Free FascinatingRhythm by Lynne Connolly Page A

everything. Like having her ears cleaned
out.
    They launched into a new song and her senses subsided once
more, muffled and dull. But that one note made her hungry. More, she wanted
more.
    For the rest of the performance, she watched Zazz, her
attention occasionally going to Hunter. She had no idea how her lover kept up
that level of clean, precise work. He and Donovan seemed to act as one at times
and at others, Donovan moved forward to set up a counter to Hunter’s driving
rhythm. Occasionally Riku moved back to take a hand in the drumming, and she
discovered why Hunter’s kit was so diverse and plentiful—sometimes he wasn’t
the only person using it.
    She had no idea how much time had passed and she didn’t
care, as long as they didn’t stop. The mosh pit’s occupants surged forward, the
occasional person spilling over the barrier to be tipped back by one of the
security guards standing with his back to the band. How they managed that, she
had no idea. She’d make a lousy security guard.
    The concert came to an end, but when Emmelie stood to leave,
Sabina put her hand on her employer’s arm. “They’ll play encores,” she said.
Emmelie got out her phone.
    Three extra songs, the last something plaintive that made
the crowd sway. They were still singing after the band left the stage.
    Emmelie put her phone away and faced Sabina, one eyebrow
raised. “What now?” she signed.
    She hadn’t bothered to pay attention to Chick’s instructions
then. “We wait for someone to come get us.”
    Emmelie sighed and watched the crowd slowly disperse with an
attention she’d failed to bestow on her son, then lifted her hands. “I don’t
think I’m missing a great deal. These concerts require a lot of effort, don’t
they?”
    “They do,” Sabina answered, “but they make a lot of people
very happy.”
    “You know he decided to leave the classical world early? He
was always listening to music, until I had complaints about the noise.” She
grinned, a rare expression for Emmelie. “Can you imagine? Deaf people
complained about the noise!”
    Sabina didn’t find it funny, but she gave a polite smile.
Habit. Emmelie liked people to share her rare jokes. All Sabina could think of
was a sad and lonely little boy trying to attract attention any way he could.
Not that it had worked. And now he’d moved away. One day Emmelie might realize
what she’d lost. Her dismissal of her son as not good enough would come back to
bite her. And now she wanted to use the attention that rightfully belonged to
him to publicize her own interests.
    Sabina knew Hunter would let her.
    Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Not a security guard,
but Hunter himself. She stood up fast, using her hands to speak. “They’ll mob
you, you shouldn’t!”
    “I wanted you.” He reached for her hand and stroked it.
    She could pull away at any time if she wanted to sign, but
she didn’t. Despite the almost tangible disapproval of Emmelie, she spoke.
“That was amazing.”
    “Come.”
    He drew her out of her seat and into the aisle. Already
people were beginning to gather around, but he hadn’t come alone. Two burly men
stood a few steps away, ready to intervene if needed. She hadn’t seen them
before because she’d only had eyes for Hunter.
    His hair swirled wildly around his face and his eyes blazed.
She recalled the legends of her people, stories of warriors who drove
themselves into a frenzy, the Berserkers. He looked like that now, a man who
knew what he wanted and wouldn’t stop until he’d achieved his mission. Only his
mission was her, and she wasn’t the enemy.
    Once she’d reached his side, he dropped her hand to sign to
his mother. “These men will take you to the public room where the press
conference is taking place.”
    She nodded, her face expressionless now, something unusual
for a deaf person. Sign language involved facial expression as well as hand
gestures.
    Hunter took Sabina’s hand and led her up the stairs,