Maybe I should go back.
I could be honest with Daze. He may know what to do.
Would Hallow understand if I came clean? Would anyone?
My stomach turned with nerves, and I exhaled a shaky breath. I decided to wait a little longer, gradually creeping my way closer to the center of the plaza. It was scary how utterly still and silent the city was, like it was holding its breath in anticipation. Waiting for something to unfold.
A twig snapped nearby, and I spun around frantically, adrenaline lighting up my blood. I searched the surrounding area, my gaze lingering between the trees, looking for someone—anyone.
Again, there was no one.
My panic skyrocketed.
I knew logically they couldn’t be invisible—things like that didn’t happen in real life—but after seeing how mind-bendingly magical Night’s act was in the circus, I’d begun to wonder. Could bits of his act be real? Could he really disappear and reappear in the blink of an eye?
The blood stilled in my veins as an interesting thought crossed my mind.
Could it be Night meeting me here?
He wasn’t the most likely culprit, but I couldn’t rule him out completely. After all, Daze and I had spent the night together in the arena; maybe he found out. Did he watch us from a darkenedcorner of the arena last night? Did he see us leave together right before sunrise this morning?
Did he search my things looking for something? Was he trying to find something to make Daze keep his distance from me?
My stomach sank at the thought.
Another twig snapped, and I jumped, turning my back on the obelisk. I swiveled my head from side to side.
“I know you’re here,” I said, hoping my voice traveled through the silent night air without me having to yell. “You might as well show yourself.”
I sounded much braver than I felt. On the inside, I was trembling, terrified of what was about to happen. But on the outside, I was calm, determined…
At least, that was how I hoped I came across.
I took a few steps forward, then a few more, spinning around on the spot and trying to figure out what the hell was happening. Was anyone even there?
I was seconds away from giving up and heading back to the clown bus when an inhale brought with it the faint, sweet smell of caramel. I barely registered it before massive arms wrapped around me. A hand slapped over my mouth, and I immediately tasted blood—my lip was split—and I screamed. The muffled cry was barely audible, and I flailed against my assailant. Kicking, punching, elbowing, anything I could do to break out of their hold.
“Quiet,” Zero’s deep voice barked in my ear. The muscles in my throat immediately constricted to the point of pain, forcing the sounds to die in my throat, but I didn’t stop thrashing against him.
His chuckle in my ear had my hair standing on end.
“Was one bark not good enough?” he asked, his lips dangerously close to my ear. “I’d stop fighting before you hurt yourself,little pet.”
His left arm shifted, and I froze as he pressed the blade of a knife firmly against my spine. My blood turned to ice.
This doesn’t make sense.
If Zero was the one who’d gone through my things, why drag me all the way out here, far away from the caravan, to confront me? Unless… his plan was to kill me after all.
My eyes flew wide.
“Good omega,” he said, the words sounding more like an insult than praise. “Now, listen to me very carefully. You’re going to do exactly what I say, understand?”
I wanted to say no.
I wanted to tell him to go fuck himself.
But even as I thought the words, he pressed his knife into my back and searing pain split my skin.
