Page 3 of Tamed By the Lion Freak

"Madame Noir knows many things," the woman said, spreading her arms to encompass the carnival around them. The movement sent ripples through her dress, making it seem as if shadows were dancing across the fabric. "Especially when it comes to lost souls seeking a new beginning. And you, Kitty Wylde, are more lost than most."

Kitty's mouth went dry. "You know who I am?" Shit. So much for this idea.

Madame Noir's lips curved in a smile that never reached her eyes. "Oh, yes." She cocked her head, studying Kitty with unnerving intensity. "I know all about the accident. Poor Brutus. And those accusations from your former lover. Marco, wasn't it? Such a shame."

"He lied. I never—"

"Never abused your power?" Madame Noir finished, raising an eyebrow. "Never lost control? Never put your own glory above your relationship with Marco? Never told Marco that he’d be nothing without you?"

Each word was like a knife, cutting through the defenses Kitty had built around her heart. How could this woman know so much? She hadn't mentioned Marco's name to anyone since the incident. She felt exposed, vulnerable in a way she hadn't allowed herself to be since that fateful night. She had been a power-hungry bitch. And maybe she deserved to be smacked down to earth. But her animals hadn’t deserved to be vilified.

"I loved them," Kitty whispered, her voice cracking. "My lions. They were everything to me. I would never hurt them like Marco claimed. Brutus wasn’t starving to death. That’s not why he went after the man with the steak." It would have been easy to blame the circus’ security. To blame the idiot with the meat death wish. But in the end, she should have controlled Brutus. “It wasn’t Brutus’ fault. It was mine. But I didn’t mean for anyone to be hurt.”

“Even Marco?” Madame Noir asked.

That was a little more complicated. “I loved him too. But that hadn’t been enough for him. And maybe he hadn’t been enough for me either.”

For a moment, something like sympathy flickered in Madame Noir's eyes. But it was gone so quickly Kitty thought she might have imagined it. Kitty and Marco had fought and made up, and fought again. It was thrilling, passionate, exciting and towards the end... exhausting.

"Intentions matter little in the face of consequences, don't they?” Madame Noir said, her tone softening slightly. “The question is what type of work are you looking to do?”

As Madame Noir's words hung in the air, Kitty felt a chill that had nothing to do with the night air. She'd come seeking a fresh start, but standing here, under Madame Noir's penetrating gaze, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd walked into something far darker than she'd ever imagined.

“I’m an animal trainer. I specialize in lions. But I can do just about anything you need. I grew up working the carnival circuit.” She gave a half laugh. “I ran away as soon as I could to join the circus.” She ran away from uncaring parents, boring school, and a small town that hadn’t changed since the seventies. Kitty had never looked back. Never wanted to.

“I need a dare devil. I need someone with renown to put this carnival on the map.”

“I’m not sure my type of renown is what you’re looking for.”

“It is.”

Kitty didn’t like putting herself out there, riding on the bad publicity and social media hate to bring people to gawk at her like she was one of the carnival freaks. But what choice did she have?

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes," she said, meeting Madame Noir's gaze. "Just tell me where to start."

Madame Noir's smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed just a touch too sharp. "Oh, my dear," she said, sending a shiver down Kitty's spine. "We're going to have so much fun together."

As she followed Madame Noir deeper into the shadows of the carnival, Kitty couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking into a lion's den. But this time, she wasn't sure who the real predator was.

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