open the door to Tails and held it for his band mates. He was one hundred percent antsy, and he was not a male who got nervous. Something about this bar, about this town, made his bear want to stick around, and it felt like their acceptance as the house band was suddenly supremely important. Like the most important thing he’d ever faced in his entire life.

  “You okay?” Rebel asked before walking through the open door. “Your eyes are flashing.”

  “Yeah. I guess? I just feel like we need to be here.”

  Rebel hummed. “Performance nerves?”

  “More than that, maybe.” Rhaider followed him into the bar. “I don’t know. I’m fucking tired of being on the road.”

  “We all are,” Maverick said. “But if this doesn’t work out, I’ve got two more bars we can audition for house bands for. We’ll find the right place eventually.”

  Rafe stepped next to Rhaider. “I feel the same way. It’s like this place is different.”

  Rhaider appreciated that his brother was in sync with him. He looked around the bar and inhaled, sorting through the scents that lingered. Liquor, malt and yeast, sweat, perfumes and colognes.

  Lots of lions.

  A wolf.

  Humans.

  “Hey!” a male said as he walked into the bar. “Are you Midnight Grizzlies?”

  “We are,” Rafe said. “Are you Titus?”

  The male was tall and well built. Grizzlies tended to be more muscular than lean, like lions, but Rhaider could tell by the way he carried himself that Titus was a male that people didn’t fuck with.

  “I am.” Titus reached them and extended his hand. They all shook hands and told him their names. “Welcome to Tails. I’ve got you on at eight. If you need help bringing in equipment, I’m happy to lend a hand.”

  “We’re good,” Rafe said, “but thanks.”

  “The stage is yours,” Titus said. “After you set up, come to the counter and we can discuss tonight’s expectations and what being the house band here entails.”

  “All right, thanks,” Rhaider said. He looked at Maverick and nodded toward the stage.

  “I’m on it,” Maverick said, then headed to the stage. He was the one who set up the sound system, so while the rest of them would bring in the equipment, Maverick would set up the electronics.

  “I’ll leave you to it,” Titus said. “Holler at me if you need anything.”

  The male walked away and Rhaider turned and followed his band mates out to the large panel van that held their equipment. He played the piano and wrote and arranged most of the songs their band sang. Rafe was the lead singer and played guitar; Maverick played bass, and Rebel played drums.

  Rhaider’s bear made a grumbling complaint when he left the bar, and he stopped and turned to look at the building.

  He had no idea why his bear was complaining so much and feeling so antsy.

  “Something in the bar, I think,” Rafe said coming to stand next to him.

  “Someone, maybe,” Rhaider added.

  “That too. It’s weird, but I really don’t want to fuck this opportunity up. I feel like we’re supposed to be here.”

  “Yeah.” Rhaider turned to his older brother and clapped him on the shoulder. “We’re not going to fuck it up.”

  Rafe nodded. They gathered their things and hauled them inside. It took them almost two hours to set up, and by the time they’d done the sound check, the bar was slowly filling up.

  Rhaider pulled the van around to the back parking lot at Titus’s request. Then he and his band mates met the male at the counter where Titus gave them each a beer, and then rested his hands on the counter.

  “Duke’s coming in soon. He’s the alpha and also co-owns the bar with me. We’ll be meeting tomorrow to discuss whether you’ll get the job or not, so you’ll hear from me sometime in the morning. I won’t leave you hanging long, I promise.”

  Rhaider glanced back at the people filling the bar, then turned his attention to Titus. “We’re staying at a B&B. We’ll be available by cell anytime.”

  “Good.” Titus leaned on the counter and cleared his throat. “If you get the gig, you’ll be on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Three sets, at eight, ten, and midnight. The sets should be an hour long. You can go longer if you like, but not shorter. During the breaks, you can get food from the back and drinks—we just ask that you not overindulge. I don’t want our people to have to bounce you.”

  “Don’t worry about that,” Rafe said. “We’ll be professional while we’re working.”

  “Good,” Titus said, nodding. “Do you have any questions?”

  “If we do end up with the job,” Rhaider said, “we wanted to know about hunting in your territory. Being bears means we prefer to be on private grounds as opposed to shifting on public land where hunters might mistake us for the real deal.”

  “Duke and I have already discussed it, and we’d be open to you shifting and hunting in our territory, but it would need to be during designated times so we can alert the pride, that way no one is surprised.”

  Rhaider nodded. Since they’d left their clan, it had been difficult finding places where they could safely shift and hunt. He doubted the lions would ever let them join their pride, but so long as they gave them some latitude with shifting and hunting, they’d be happy.

  Titus introduced them to a petite blonde bartender named Blu. Rhaider shook her hand and picked up the scent of wolf. She was who he’d smelled earlier.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said.

  She shook everyone’s hands. “Of course, I’m a delight,” she said with a grin.

  He snorted. “It’s time for us to get ready.”

  “If you need any drinks or anything, give me a shout,” Blu said.

  “Thanks,” Rafe said.

