Across the Music (Across the Ocean Book 2) by Heather Sosbee

realize that Loki is watching Sophie closely, and I'm not used to Loki giving much attention to any women. Interesting. He must be drawn to Sophie like I am, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I might have to make my intentions clear, sooner rather than later. I can't say that I know what my intentions are yet, but apparently I need to figure them out, and get on it. All I know is that I want to be close to Sophie however I can.
    "Will you sing for me again, Sophie?" Loki's voice rings out suddenly as he stops playing his guitar and focuses completely on her. Again ? She sang for him before? Do they know each other from Tálknafjörður, too? Am I jealous? Is this what jealousy feels like? I don't like it. I'm totally jealous.
    Sophie's face turns a lovely shade of pink at the sudden attention from everyone in the room, but she shrugs her shoulders as though she is unaffected, and completely composed.
    "I'm unsure if I know any of the songs you do, but I will do my best, mate. What do you want to play?" She sits up a little straighter on the bed, preparing for whatever singing she'll be asked to do. I like her eagerness to participate, instead of only hanging around in the background, unnoticed, or even to whine and cause a fuss like some women would do. She doesn't mind shining, or doesn't appear to be shy or dramatic. I'm interested to hear her sing, if Loki wants her to. He never asks anyone to sing for him. It's a problem we've had with our music, he hasn't been happy with any of the voices we've asked to try out for our singer.
    "I just want you to do what you did earlier, is that alright?" Loki's question answers my own, and I feel a slight decrease in stress over the situation. At least she still met me first. I see Sophie nodding to Loki, and am rather pleasantly surprised that she's so on board with all of it.
    Loki begins to play a beautiful melody that I haven't heard from him before. The chords create a beautiful feeling that swells and moves around inside of my chest. Walking over to my table full of music equipment, I turn a few on and prepare to join in. Moments later, Sophie slides effortlessly in with her singing. I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it, and I'm ecstatic that I chose to come into the room when I did, so I didn't miss this.
    I'm struck stupid, entranced when she begins singing actual words.
     
    Soon, I'll take off and fly, to meet you where the
    Earth meets the sky.
    Fate has said that there I'll stay, and now the
    Lights will show me the way.
     
    The high clear tone accompanied somehow by a throaty raspiness that I've not heard before. I haven't even begun to question how she made up those lyrics so quickly and on the spot. I'm absolutely and thoroughly impressed. I may also be sporting a partial stiffy, but no one is paying any attention to me. Is she singing about the Northern Lights?
    Sophie fades into humming the melody she has created, and all of us are staring at her in shock, except Loki. He is wearing a shit-eating grin as though he knew what kind of treat we were in for. Her voice flows so well with the guitar, and I jump in and push some buttons on one of my synths to give us a steady bass and beat. My foot starts tapping, just as I see Brooke and Ari's feet tapping on the ground with the beat, their heads bobbing along with the rhythm.
    Brooke's eyes are the size of saucers as she watches Sophie singing, her lip held between her teeth. She keeps looking over at Ari with excitement. I wonder what's going through her head.
     
    Lights from far to the North
    Bring me closer to where you are
    Beaconing its beautiful light
    Together, we'll light up the night
     
    Loki wraps up the song when Sophie finishes singing, and I work my magic to bring the beat and bass to a close with him. There's a feeling of satisfaction hovering in the air, from making something beautiful so quickly and perfectly.
    "Holy shit Sophie," Brooke rushes forward and sits on the edge of the bed next