Page 40 of Unraveling Fate

Silence.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” Thomas leapt onto the stage. “We appear to be having some electrical issues. Thank you for your patience while we clean this up and assure that no one was hurt.”

Voices buzzed through the hall. Staff appeared to clear off the tables and sweep glass off the floor. Cadenza escaped offstage, heart pounding. When she turned back, she found Thomas staring at her, glasses off and face grim.

The earthsong was quieterthe next day and through Brylee’s lesson that evening, leading Cadenza to think she was right that releasing the music also calmed it.If only releasing it didn’t also wreak havoc.

She clanked down the metal stairs to the Ferrari. At least Thomas hadn’t fired her after the debacle last night. Not that he had a reason to connect her to the power surge; he didn’t know what she was. But the way he’d looked at her made her worry.

She slipped off her shoes and clambered to sit cross-legged on the hood of the car and watch the sun set out the garage door.“He can’t know what I am,” she reassured herself. “Idon’t even know what I am.”

She groaned, raking her fingers through her hair. So many years of working for control. “And now the lights explode when I sing.”

A text from Canon buzzed on her phone.

Hey, I have an idea about Italy. Meet me on the porch at the cottage.

“Che ne dici, bello?” She showed the text to the Ferrari’s windshield. “Can’t be worse than no idea, right?” She slid off the hood hoping he’d be good-guy Canon today.

When she arrived, the porch swing creaked softly as he swung back and forth, mixing with the low whistle of the oaks next to the cottage.

“Hey, what’s up?” She skipped up the steps, and he waved her over. Cadenza sat sideways in the swing, studying his face and trying to guess which Canon he was going to be.

“So, I have an idea.” He cleared his throat, a sliver of vulnerability cutting open his usual mask.

Maybe real-person Canon?

“And it might sound crazy but hear me out.”

“Ok.” Cadenza pulled her knees into her chest and settled against the arm of the swing. “I’m listening.”

“Promise?”

She laughed ruefully. “Crazy seems to be my normal lately. Tell me your idea.”

“Ok. I explained the problem to Vasilios, and he had a simple fix.”

“You what?” She straightened. “Canon, these are my personal financial issues.”

“I know, I know,” he interrupted, hands up to stop her argument. “But I needed to brainstorm, and he’s a good sounding board for me. Just listen.”

Cadenza huffed. “Fine.”

He swallowed and took a deep breath. “I’m just gonna get straight to it. Marry me.”

“What?” She jumped out of the swing.

“You promised to listen.”

“Yes, to an idea about paying for my trip to Italy.” She gawked at him, back against the porch railing.

“Let me explain.” Canon rose to follow her, speaking fast. “I think we could be really good for each other. After the picture from the Open House ran in the paper, it circulated online too.”

“Canon,” she cried. “You were supposed to fix that!”

“Yeah, but what I’m saying is my approval ratings skyrocketed because of that picture. Because of you. When people see you with me, and think that you like me, it makesthemlike me too.” He stepped in closer, eyes bright. “I’m good at what I do, you know I am. Drostan pays me accordingly. Even then I’m obviously not planning on staying in sales. Once I really get going in the political arena I’m not exactly going to be strapped for cash.”

She stared at him, but there was no ultrabright smile, no sales pitch in his voice, and her mouth dropped open as she realized he was serious.