  Rhaider kept an eye on the clock as he warmed up on the piano, his fingers gliding up and down the scales.

  Titus walked up onto the stage promptly at eight and stopped in front of Rafe’s mic. “All right, we’ve got a great band here to audition for us tonight. Put your hands together for Midnight Grizzlies.”

  The crowd clapped and cheered. Rebel clacked his sticks together and counted them off to the first song.

  As music filled the air, Rhaider let himself go into the song, his bear’s anxiety drifting away.

  He was definitely happy they’d come to Tails.

  Chapter Four

  Demi got out of her car in the Tails parking lot and looked at the building. There wasn’t a line out the door, but it was just after eight and still early. She let her gaze roam the parking lot and saw her brother Hemi’s truck, which meant he and Annie were already inside, as was China, whose teal convertible was in the next row.

  Her lioness made a curious sound in her head, and Demi shut the car door and paused. Inhaling, she sorted through the scents on the air, but didn’t pick up anything out of the ordinary. Her lioness was still acting interested, but in what, Demi couldn’t tell. It would be nice if she could actually talk to her lioness, but mostly she just got feelings from her.

  She tucked her phone in the back pocket of her denim miniskirt and gave a little tug on the crop top that bared just an inch of her stomach. Her strappy sandals brought her five-four frame up a few inches, but walking on the gravel was crazy tough and made her wish she’d decided on flats instead.

  The door opened as she approached and Kyson smiled at her. Kyson was a pride member and had taken over the bouncer job when Diese
l had quit to work with his heart-match’s family at their coffee shop. “Hey, Demi. How’s it going?”

  “Good, you?”

  “Not too bad. The new band is great. Did you come to listen?”

  She’d heard a rock song when he’d first opened the door, but it had ended with applause. “Yeah. I’m meeting Hemi and Annie.”

  “If you’re in the mood to dance later, give me a holler.”

  She smiled up at the tall male who was a year younger than her. He was cute in that boy next door sort of way, but she wasn’t looking for anything—serious or otherwise—at the moment. A dance with Kyson would probably lead to more if she let it, and she didn’t want to open that can of worms right now.

  Not when she had no clue if Benecio would come looking for her again.

  Sure, the alpha had been threatened by her father, brother, and her own alpha, but he didn’t seem like the sort of male to take no for an answer. No matter how many people said it on her behalf. Benecio believed she was meant to be his alpha mate, but he wasn’t her heart-match and she hadn’t been matched up with him by Abbie, the pride match-maker.

  Benecio was cuckoo bananas and she honestly hoped she never saw him again.

  “I’ll let you know,” she said to Kyson as she walked by him and into the bar.

  The door shut behind her and she moved forward, scanning the patrons to find her brother, his mate, and China. She saw China, who was waving an arm in the air like she was trying to land a plane. Demi smiled and walked forward.

  A song started, and a male sang a few words.

  Demi wasn’t even sure what the words were, only that the person speaking them made her lioness sit up and pay attention. Demi stared at the stage where a group of four males were playing a ballad. The one in front with the guitar was singing, and his voice was just…amazing. It called to her on a deep level. She took a step toward the stage, her gaze on the singer.

  Then the piano player joined in on the chorus, and Demi’s entire body jolted with awareness.

  Holy hell, the two males were her heart-matches!

  Her lioness was purring and yowling for Demi to go to them, but she was in shock and couldn’t move.

  Was it possible that she’d walked into the bar on a random Friday night, and the group auditioning to be the house band contained two males just for her?

  And what the hell did it mean that she was sure she had two heart-matches and not just one?

  Could she mate two males?

  She wasn’t aware of a female having two mates in the pride before, but it suddenly seemed like a very good idea. Even if it wasn’t the norm.

  Her stomach clenched as a few sexy images popped into her head of the three of them rolling around in bed together.

  The lead singer had dark hair, cut short on the sides and left longer on top. It was casually styled like he’d run his hands through it a few times. He was wearing tight jeans and an even tighter T-shirt, his muscular arms flexing as he played. Her gaze slipped to the piano player. He looked similar to the singer, like they could be brothers. His hair was a little longer, a little darker, but he was just as broad-shouldered and muscular as the lead singer.

  The other two males had made zero impact on her lioness.

  But those two…yikes. It was taking a considerable effort not to leap onto the stage and tackle them.

  “Demi, you okay?” China asked as she waved a hand in front of Demi’s face.

  Demi shook her head and blinked rapidly. “Yeah, I’m good. Great, actually.”

  “Come join us. The band is awesome. And the guys are super hot!”

  Demi snarled and felt her lioness try to push through her skin. “Watch it.”

  “Whoa, your eyes are gold. What’s wrong?”

  Demi mentally grabbed her lioness by the scruff and gave her a good shake. She couldn’t attack her bestie in the bar because she made an off-handed comment about the males. What she could do, however, was redirect the conversation.

  “Let’s sit,” Demi suggested.

  China nodded and turned, leading the way back to the four-person table where Hemi and Annie were seated.

