Even more than meeting more troupe members, I loved seeing Daze in his element. He’d barely stopped blushing from the time he introduced me, but it was nice to see him so happy.He was comfortable, relaxed, and not worried about walking on eggshells with Night.
I laughed, I listened, and I completely lost track of time. Before I knew it, people were mobilizing, preparing for the opening number.
Nerves turned my stomach.
It was almost time for me to go on stage.
In front of thousands of people.
“You’re going to hang out back here,” Daze said, nudging me with his elbow. I looked up slowly to meet his gaze, trying my best to swallow the panic bubbling up my throat. “Zero will tell you what to do. You’re going to do great.”
I nodded numbly.
I’d already done the routine once. This was nothing new, I reminded myself. If anything, it was the thought of an enormous audience watching that had me most on edge.
Would anyone recognize me? Surely not. This clown disguise was the next best thing to a mask, and they’d be too far away to tell anyway.
But what if I trip walking to the target?
What if Zero leaves me stuck to it without offering to help after?
Insane possibilities brewed and spilled over in my mind.
“Break a leg,” I said, and then panicked right after. “Or don’t. Actually, please don’t. That would be terrible.”
“Break a leg.” Daze winked and hurried off to catch up with the rest of the aerialists.
Once I was alone, my anxiety kicked in full force, gnawing at my insides. I spun on the spot, looking for familiar faces, but Bobbitt was nowhere to be found. There were a couple of performers I’d seen in passing, but I wasn’t comfortable enough to approach them. Instead, I stood in the middle of the room, looking awkward.
Some circus members were moving toward the arena entrance, some disappearing through the opening to wait in the darkness. They’d remain there until the creepy music started, hiding in the shadows through Hallow’s welcome spiel. I tried to map out what was happening in my head since I’d watched it all the night before.
“Lost, little pet?”
The words sent my heart racing, and heat sank straight to my core. I spun around to find Zero standing there. My cheeks burned as his rich caramel-popcorn scent swept around me, tugging at me like invisible strings, beckoning me closer.
Why did this stupid asshole have to be so hot? Even in a jumpsuit and a jester hat, which would have looked ridiculous on anyone else, he was gorgeous.
As he glared down at me, memories from last night’s dream came rushing back. His hand around my throat. His knife against my thighs. Us dancing in a circus tent.
I shook my head to clear it.
“Just waiting on you. About time you showed up,” I said with as much snark as I could muster.
He chuckled dryly, his eyes dropping momentarily to my outfit. Suddenly, I felt completely exposed and wanted to cover all the skin that was showing. The fishnets I thought were enough now felt invisible, and I itched to cover the cleavage spilling out of my top.
“Did you have fun last night?” he asked.
I paused.What?
What did he mean last night? He’d seen me after my shower. Why hadn’t he asked me then, if he cared so much?
“With Daze?” I asked, still wondering why he cared. “Yeah, it was fun. I’d never been to a club before.”
He shook his head, and a grin curled his lips. “No, I meant after. I heard you last night.” In a blink, he was so close tome that I could feel his breath on my skin. Another wave of his scent slammed into me, making my knees weak, and my heart stuttered. “Were you thinking about me when you touched yourself?”
I gasped and jumped back, the blood that had been blushing my cheeks draining from them.
He’d… heard me?
