Page 21 of Slay Me

The drain is considerable, though, and it’s not long before I’m swaying on my feet. Determined, I force myself to maintain the magic until, finally—it goes out.

I drop my hands and bend at the waist, drawing in deep breaths, all while I can feel the Ringmaster’s gaze on me.

“Damn, Liv! Way to go!” Apollo reaches down and lifts me up. He’s nude, every inch of his tan skin coated in puffs of ash.

“It wasn’t all me,” I reply as I glance over my shoulder at the Ringmaster, but he’s already gone and discussing whatever the hell he discusses with his team. Likely, the source of this fire.

“Do we know who started it?” Harriss questions.

I turn, surprised he was able to sneak up on me.

Apollo shakes his head. “No idea. I was walking back up from the gym and saw the flames.”

“Hmm.” Harriss narrows his gaze then turns away and marches straight for Fiona. I watch, surprised and amused as he grips her by the back of the neck, spins her, and slams his mouth down on hers.

I expect the berserker to fight, to shove him away. Instead, her arms snake up around his neck until it feels oddly like spying to continue watching.

Apparently, fires don’t only destroy. My gaze lands on the Ringmaster again. I study every inch of his bare back, and despite being surrounded by destruction, I am unable to think of anything but running my fingers over the tan skin.

“Damn, this is going to take a while to fix,” Apollo comments.

The water fae walks over to the Ringmaster and wraps an arm around his waist. He presses a gentle kiss to the top of her head then waves as she turns to leave through the back exit. Jealousy surges through me even as it has no damn place. “Who is she?” I demand, pointing as she slips out of view.

“No clue. Some water fae who showed up the second the Ringmaster came down here. They seem close.” He snorts. “Never thought I’d see him with a woman. Seems to keep to himself most of the time.”

The Ringmaster turns and heads toward the apartments with his team, not paying me another glance. Why does it bother me so much? To see him embrace another woman with such casual companionship?

Hell, just yesterday, I was furious as he demanded I remain on the grounds at all times. And yet—“I’ll see you in a bit.” I jog over toward the stairwell, managing to make it to the top right before the Ringmaster closes his door. “Wait!”

He opens it. “What do you want?” Not a question he wants answered. It’s a statement. And an agitated one at that.

“Do you know who started the fire?”

“I will find out,” he replies. “Is that all?”

“What if it was—” I trail off. Blaming Ernesto to get a response out of the man in front of me seems low, but for whatever reason, I cannot help myself. “Ernesto,” I finish. “What if he started it?”

“Do you not think I considered that already?” the Ringmaster demands. “As I said, I will find out who started the fire, and they will pay…dearly.” He slams the door in my face, so I turn and head back down the stairs.

I should be glad that, after our little shopping trip, nothing has changed. After all, the only thing I want is to be free of No Man’s Land. Right?

* * *

Dressedin my typical performance outfit, I’m stepping up to the Ringmaster’s door. He’d canceled the show tonight to make time for the repairs necessary, but via note taped to my door, I was alerted that my private performance was still a go for this evening.

Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what I’d do if he canceled it. Anything outside of my normal routine is not welcome, at least, not until I break the cycle and make my own choice to throw a hot grenade into my day-to-day by leaving.

I knock twice, pausing before I knock a third. Less than a heartbeat later, he’s pulling open the door and stepping aside.

“You’re not wearing a new one.”

“I haven’t had a chance to finish one. They take time,” I tell him truthfully. “If you’re fine with no talking, I’d like to get started.”

The Ringmaster eyes me curiously. “You’re annoyed.”

“Very.” I turn and march toward the lyra hooked against the far wall. Then, I release it and slowly walk toward the center.

Still, the Ringmaster does not make a move to start the music. “Why are you annoyed?”

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