  Disjointed chords came from both the piano and guitar and Demi stumbled a step before stopping and looking at the stage. While the two males recovered quickly, it was clear that the lead singer and piano player had noticed her. Their gazes were on her as she continued on her way to the table. She was working on autopilot, and only stopped because Hemi put his hand out and grabbed her arm.

  Her heart was thudding in her chest. She’d never had such a reaction to a male before.

  “Are you okay?” Annie asked as Demi sat in the empty seat.

  Demi tore her gaze away from the males who were singing and looking right at her. She smiled at Annie. “Very.”

  “Uh oh, someone’s in love,” Annie said with a singsong voice, her eyes dancing.

  “What?” Hemi demanded.

  “The guys in the band are watching her,” Annie said. “And she’s watching them. The question is, which one?”

  Demi looked at Annie. She was mated to Hemi, but they hadn’t been together long. She was human so she didn’t really understand about being a shifter, although she tried to. While she didn’t know what it was like to have a beast banging around in her head and body, Annie had been drawn to Hemi when they’d first met so she understood the pull of heart-matches.

  “I think both.”

  Hemi snarled and his gaze narrowed, darting between her and the stage. “Two? Are you serious? That’s just not done.”

  Annie whacked him on the arm. “You can’t tell her who to like or mate with or whatever. She’s allowed to make her own romantic choices just like you did.”

  Hemi inhaled and exhaled on a growl. “Sorry.”

  Demi grinned. Hemi didn’t apologize much. He was a male who thought he was right most of the time. Being with Annie had softened him up considerably.

  “Don’t worry about me, okay?” Demi said. “I haven’t even met them yet. It’s just I feel this incredible pull to them and it’s hard for me to concentrate and sit still. I want to run up there and talk to them.”

  China snorted. “Yeah, talk. Sure.”

  Hemi made a face. “Let’s change the subject.”

  “Oh, but it’s so neat,” Annie said. “It’s like a romance novel. Your eyes met across the bar. Or…three pairs of eyes met. Is that a thing?”

  “Clearly it is,” China said. “So, I’m sorry I said your mates were hot. But it’s just the two of them, right? You’re not claiming all four? Because that drummer is giving me lots of good vibes.”

  “Wow, four. That’s a lot of dicks,” Annie said.

  Hemi, who’d been taking a drink of beer, choked and started coughing, which made Demi and China kick off into a fit of laughter. Annie slapped Hemi on the back a few times as he tried to get his breath and stop coughing. When he had himself under control, he said, “I thought we were going to change the subject.”

  “All right, all right,” Annie said. She rested her head on Hemi’s shoulder. “Do you think the band takes requests?”

  “Probably not for their audition,” Hemi said. “If they get the job, we can ask about it.”

  “I hope they play another slow song. I want to dance with you.”

  Hemi kissed the top of her head and Demi turned from the sweet scene to look at the two who had captivated her beast.

  Her lioness sighed happily. Their song ended and they smoothly transitioned into another one. The dance floor filled up as a ballad played, and Annie and Hemi hit the floor to dance.

  “Just the two males,” Demi said to China, picking up their conversation.

  “Which ones?”

  “Lead singer and piano player.”

  “Nice. I still like the drummer.”

  Farrah, one of the waitresses, appeared. “What can I get ya?”

  “Just soda for me,” Demi said.

  “Something sweet,” China said.

&nbs
p; “Long Island?” Farrah asked.

  “Oh, do the beach one.”

  “Long beach iced tea?” Farrah asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “What’s in that?” Demi asked.

  “It’s a long island with cranberry juice.”

  “I’ll be right back,” Farrah said.

  “I wasn’t sure if you’d be working or not tonight,” Demi said to China.

  “I was supposed to, but I switched off with Farrah. I’m going to the outlets with my mom tomorrow and she’s an early bird.”

  “If you see anything cute for me, I’ll pay you back.”

  “Sure thing,” China said. “I’d offer to let you come with us, but I think you’re planning to be busy.”

  Demi’s cheeks heated. “I have no idea what to do.”

  “Sure you do. You just take off your clothes,” China said.

  Demi pressed her hand over her friend’s mouth. “Holy crap, you know I didn’t mean that.”

  China shook off Demi’s hand and grinned. “Yeah, it’s just fun to tease you.”

  “Thanks.” Demi rolled her eyes. “I don’t know if I should wait for them to come to me, or if I should go up there when they have a break. I mean, what if it’s just one-sided and they only think I’m cute and not their mate? Or what if they want to fight over me and not share? And holy crap, what would it even be like to share myself with two males?”

  “Whoa, whoa,” China said, putting her hand on Demi’s arm. “You’re overthinking things. They haven’t taken their eyes off you. It’s more than just them thinking you’re cute. If you think they’re your heart-matches, then that’s what they are for you and they’ll feel the same way.”

  Demi smiled at her friend. “Thanks for talking me off the ledge.”

  “That’s what friends are for. I’m happy for you finding your heart-matches, and keeping my fingers crossed I’ll find a great guy of my own.”

  “Or maybe two?”