Page 27 of Chaos Carnival

“I need you like I need a fork in the eyeball.”

Maverick stumbled as we hit a rough patch of track, his weight nearly taking us both down. I caught him, turning it into what I hoped looked like an embrace rather than desperate support.

“Getting handsy in public?” His voice fractured like porcelain struck too hard. “Didn't know you cared.”

“Shut up and try to look less dead.” I shifted to take more of his weight, my fingers finding bare skin at his collar. Frost patterns spread from my touch. “You're practically radiating 'easy target' right now.”

“You say the sweetest things.” He nuzzled my neck as the tremors wracked his body. “Next you'll tell me my eyes are pretty when they're rolling back in my head.”

The Eiffel Tower loomed ahead, its iron skeleton wrapped in protective wards that blazed like purple lightning to my phantasmal sight. Below that, the shadows moved like serpents in the grass.

“Your eyes will be prettier if they stay in your skull.” I inched closer, making it look intimate instead of defensive. “Think you can make it three more stops without collapsing?”

“For you?” His laugh ghosted over my skin. “Anything. Except maybe dancing. Or walking. Or—” He broke off with a grunt of pain.

“Breathing?” I suggested, sliding my hand under his jacket to share more body heat. His skin felt too cold, too clammy. “Because that seems to be giving you trouble too.”

“Only when I look at you.” He caught my wrist, his grip painfully tight. “Though, that might be mutual.”

“Might be your ego.” But I didn't pull away. The frost was spreading faster now, crackling across his jaw like hungry vines.

The train lights flickered, plunging us into darkness. Maverick's grip became crushing.

“Fuck,” he breathed against my neck. The veins were spreading faster now, spidering across his jaw. “Remember what I said about it getting worse?”

“Let me guess.” I nestled in, urging my body heat to slow the poison's progression. “It just got worse?”

His laugh was more ice than sound. “Always knew you were the smart one.”

Chapter 13: Parisian Witch

Tess

Aftergettingoffthetrain, we stumbled through the Marais district, Maverick's arm slung over my shoulder like we were drunk lovers rather than a witch supporting a dying seraph. His skin was too pale against his jacket, and sweat beaded his forehead.

“Left here.” His words came out slurred. “La Librairie du Merveilleux should be—” He broke off, doubling over as another wave of poison hit.

I scanned the narrow cobblestone street. Paris blazed with supernatural energy. Gargoyles tracked our movement with glowing eyes while wisps of ancient magic curled like fairy dustfrom centuries-old doorways. Dark wards shimmered across building facades, some protective, others decidedly not.

The shop's entrance writhed with dark energy, promising danger and secrets in equal measure. Just like the man leaning on me, whose touch burned cold even as it set my skin on fire.

I leaned Maverick against the shop's wrought iron gate, watching frost spread from his skin to the metal. “If this is another one of your brilliant ideas gone wrong, I'm leaving you here to freeze.”

“Such concern.” He traced a sigil in the frost his breath left on the gate, fingers trembling. “Madame Celeste's been collecting cursed artifacts since before the Revolution. Tried to kill me at least three times.” A vicious shudder wracked his body. “Have to admire her dedication.”

“Fantastic.” I eyed the shadows writhing behind warped windows like living things. “Because what we really need right now is a homicidal shopkeeper with a grudge.”

“Better than a celestial prison.” His ice-cold fingers slid under my jacket, drawing a gasp as they traced my waist band. “Or are you enjoying our game of cat and mouse?”

“At least the hunter's motives are clear.” But I didn't pull away from his frozen touch. My body heat only seemed to make the frost spread faster. “This place feels like it wants to eat us.”

“Only on Tuesdays.” He nuzzled my neck, practically leaving ice crystals on my skin. “Besides, you need me alive to save Addie. And I need...” His voice rang out, jagged and uneven, as another tremor hit. “I need you to trust me. Just this once.”

The umbra behind the glass distorted into screaming faces, their silent howls promising outstanding torment.

Every instinct screamed to run.

Instead, I caught his jaw, forcing those pain-glazed eyes to meet mine. “If this gets us killed, I'm haunting you for eternity. Again.”

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