Page 30 of Tamed By the Lion Freak

"Leo.” Kitt ran to him and buried her face in his mane. Feeling the warmth of his fur, the steady beat of his heart beneath her hands, she knew she’d almost lost everything.

“I love you.”

He curled around her protectively, a low rumble in his chest both warning and comfort.

Brutus circled them, but something had changed. The unnatural green light in his eyes flickered and dimmed. Without Kitty's sacrifice to fuel the dark magic that had resurrected him, his borrowed life was fading. As they watched, his form grew transparent, like smoke in the wind.

The last thing Kitty saw in his eyes before he disappeared completely was a glimmer of his old self – a final moment of recognition, of goodbye. Then he was gone, leaving behind only the lingering scent of ozone and grief.

The audience sat in stunned silence for a long moment before erupting in thunderous applause. They thought it was all part of the show— the greatest performance they'd ever witnessed. They had no idea they'd just watched real magic die, and real love triumph.

Kitty was lost in Leo's eyes, rediscovering every emotion she had sacrificed. His love hadn't just saved her life, it had saved her soul. She pressed her forehead to his, feeling the connection between them burn brighter than ever.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with restored feeling. "I'm so sorry. I chose wrong. I thought I needed Brutus to be whole again, but it was you. It was always you."

Leo's response was to pull her closer, his massive body shielding her from the audience's view as she shook with the force of her returning emotions.

Chapter Eleven

Once the lions weresecured in their enclosure, the adrenaline began to fade. Exhaustion hit Kitty like a physical force, her legs nearly buckling beneath her. She leaned against the bars of the cage, her mind whirling as she tried to process everything that had happened.

She was feeling again. The emptiness was gone, replaced by a tumult of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. Joy at having her Nala and Sarabi back. Fear at how close they'd come to disaster. Guilt over the deal she'd made, the danger she'd put everyone in. Grief over losing Brutus again. Peace that she had been able to say goodbye to him. Pain at the matching claw marks Brutus gave her on her other arm.

And love. God, how had she ever thought she could live without this? The passion that filled her chest when she looked at Leo, the deep connection she felt with her lions. It was everything.

Her gaze fell on Leo, still in his lion form, resting near the bars of the enclosure. He watched her with those intelligent eyes, and Kitty felt a surge of gratitude. He had saved her out there, not just physically but emotionally too. Somehow, their connection had been strong enough to break through Madame Noir's spell.

Kitty sank down beside Leo's cage, leaning her head against the cool metal. Dawn wasn't far off now. Her wounds from Brutus’ claws had been hastily bandaged, but they were deep and they would scar. But they would serve as a reminder to her of what she had almost lost.

Soon, Leo would transform back, and they'd be able to talk properly. There was so much to say, so much to figure out. But for now, Kitty was content to sit in silence, the steady sound of Leo's breathing beside her. She had made a terrible mistake, had nearly lost everything that mattered. But she was feeling again. And with Leo by her side, she had hope that somehow, they'd find a way through this.

The first streaks of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, casting a surreal glow over the Twisted Carnival. Kitty’s eyes fixed on his lion form, waiting for the transformation she knew was coming. As the sun's rays touched the carnival grounds, Leo's body began to shift.

Kitty watched in fascination as fur receded, paws elongated into hands and feet, and the majestic mane gave way to Leo's tousled human hair. The process looked painful, but Leo endured it silently, his eyes never leaving Kitty's.

As soon as the transformation was complete, Kitty sprang to her feet, reaching for Leo. "We need to talk," she whispered urgently, glancing around at the stirring carnival. "My trailer. Now."

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