Page 49 of Chaos Carnival

The truth of his words stung, but the gentle squeeze of his hand took some of the edge off. We walked in silence for a block, his thumb tracing absent circles on my hip.

“So,” he said. “Cajun it is. You look like you could use something spicy.”

“Is that another one of your terrible innuendos?”

His laugh echoed off the buildings. “Monstre, if I was making innuendos, you wouldn't have to ask.” I glanced up at him, and he caught my eye. “For example, I’ve got something spicy for you right here.” He cupped his crotch, and I pushed him away, laughing—but he caught me and pulled me close again.

As we walked out into the bright Crimson City afternoon, Maverick kept his hand on my back, steering me through the crowd. I thought about those webs, the way they'd responded tomy call, how they seemed eager to unmake me from the inside out. Whatever Lilith was up to, she was teaching me something powerful. Something that scared me as much as it thrilled me.

My reflection in a store window caught my eye. For a moment, I could have sworn the strands moved beneath my skin, changing the topography of my face. Maverick's reflection stood too close behind mine, his expression unreadable but his eyes intense. Two monsters in the making, one already formed, one still transforming.

I just hoped I was strong enough to handle it.

Chapter 21: Constricted Reality

Maverick

IguidedTessthroughthe entrance of Fat Friday’s, my hands finding their home at her waist. My hands lingered longer than necessary, drinking in the way her energy hummed against mine. The rich aroma of Cajun spices and seafood filled the air, but all I could focus on was the faint odor of demon magic clinging to her skin.

“I can't believe we're here.” Her eyes lit up as she took in the rustic décor, the exposed brick walls lined with bold pop art photos of people and places.

“I know.” I squeezed her hip.

She turned, eyebrows raised. “How did you know I wanted to try this place?”

“You like every single one of their posts.” I smirked. “The food porn ones especially.”

“Oh my god, you're stalking my social media?” Her eyes narrowed, but the corner of her mouth twitched.

“Don't need to stalk you when you spend every night in my bed.” I leaned closer, breathing in her scent. Between the nightly healing and her daily lessons with Lilith, her natural fragrance was taking on an eldritch edge. “Besides, keeping tabs on my mate isn't stalking. It's instinct.”

The hostess led us to a corner table, tucked away from the bustling main dining room. Perfect. The less eyes on us, the better. These days, any stranger could be a hunter in disguise, and we couldn't risk interrupting the healing rituals, not when we were so close to purging the poison.

Tess slid in first, and I followed, deliberately crowding her space. After watching her drain herself with Lilith's training, I felt an overwhelming need to keep her contained, protected. Even from herself. The thought of her manipulating the same type of threads that bound wraithshades to their hosts made my jaw ache, but if this was our only option...

“You're staring.” She picked up her menu, using it as a shield.

“Can't help it.” I reached across the table, tugging the menu down. “You're distracting.”

“Not my fault you’re so distractible.” But her cheeks flushed, and her pulse quickened under my gaze.

“Only by the important things.” I winked, earning an eye roll.

The waiter approached with water glasses, and Tess straightened, all business. But her foot found mine under the table, a silent acknowledgment of the electricity between us.

He rattled off the specials, something about seared salmon and a ribeye special, but my attention stayed fixed on Tess. She was beautiful, brilliant and mine. The candlelight caught the amber flecks in her eyes, making them dance like flames. It wasmoments like these that made me forget to be a badass warrior. She turned me into an absolute mess with just a look.

“I'll have the jambalaya,” Tess said. “Extra spicy.”

“Seafood linguine for me.” I handed over the menus, then captured her hands in mine, stilling the magic. Those dark lines were still visible beneath her skin.

The waiter nodded and left us in comfortable silence. I traced my thumb over her knuckles, watching the way she tracked invisible patterns in the air. Her eyes had that faraway look that both fascinated and terrified me again.

Everything kept coming back to that moment, my impulsive decision that had changed our lives forever, leaving guilt and possessiveness to war inside me. I couldn't regret marking her—she was mine, would always be mine—but watching her transform, watching something ancient and insidious weave itself into her being...

Before I could spiral down that particular path of brutal thoughts, I squeezed her hand harder than I meant to. She was still here, still mine, even if these filaments were reshaping her into something new.

“Tell me how you see them.”Tell me everything, so I can protect you from the world.

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