Page 82 of Chaos Carnival

The goat bleated once, then vanished in a puff of black smoke, reappearing on the tiger's back. The bigger animal yowled in surprise, its supernatural aura flickering as Eris headbutted.

“Nice trick,” I muttered, watching the tiger slink back toward its enclosure, thoroughly chastised by a goat half its size. “When were you planning to mention that particular talent?”

Stone shrugged. “Didn't come up.”

Around us, the circus was taking shape, but not without its share of chaos. Brightly colored tents stretched toward the sky, their fabric snapping in the breeze like living things. Strings of lights wrapped around poles and ran along the dirt paths, some flickering with actual spirits rather than electricity—another of Lilith's “improvements” that I wasn't entirely comfortable with.

“Maverick!” Addie's voice cut through the commotion. She darted past, a tray of cookies balanced precariously in one hand while she carried a stack of what looked like human bones in the other. “Snack break! And tell your brother his 'security measures' are scaring the regular staff!”

I caught a cookie before she could shove it at me. “Where’d those come from?”

“They're carved from ash wood,” Lux appeared at my side, clipboard in hand. “Though Stone's enchantments make them more convincing.” He consulted his notes. “Speaking of convincing, we need to discuss the main act. The illusions aren't holding as long as they should.”

I followed his gaze to the center ring, where transparent figures rehearsed death-defying acts that would be impossible for actual humans. The images flickered and wavered, like bad reception on an old TV.

“Lilith says—” Lux began, but I cut him off.

“Where's Tess?”

His expression tightened. “In her tent. She's been... connecting with the threads.”

The words sent a cold dread in my chest. Ever since her return, Tess's relationship with reality had been complicated at best. I started toward the fortune-telling tent, its dark purple canvas standing apart from the others, edges trimmed in gold thread.

“Maverick,” Lux called after me. “We need those illusions sort—“

I pushed aside the heavy purple curtain of Tess's tent, entering her small sanctuary. The air inside felt different, thicker somehow, charged with energy. Candles flickered in ornate holders, casting dancing shadows across the walls. Her tarot cards were laid out on the velvet-covered table, some face-up in patterns I didn't understand.

“Monstre?” I called.

She emerged from behind the curtain of hanging crystals, and even their gentle chiming seemed to bend to her will now. “The strands are showing me everything about tomorrow's show,” she said, her voice carrying that new confidence that still took my breath away. “Every scream, every gasp, every moment of delicious terror.”

I watched her move through the space with deliberate elegance, each gesture precise and purposeful. She touched each crystal, each candle, knowing precisely how they would affect tomorrow's performances.

“They'll give themselves to us so perfectly,” she continued, her smile sharp with knowledge rather than madness. “Their fear will feed us so delightfully.” Her eyes met mine, ancient and knowing, and she tilted her head, lips widening in grace. “You're thinking about how different I am now. How I don't need you to ground me anymore.”

I moved closer, drawn by the magnetic pull of her power. “Reading my mind again, monstre?”

“Always,” she said, turning to face me fully. “Just like I know what you're about to do. Just like I knew how to break that ancient curse binding us.”

My hand froze halfway to her face, the ring I still wore glinting in the dim light. “You broke it?” Fear coiled in my gut—a fear I hadn't wanted to let myself acknowledge. Without the curse binding us, would she still want me? Or would she finally see clearly what I was, what I'd done to her? A thousand years of failed relationships whispered their warnings.

Her smile softened. “Of course I did. Did you think I'd let that continue to control us?” She stepped closer, power dancing along my skin. “But look at us—still drawn together, still perfectly matched. No curse needed.”

The knot in my chest loosened. Even with her newfound power, even with true freedom, she was still here. Still mine. I reached for her face, and she was already leaning into my touch before my fingers made contact. Her skin was cool now, perfectly controlled. “Does that make us less interesting?” I asked, genuinely curious but tentative. “Now that we're truly free?”

Her laugh was rich with promise. “Knowing the future doesn't make the present any less delicious. Being free to choose you makes every moment sweeter.” She pressed closer, her power rippling through the air. “For instance, I know exactly how this next kiss will feel, but...”

I closed the distance between us, claiming her mouth with all the hunger I'd been holding back. She matched me, her fingers curling into my shirt. The wild magic that had once threatened to overwhelm her now bent to her will, making the air shimmer around us.

When we broke apart, her eyes were darkened with desire rather than malice. “See?” she murmured. “Still perfect. Just us, bound by choice across every lifetime.” Her smile lit up her face,but there was something vulnerable in her eyes that made my chest ache. I traced my thumb along her jaw, memorizing every detail of this moment, terrified she might vanish again someday.

“You know,” I rasped, my voice rougher than intended, “for someone who's seen so much, you've managed to completely blindside me.”

She tilted her head. “Oh?”

“I've lived for thousands of years, monstre. Thought I knew everything there was to know about power.” I tilted my forehead to hers, breathing her in. “Then you came along and rewrote every rule I thought I understood.”

Her hands slid up my chest, settling over my heart. “Maverick...”

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