Page 24 of Slay Me

She nods. “This is just casual, a fling.”

Reaching out, I squeeze her shoulder. “You know where I am if you need me.”

“Speaking of…” She glances up and down the hall. “What are you doing? Is everything okay?”

“Totally fine. I’ll see you in the morning? Breakfast and stories,” I say.

“Deal. And Liv? Please don’t tell anyone.”

“You’re the only one I talk to on a regular basis,” I remind her. “Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow.” She grins and steps back into her room.

I’m turning when Apollo steps into the hall. “Hey, Liv.” He beams at me, shirtless, a towel slung over his shoulder.

“You up for a late-night practice? I have an idea for a new routine.” It’s risky because it goes completely against what the Ringmaster wants. His routines are everything to him. As is the fact that we have rehearsed them over and over again.

But leaving would put me at too much risk right now. So this is the only way I have to push back.

Apollo arches a brow. “Oh?”

“And I want to debut it at tomorrow’s show.” I step in closer. “But it’s going to piss off the Ringmaster.”

A blinding grin stretches over his face. “What I live to do. Let’s do this.”

Chapter7

Dante

The lights are bright as I step out into the ring. The watchers fall completely silent. “Good evening,” I greet as I scan the crowd, searching the sea of faces for anyone who should not be here. Those on the other side of the ring undoubtedly believe I cannot see them, that the lights blind me to their presence.

But, given my heritage, that is not even close to the truth. So, every night, I watch for anyone who poses a threat to what I’ve built and the few people here I actually give a damn about.

As soon as I’m confident we’re clear, I continue. “I am so glad you have decided to join us,” I say, plastering a smile on my face. “Tonight is going to be a treat. A performance that will have you on the edge of your seat.” Standing straighter, I hold up the hand with my cane then point the wooden stick to the sky. On cue, a bolt of light shoots from the top and hits my cane. Flames explode from the top, turning to sparks. The lights go out, and I reach up, grabbing the metal lyra as it soars past.

Lights illuminate the ring once more, but in my place are the cane and my hat.

The crowd gasps.

But my attention is on the woman above. She sits in her lyra, staring down at me, eyes so fucking captivating I nearly miss my cue to release my grip. I land on the metal balcony with a soft thud, and the lyra soars away from me, but Liv’s gaze continues to hold mine for another heartbeat.

Once she reaches the middle, the lyra continues to sway softly as she arches up off the hoop, lights glittering on the metal plates of her costume. Then, she lets go and drops, catching herself on the bottom of the ring where my hand was mere moments ago. My heart drops every single fucking time she does that, but the people in the stands eat it up.

So I let her risk her life every night because they love it. They love her.

And then I treat her like shit every single time I let her get too close. I take a deep breath. Last night was too fucking close. Every moment I spend with her drives me closer and closer to plunging off a ledge I know I won’t come back from.

She and I would be a mistake.

A deadly, sexy-as-fuck mistake.

Still captivated, I watch her move. The ring plummets to the ground, swinging as she leans through it and retrieves my hat and cane.

After throwing it to the shadows, she returns to the center, and the ring is raised. She dances, moving to the beat of the music in such an erotic fucking way my cock is already straining against my pants.

That’s what she does to me.

Undoes every bit of restraint I have.

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