Page 48 of Daemonium

Kinks exited first and turned around to face us. “Welcome to Cirque De Kinks,” she declared with a flourish, spreading her arms wide.

The entire club was filled with masked people, and I had a sinking feeling that every single one of them was a hunter. It was a lot to take in—different acts were happening in designated areas, some with a dark twist that made my skin crawl. Fire breathers, knife throwers, acrobats twisting in the air—all of them performing in a spectacle of chaos and violence. In the center of the club was a giant carousel, moving backward, its golden lights casting eerie shadows as it spun. The horses, twisted and deformed, seemed to be leering at us, mocking our presence.

“Prepare yourselves,” Kinks said, her voice carrying over the music, a warning and a challenge all at once. This was her domain, her twisted circus, and we were about to become part of the show.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I stood in the VIP area, my gaze fixed on the chaotic scene unfolding below. The entire club was a whirlwind of lights, sounds, and twisted fantasies come to life. From up here, I had a perfect view of everything, but it didn’t bring me the satisfaction it usually would. My mind was elsewhere.

I hadn’t wanted to leave the penthouse earlier, and now I was barely holding myself back from going to get Sunshine myself. Even though we were in the same building, the distance between us gnawed at me. I’d already spent too much time away from her, agreeing to a game of pool just to keep my head straight.

Balancing my time between my brothers and my purpose was something I knew I had to do, but being near her felt more important than anything else.

Maverick and Charon were finally satisfied, having gotten their hands on the liquor they’d been after—special reserves from Kinks’ own stash. Their masks hid everything but their mouths, which were currently occupied with sipping from crystal glasses alongside Eryx. Candlelight flickered over the red velvet of the booth, casting dancing shadows along the walls.

I couldn’t help but smirk when Hael patted Dion’s back after he turned away from the spectacle that had Ciaran and Brody captivated. Two motorcycles raced within a steel cage, their riders defying gravity while a naked girl hung upside down in the center, chains binding her and twisting her in every direction, cutting into her flesh. She would be in pieces soon.

It was the kind of scene that only existed in Cirque—a blend of madness and precision. People beyond the cage jeered, dancing to the music. This was more than just a nightclub; it was a sanctuary for those like us. The carnival and circus theme is a tribute to my baby sister. Kinks took great pride in running it, molding it into this twisted haven where the sadistic and the bizarre could thrive.

The people who assisted her and kept it going night after night, the ones who stayed loyal to her, were as much a part of the spectacle as the performers themselves. Pride swelled in me as I thought of Kinks and all we’d built, but it was hard to fully appreciate it with the absence of Sunshine weighing on me. She grounded me and made this chaotic world make sense. Without her, all of this was just noise. My grip tightened on the glass in my hand as I scanned the room, looking for any sign of her.

The anticipation gnawed at me, but I forced myself to stay put, to wait. I’d given my word to Kinks that I’d let the girls have their moment, that I’d let them come to me. But the second I saw her, all bets were off. Ciaran's sudden shift in demeanor alerted me that they had arrived. I turned and immediately felt the need to start counting backward to maintain control.

She looked like a manifestation of my deepest, darkest fantasies, wrapped in the perfect package of sweetness and danger. She was without a doubt, that she was the most beautiful woman in the entire damn club. Seeing her in that white outfit, with the pink mask, felt like a punch to the gut. The mask might have hidden her face, but I knew it was her. My Sunshine. My Grace. The girl who had been taken from me. The one who had carved sunflowers into her skin, a permanent mark of a memory she couldn't fully grasp.

The sight of that tattoo, partially visible just above her thigh-high stockings, stirred something deep within me—an ache that had never really gone away.

She moved towards me, like a moth drawn to a flame, though what we shared was far darker and more dangerous than any simple attraction. My body reacted before my mind could catch up, standing to meet her halfway. The world fell away as I pulled her into my arms, her warmth grounding me in a way nothing else could. For a moment, everything else—this twisted game, the club, the people—ceased to exist. There was only her, only us, and the lingering hope that maybe, just maybe, we could find our way back to each other.

She was showing far too much skin for my liking. I couldn’t help but run my hands up and down her arms, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my fingertips.

My hands trailed down her back, tracing every curve until they reached the back of her thighs. I gripped her lower cheeks, pulling her closer to me, staking my claim without saying a word.

Kinks stood nearby, practically beaming, waiting to be praised for her handiwork. Mel had already taken a seat between Charon and Brody, snatching the glass from Brody’s hand with a mischievous grin. Hayven let out a laugh, only to abruptly stop when Charon pulled her onto his lap, making it clear she wasn’t going anywhere. Ciaran held Lana from behind, her back pressed to his chest, as if he were anchoring her in place. They were a mirror of my own possessiveness.

“You did good, Kenzie,” Maverick said, finally breaking the silence.

“About time someone thanked me,” Kinks replied with a playful pout. “I couldn’t have done it without my beautiful bestie slash assistant,” she added, motioning to Aisha, who gave a small bow. Her lilac wig looked so natural it was easy to forget it wasn’t her real hair. “And of course, the most beautiful hosts,” she gestured to the girls, who were now the center of attention. Then, she turned her attention to Eryx, “Why didn’t you hype me?” she asked, her tone teasing.

Eryx responded without missing a beat, “Because I don’t look at other women.”

“Oh, right. Good boy,” she quipped. “Where is Rafe?”

“He went to get your prop for tonight,” Hael answered, stepping closer to her.

Kinks locked eyes with me, her smile widening as she looked at each of us. “The plan is to be seen, right? Well, I’ve got something epic just for tonight.”

Dion, ever the quick one, caught on immediately. “What’s the catch?”

Kinks tilted her head as if just noticing him, her grin widening mischievously.

“Gosh, you’re cute. Do you wanna play with me later?”

“Kenzie,” Eryx and Charon both warned, Hael’s voice a low growl.

She waved them both off with a playful hand. “Oh, don’t get all growly, it was a joke. Sorta,” she added with a wink. “Anyways, I need to borrow my new friends for a little bit.”

Brody opened his mouth, ready to argue, but Kinks wasn’t having it. “Don’t you dare tell me no. It’ll be fun, and what better way to show the Syndicate they’re here than to open up with them on stage?”

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