Page 26 of Chaos Carnival

“Like the chains of a dungeon.”

“Mm, kinky.” His lips brushed my ear. “We could try it out. But I want more. I’m so much worse than you think.”

Another violent shiver ripped through him, and this time, he couldn't hide the grunt of pain. I caught him before he could fall, my hands fisting in his jacket.

“Worse at taking care of yourself, maybe.” The words came out sharper than intended. “How long till the poison spreads all the way?”

“Worried about me?”

“About getting stuck in Paris with a dead seraph.”

His chuckle was more ice than humor. “You're not getting rid of me that easily. We're cursed. Bound to each other, remember?”

“Yeah.” I pushed him back upright, ignoring how cold his skin felt. “Lucky me.”

The train screeched around a curve, and I caught another passenger checking his phone, the screen flickering with symbols that definitely weren't human. Fuck.

“Maverick.” I kept my voice steady, casual. “How many stops until Paris?”

He followed my gaze, body tensing. “Too many.”

The train lurched around another bend, throwing me against his chest. His arms locked around me like steel bands, his grip almost desperate. A whiff of leather and winter storms filled my nose, but underneath was something wrong, a metallic tang that made my stomach clench. The poison was getting worse, and we were running out of time.

Maverick’s breath caressed my ear. “Just act natural.”

“Natural?” I shifted, trying to find stable footing as the train swayed. “Like I regularly cuddle with dying seraph while hunters… hunt?”

“Could be worse.” His laugh turned into a harsh cough that frosted the air between us. “Could be that time in Devil—“

“We agreed never to talk about that again.” I angled closer, using the movement to check the rest of the car.

Maverick's hands slid lower, pulling me flush with him. The casual intimacy of the gesture made my breath catch, even as another tremor raced through his body.

“Play along,” he murmured, nuzzling my neck. Ice crystals formed where his lips touched my skin. “Public displays of affection make people uncomfortable.”

“You're getting worse.” I tangled my fingers in his hair, making it look like desire instead of checking his temperature. Frost coated my palm. “And your brilliant plan is to make out?”

“Always, monstre. Got a better idea?” His teeth grazed my pulse point, sending electricity down my spine despite the cold.

The shadows pressed in, stuttering flashes of streetlights etched through grimy windows. Maverick's arms tightened around me as another shudder wracked his body, his bluish fingers digging into my hips hard enough to bruise.

“We need to complete the ritual.” His words skimmed my neck. “Before the poison finishes me off.”

Guilt pierced my gut like a dagger. Addie's vacant eyes haunted me, but Maverick's deteriorating condition was on me, too. If I hadn't bound us together in that past life, if I hadn't gotten involved with him this time—

“Stop.” His fingers caught my chin, grip bruising as he forced my face up. Even in the darkness, his eyes burned with unholy fire. “Your guilt tastes like ash, and I've had enough poison for one day. We save each other, then we save her. That's the deal.”

“I didn't agree to any deal.” I tried to jerk away, but his grip held firm. “In fact, I'm getting real tired of you making decisions about my life.”

“Then stop making it so damn necessary.” His lips brushed my ear, sending a sharp tingle up my neck. “Or haven't you noticed? Every time you try to sacrifice yourself, it just makes things worse for everyone.”

“You're one to talk about making things worse.” I twisted in his grip until we were face to face. “How's that celestial poison treating you? Feeling heroic yet?”

His smile was all teeth. “About as heroic as binding someone's soul for eternity out of spite.”

The barb hit home, but I refused to flinch. “Keep it up, and I'll let you freeze.”

“No, you won't.” His certainty made me want to scream. “You need me too much.”

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