Chapter 104

I never thought I’d be someone who got invited out by her coworkers, let alone someone who looked forward to it. But here I was, sitting in a karaoke lounge's booth with the team again, not just by Neil's request, but by invitation from the whole team. The manager had given someone the company card, but hadn't come meaning we were free to talk as we pleased and order what we wanted without worry.

Neil had ordered more mocktail punch for me to try and was nursing his own drink. We hadn't been sat for long before George had us all in stitches from laughter.

“This place is supposed to have the best fried calamari in Brightclaw,” one of the interns said dramatically. "It's a new thing on the menu, and I am so ready for it."

George pulled a face. "Squid? Really?"

"Just because you have the tastebuds of a toddler---"

"Chicken tenders are king."

“You just like them so you can eay honey mustard without judgement,” Neil teased him, nudging my elbow as he grinned.

“Honey mustard is the best,” I said in mock offense. "It should be eaten by the gallon."

"I knew I liked her!"

I laughed.

Neil leaned closer. “You doing okay?” he asked, his voice low under the hum of the music. “I know this is kind of a lot."

I nodded, grinning at him. “Honestly… I feel good tonight. It’s weird how I've… never really felt like this before."

Before he could say anything else, the DJ called out a name and cheers erupted from our table.

“Go embarrass yourself with dignity!” someone shouted.

The woman rolled her eyes and strutted up toward the stage in high heels I could never manage, grabbing the mic with the flair of a drama major. Her voice was terrible, but she sang with such enthusiasm that it was somehow iconic. Everyone clapped and hollered when she finished.

“Alright,” she said, breathless as she came back. “Someone else now. Renee? You in?”

“Absolutely not,” I laughed, holding up my drink like a shield.

“Aw, come on! Don’t be shy!”

I started to reply, but then a familiar voice cut through the crowd.

“Tell her again, maybe she'll listen to you."

I turned and nearly spat out my drink.

Arielle was here, wearing an off-the-shoulder blouse and leather pants and an expression that seemed like she owned the whole city. It wasn't much different than her usual expression, to be fair. She sauntered up with a group of people trailing her. A few I recognized from photos, but the one who caught my attention was tall with a face similar to Neil’s.

“Ian, what are you doing here?" Neil asked.

“Out with an old classmate," he nodded to Arielle. "And you?" He eyed me. "Is this the illustrious woman of the century?"

I blinked and Neil chuckled, gesturing to me. "This is. Renee Mountainhowl, my eldest brother, Ian… where are the others?"

"At home, obviously. As if I would be so cruel." He offered his hand to me. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Renee. Ian of Blackfang."

I shook his head. "Nice to meet you."

Arielle clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Up you get, dear cousin."

"What?"

She yanked my drink my hand.

"You're coming up on stage with me."

"I most certain am not!"

But there was no resisting Arielle. Ian pulled a chair up to the table as Arielle got me out of the chair, waving at the DJ who nodded at her.

“No—Arielle— Really---”

"It'll be like old times," she said, laughing and pulling me onto the stage.

The music started. My coworker cheered from their seats, catcalls included.

“I hate you,” I muttered under my breath as she shoved a microphone in my hand.

“You love me.”

It was some pop song, the words were a little hazy, but the screen had them, more importantly it was hard not to fall into her enthusiasm. The memory of the last time we had sang together made my eyes water.

We'd been just kids, putting on a little show at some family gathering I barely remembered. It had been karaoke then too.

Arielle glanced at me taking the first lines of the song the way she had every time before.

The tears welled in my eyes at the easy swell of her voice. I couldn't take it when the chorus hit. Couldn't resist the pull of this familiar, long lost feeling.

"Give me a call, baby baby," we sang together.

The words flowed from my mouth easily. It had been too many years since I'd sung in front of anyone, but I got lost in it, following along with her smooth rocking, harmonizing with her.

Then I looked out at the crowd, and I saw Neil watching me. The music swelled and the tempo picked up.

"You love me… Tell me you love me…"

Arielle harmonized with me effortlessly, her voice blending into mine like we were extensions of the same note. I could have cried. Remembering the reason I had stopped singing, had stopped caring to. Phillip had … taken so much from me.

And I hated it. Even in my future, I had never picked up a microphone again, and it wasn't all grief about my mother.

"Call me. Hold me. Tell me. Don't go… Hold me… I can't let you go…"

I sang, belting out the note with her and blending into the key catch.

She took my hand, and let her voice fade as I belted the last bridge. Something in me opened like a door I hadn’t realized was shut. I could feel the sound vibrating through my chest. The whole bar was cheering, clapping along with us. A soft shimmer filled the air.

When the song ended, the room exploded with applause. I threw my arms around her, sniffling into her shoulder.

"There, there, princess." She squeezed me close. "Glad that you're remembering Mountainhowl in you."

I nodded into her shoulder and we got off the stage. She rubbed my back and let me dab my tears away before we reached the table.

Neil was just staring.

“What?” I asked, still breathless.

“You didn’t tell me you could sing.”

“I… couldn’t remember."

“You didn’t just sing,” he said. “You… it was magical. Literally.”

I shuffled my feet. “You’re just trying to flatter me.”

“I’m serious.”

“He’s right,” Arielle said, pulling up a chair, winking. "We are Mountainhowl for a reason."

I smiled at her, shaking my head. I tried to shake off the surreal feeling. My coworkers were buzzing with energy, praising me and Arielle like we’d just won a talent competition. I shrank under the prize, my whole body buzzing with energy.

After another round of food and drinks, the night started to wind down. I made my way toward the door, waiting for the driver Arielle sent, when I felt someone at my side.

“Had fun?” Neil asked, his hands in his pockets.

“Way more than I expected to.”

“I’m glad,” he said. “You deserve nights like this. Normal nights.”

“Thanks… maybe I’m starting to believe that.”

He looked like he wanted to say more, but instead he just reached out and lifted my hand gently, squeezing lightly before he opened the door and nodded inside.

“See you tomorrow, princess.”

It made my stomach flip, but I nodded and turned to get in.

I glanced across the street, and there, half hidden behind a lamp post, I saw a figure in a red jacket with wild eyes that looked a lot like Vivian.

But when I blinked again, she was gone.

I climbed into the car, unsettled, and sank into the seat. Just a trick of the light, I told myself.

The door shut behind me as he turned to go.

Arielle headed him off.

“Tell your mother to reserve a spot on the calendar for Renee.”

He nodded.

“And tell your father,” she added, “that he’s going to have to pick a different son to take over Blackfang. Frostborne’s going to be Renee’s.”

Arielle pat him on the shoulder and then climbed into the car beside me.

I groaned and hid my face with my hands. “You’re the worst.”

Arielle just laughed. “Flattery gets you nowhere with me, princess.”

"Enjoy yourselves?" I looked to the front seat and saw that it was Zeke in the front seat, acting as driver tonight. He looked like he was still dressed from his shift and maybe a little tired.

"Immensely. Thanks for playing chauffer, babe."

"No thanks needed. You were on the way, and this is way more convenient. Is Dev done for the night?"

"Probably not. They're short-staffed. I'm surprised you're not on duty tonight considering."

"Dev's busy because I'm not on duty."

She tutted. "To be expected…. They'll be shipping you out again soon, hm?"

"Yeah. A few days."

My stomach clenched at the thought. Violent images flashed through my mind that weren't all from the news.

"You… fight rogues?"