I recognized the setting.
We were smack dab in the middle of Night’s circus performance.
“You’re going to perform for me, cielito,” Daze explained, rising to his full height again. An enormous bulge now tented the front of his pants, making desire swirl in my stomach. “I want you to shine like the star you are. But I hope you don’t mind if someone else watches.”
A shadow shifted behind Daze, and Night stepped into view at his side. He was striking, his dark blue eyes locked on me over the edge of his black mask. Rather than his normal jacket and top hat, he wore a fitted suit with a crimson cape draped behind him. Mysterious and regal, with a sinister edge that made my hair stand on end.
As he stared down at me, I felt impossibly small. Like he was judging and critiquing every inch of me.
“N-night,” I said, the word somehow echoing through the space over the music.
“Let’s see how well you perform, omega.” A deep, husky voice that must have belonged to Night hit my ears, but I knew it couldn’t be his. Night didn’t speak to anyone, least of all me.
“Open wide,” Daze said, redirecting my attention to him. My jaw fell as he reached for the zipper of his pants, and my eyes widened. “Show me what you can do?—”
I gasped and shot up in bed, frantically grabbing at the blanket around me. My heart was slamming against my ribs, and I took several deep breaths trying to calm it.
It was just a dream.
It wasn’t the idea of giving Daze a blowjob that bothered me or even the idea of Night watching. The thought of the mysterious alpha sitting back while I pleasured his beta boyfriend appealed to me more than I wanted to admit, but it had been wrong. So wrong. From Daze wearing a shirt, to the clown face paint, to the twisted look in his eyes.
And Night’s voice…
I shuddered.
Shaking my head to clear it, I searched the bed for Zero’s T-shirt—which had been stuffed under my pillow at some point—and brought it to my nose. A deep inhale of caramel popcorn soothed my frazzled nerves, and I kept my face buried in thematerial until my pulse returned to normal. I loathed the effect he had on me, but I had no choice.
His scent would forever call to me, connecting to my soul in a way I would probably never understand.
Fuck him.
With a groan, I tucked the shirt back under my pillow for safe keeping.
I had no idea what time it was, but the bright light creeping into my bunk around the privacy curtain told me it was more than likely daytime. Somehow, I managed to sleep through everyone returning from the show and getting into bed.
I tugged the curtain and peered out into the aisle. I didn’t see anyone, but the bunk across from mine was empty.
Had everyone already gone for breakfast?
My stomach growled, and I sighed. I didn’t want to get up. I wanted to stay here, cocooned in my bed all day, avoiding the troupe, but I knew that wasn’t an option. I’d have to face them sooner or later, especially if I was going to perform with them tonight.
That is, if Hallow would even let me after last night. And the only way to find out if the ringleader would keep me around was to get up.
I whined and dragged myself out of bed. I’d barely made it to my feet when a shrill voice exploded behind me, making me jump.
“There ya are!”
I spun around to see Bobbitt barreling down the aisle toward me, and I squeaked when she threw her arms around my neck. Frozen, unsure what to do with my hands, I waited for her to release me. Her face appeared much softer and sweeter than when it was covered in stage makeup. She was dressed in plain shorts and an off-the-shoulder top, much different from her clown getup.
“Here I am.” I forced an awkward chuckle.
“I was worried about ya after the show,” she said, not bothering to keep her voice down. Judging by the number of open privacy curtains and empty bunks, most of the troupe was gone.
My eyes traveled unintentionally to Zero's bunk, where the curtain was still closed. I wondered if he was still lying down, listening to our conversation.
“I was just tired after my act, so I came back here,” I said, dragging my eyes back to hers. “I'm fine.”
“That's okay. The show definitely takes some getting used to. You were great for your first time on stage!” she piped with a smile. “Though Hallow wasn't exactly happy about the set change.”
