Free King of Rock (Lions of Pride Island Book 1) by Terry Bolryder

them were so young it broke his heart.
    As they walked forward, a reporter got too close to Stacy, and Beau moved protectively in front of her, tucking her into his side.
    As much as he liked being able to influence the world for good and play his music, this was his least favorite part. The cameras shoved in his face and the people who felt totally entitled to him.
    Still, she gave him an encouraging squeeze on his arm, and he made it to the small stool they’d set up with a microphone. Then she sat in front with the kids.
    She looked so right there, just right in front of him where he could see her. A tiny shiver of nerves fluttered through him, which was surprising. He hadn’t experienced stage fright in a long time. But this was different. He wanted to impress her.
    He played a few notes to make sure his guitar was tuned, smiling at the kids who were waving at him as he did so. Then he took a deep breath and let himself get into his mood so he could play the best show possible for these little people who deserved it more than anyone.
    He locked eyes with Stacy as he sang the first note, and when she smiled at him, he relaxed into the music and everything else faded out. It was just him and the songs and the children and his mate.
    The flashes disappeared, just the way he liked it.
    He didn’t need any fame. He just needed her. But how could he make her see it?

    * * *
    T he whole ride back from the hospital, all Stacy could think about was how adorable Beau had been with the kids. He’d played his tamest songs, and she was surprised as they all sang along. He really had impacted a lot of the world with his music.
    He was quiet as he watched the roads to make sure paparazzi weren’t following him. His manager had helped deflect them by saying he’d be coming out a different exit, and meanwhile, they’d snuck around to the side exit after signing autographs for all the children.
    “I think you really made a difference today,” she said. “At least those kids seemed to really have a good time.”
    He flashed her a grin. His skin glowed slightly from the sweat of performing his heart out for several hours, and his hair was mussed and he had to push it back from his face where it wanted to stick.
    Still, even like this, flushed and disheveled, she thought him incredibly sexy. How many people got to see Beau Hunt like this? After the performance, when everything was winding down.
    He focused on the road, which she appreciated, and she pushed the recline button on her comfortable seat and leaned back.
    “You have such a good life here,” she said. “Why do you even care about your family’s political stuff? It hurts so many people.”
    “What do you mean?” he asked. “You mean uprisings hurt so many people. We never want to hurt anyone.”
    “No, but you’d fight back to keep power.”
    “Depends on who wants the power,” he stated. “Not all pure-blooded lion families are as diplomatic as we are. At least with the human world.”
    “What do you care about the human world?” she asked.
    “Seriously?” He snorted. “Like those kids, the rest of the world means a lot to me, too. Right now, things work well; they’re in balance. Shifters aren’t persecuted, and for the most part, they’re kept in line so they don’t persecute others. But there are people, lions, who think that’s all messed up and we should be ruling the humans. Or rounding them up and slaughtering them so shifters can take over the world.”
    “There aren’t enough of us,” she said.
    He shrugged. “There are some who don’t care. Me and my family have been fighting for years to ensure they don’t get the oracle behind them.”
    “Why does it matter so much?” she asked.
    “Because the oracle controls the dragons,” he said. “And if the dragons moved from protecting shifters and humans to going after anyone who disagreed with the ruling lions, a lot of people would be in a lot of trouble.” He ran a hand through his