Page 108 of Chaos Carnival

A knock at the door interrupted us. “You two better be decent!” Addie's voice called. “Everyone's gathering backstage for the pre-show ritual!”

“We're coming!” I called back, smoothing Maverick's collar as he shrugged on the coat.

Backstage was already buzzing when we arrived. The Sisters were stretching in mid-air, their bodies flickering between forms as they warmed up. Cross stood in his corner, bones dancing between his fingers as he practiced his newest sequence. The hunger hummed through our shared connection, eager but controlled.

“There you are!” Addie bounded over, her starlight dress rippling with dimensional tears. “You have to see what I figured out!” She held out her hand and the air split around her fingers, showing far away glimpses of the universe.

“Careful with those,” Stone warned, his armor catching the light as he approached. “We don't need another Milwaukee incident.”

“That wasn't my fault,” Addie protested.

“And they got exactly what they deserved anyway,” Lux added with a dark smile.

Maverick and I laughed together as we watched the exchange. We'd come so far from those early days. Now we moved like a well-oiled machine, each person's abilities complementing the others'.

“Places in ten,” Lilith announced, materializing from nowhere. Her ancient eyes swept over our group, a hint of pride in her expression. “The energy tonight is... promising.”

Stone cracked his knuckles. “Full moon always brings out the sensitive ones. Their fear tastes sweeter.”

“Just remember to save some for the finale,” I reminded them, watching the auras around each performer.

“Spoilsport,” Addie teased, but her grin was fierce. She'd embraced her darker nature with surprising enthusiasm, once she'd gotten past the initial shock.

Maverick cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. Even after a year, he still commanded the room effortlessly. “Same formation as last night. Cross, dial up the bone dragon's teeth a bit—we had three fainters in the front row.”

“And that fear spike was magnificent,” Cross agreed, already adjusting the creature's skull.

“But save it for the finale,” Maverick replied. “Speaking of which...” He turned to me. “Are the energies stable enough for the mirror maze tonight?”

I closed my eyes and reached out with my senses. “They're cooperating so far. Just...” I met each person's eyes in turn. “Stay within the mapped paths.”

Maverick stalked toward the ring, his coat swirling with shadows that had a life of their own.

The hunger in our bond pulsed with anticipation.

“Your mate has certainly embraced his role,” Lilith observed, materializing beside me. “I remember when he could barely control his own darkness.”

Oscar's crystal skull gleamed from his perch on a nearby trunk. “Indeed. The transformation from brooding seraph to ringmaster of nightmares is quite the character arc. Almost worthy of one of my plays.”

“Almost?” I raised an eyebrow at the skull.

“Well, darling, your circus lacks the witty social commentary that made my work truly transcendent.” Oscar's voice dripped with theatrical disappointment. “Though I suppose watching supernatural beings feed on fear has its own... artistic merit.”

Lilith's lips curved into a knowing smile. “The art is in the precision. Notice how he draws them in, makes them lean forward despite their instincts screaming to run. That's talent.”

“And practice,” I added, as Maverick began his opening speech and the familiar surge of power. The audience's collective intake of breath rippled through the space.

“Practice indeed.” Lilith's ancient eyes glittered. “Teaching you lot to channel darkness properly has been far more entertaining than any of my past tutorials.”

Oscar sighed. “At least this troupe has style. Even if their literary references need work.”

“Not everyone can quote your entire bibliography, Oscar,” I reminded him.

“More's the pity.” The skull's eyes flashed. “Oh, look—he's doing that thing with the shadows again. Very dramatic.”

From my position behind the curtain, I watched Maverick run into the center ring in a swirl of glitter. His dark azure coat caught the spotlights, making the darkness dance across his shoulders like living things.

My breath caught as his voice boomed through the tent, rich and commanding. Even after all this, he still made my heart skip when he slipped into his ringmaster persona. The air shimmered around him, amplifying his natural charisma into something tantalizingly macabre.

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