Page 13 of Tamed By the Lion Freak

Chapter Five

The knock on her trailerdoor didn't startle Kitty. She'd been awake for hours, replaying the previous night's performance in her mind. The weight of Leo's massive paws on her shoulders, the heat of his breath on her neck, the moment of terror and exhilaration as she'd placed her head in his mouth—it all swirled through her thoughts, leaving her dizzy and conflicted. Leo the lion was also the rude man who had confronted her yesterday and yet, he was also the lion she had performed with last night. It was impossible. And yet, she knew in her soul it was true.

"Come in," she called, straightening her robe.

Leo stepped inside, ducking to avoid hitting his head on the low doorframe. Kitty's breath caught in her throat. How had she not recognized him immediately? It was his eyes that truly gave him away—the same intense, intelligent gaze that had locked with hers in the ring.

"I wanted to apologize again," Kitty began, the words tumbling out. "For last night, for treating you like..."

Leo held up a hand, cutting her off. "Don't," he said, his voice low and rough. "You have nothing to apologize for." He studied her face intently. "How did you know that it was me?"

Kitty swallowed hard, suddenly aware of how small her trailer felt with Leo's imposing presence filling it. "Your eyes."

A muscle twitched in Leo's jaw. He nodded. "What else do you know?"

"Not much," she said. "Just that this carnival, is not normal."

Leo's laugh was harsh, devoid of humor. "You don't know the half of it."

"What are you?" she asked.

Leo's expression darkened. "That's complicated. I made a deal I can’t tell you about. The price of the deal was that I am cursed to become a lion at night."

"What can you tell me?" she pressed. "About the carnival. About Madame Noir."

Leo sighed, sinking onto the small bed that took up most of the trailer's limited space. Kitty's pulse quickened at his proximity, and she silently cursed herself for the reaction. This was hardly the time for the compelling desire that made her want to sit on his lap and kiss him senseless. Did he feel this pull of lust? Or was it just her?

"The carnival is magical," Leo said. "And Madame Noir is a powerful sorceress."

Kitty's mind reeled at the confirmation of her suspicions. "And the others? The performers? Are they all here against their will?"

Leo shook his head. "No one's here against their will. Not exactly. We all made bargains to get here. But once you're in..." His voice trailed off, and Kitty could see the pain etched in the lines of his face.

"You can't leave," she finished for him.

“We all wanted something. Madame Noir has a way of knowing exactly what that is. And exploiting it. What did you want?”

“Another chance.” Memories of the accident flashed before her eyes. The attack, the accusations, the shame. "It wasn't my fault," she blurted out, needing suddenly, desperately for Leo to understand. "What happened at my last carnival. I didn't abuse my animals. I loved them. There was a man in the audience. He offered Brutus, my lion, a steak. I don’t know how he got passed security or what led him to do that.”

But she did, she realized.

Marco had done it. Marco had convinced the man do it. And Marco had destroyed her career because as he said, “You love your lions more than you love me.”

“I might not have been the best person,” Kitty continued. “But I never meant to hurt someone so badly that they felt they needed to destroy my career as a payback. Brutus just wanted the steak, but then the man freaked out and ... well Brutus took more than the steak. He hadn’t been starved. I didn’t abuse him.”

"I believe you," Leo cut her off, his voice gentle.

Kitty blinked, surprised by the certainty in his tone. Grateful tears pricked at her eyes. It had been so long since anyone had believed her side of the story. "Thank you," she said. “I’m pretty sure my ex—the guy who said I mistreated my lions—arranged it all to happen.”

“Marco Silveri.”

“How do you know his name?”

“He took over your position. Your lions.”

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