Marching music fills the dome as the giant doors open and the performers come out. Caspian, Tirrian, and Silac are all still in half form. Magenta smiles and waves from the back of a truck, swinging on an aerial hoop. A couple of the ice tigers are in a cage, snarling and growling at the audience, causing the children to scream with delighted fright. The clowns run in and out of everything. The smaller mermaid tank, with Nixie waving and Nikos in beast form, is being pulled by another truck. I see Viggy and Fiona, with no sign of Phillip and Htaed, and the aerialists, who are waving and walking in formation, occasionally flip and cartwheel. Lastly is Zala and her golden larnuk.
“Come on, let’s get out of here before the crowd starts leaving,” John says, helping me to my feet. As the crowd shouts and cheers around us, the grandpas and I make to leave, but not before the mermaid tank passes us and I feel a wave of warm water cover my back.
Shouting, I whirl and see Nikos’s damn beast laughing at me just like an Earth dolphin can, his sharp teeth shining in the light.
“He is so dead,” I grind out between gritted teeth as the audience laughs when they see what happened.
If only they knew how much Iwasn’tjoking.
Eric, John, and I make our way backstage to the big area where everyone gathers at the end of the parade. I’m talking to performers, congratulating them on their show, when all of a sudden I see the dragon storming toward me, still in half form, with his wings out and steam pouring out of his nose. Now how did I know this was going to happen? He wasn’t afraid to hide his hatred of me earlier.
“So you’re the Earth bitch who got my cousin kicked off this gig,” he growls, stepping right into my personal space. Unlike Dylan, who was pitch black, Tirrian is more like an oil slick black. He has a shimmer to his skin that flickers from green and gold to pink and blue. He’s holographic depending on what angle you view him from. Pink scales continuously shift back and forth across his skin in an agitated manner. He’s much larger and more intimidating than Dylan was as well. The guy is basically one Targaryen family member away from going fullGame of Thronesdragon on me. I feel my beast take over in defense of the unexpected threat, and I start to shift, growing rapidly, but this time it’s not just my bottom half,everythingmoves, and I get pushed into the background.
“Holy fuck. Tirrian, step back, you idiot, before she eats you in one bite,” Caspian shouts, putting himself between us and the puny dragon who looks like he might be tasty.
Dragon just like old one. Should have eaten him. Will eat this one.
No, no, no,I beg my beast as I hear her inner ramblings about eating Tirrian.Please don’t eat the dragon.
Caspian steps forward, the brave man, and we tower above him. We must be at least as big as Tirrian’s dragon form was, which was huge. He takes one of my tentacles in his arms and starts stroking it, murmuring soothing tones, and my beast forgets all about the stupid dragon and starts purring like a cat to her mate. His soothing sounds lull her into a sort of sleepy state, allowing me to push her back out of the way and force our shift.
I’m naked when I make it back into human form. Xavier steps out of the crowd of performers who gathered around and waves a hand, quickly clothing me, but not before the dragon gets a good eyeful.
He sneers. “You’re just a pathetic, mate stealing Skarrian who has no powers and needs to rely on what your mate shared with you. You’re no better than a human. You should just go back to where you came from.”
I can feel my beast begin to shift in her slumber. This is so not going to end well.
“That is enough,” William bellows as he and his brothers join us. “Tirrian, your father assured us there would be no more problems. Don’t pick up where your cousin left off, or you may find yourself in a very difficult place. Your father will not be happy if you cause an international incident when you don’t have the full story. I suggest you go cool off before you do irreversible damage or irreversible damage is done toyou.” William’s tone allows no room for argument, and a couple of the performers from his act drag him off, leaving me with Caspian who is looking at me with wonder.
“You have a full form, and she’s beautiful.” He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight as I try to get my bearings. “I can’t wait until we can swim together. My beast was trying to push his way out, but that would have done us no good. Hopefully she won’t actually want to kill me when they meet.”
He pulls back, and I shake my head. “No, she was pretty thrilled with your attention. But maybe we should ask Xavier to be on hand when they first meet just in case,” I suggest and turn to the warlock who has been not so subtly listening.
“Of course I will. Are you okay?” he asks and nods in the direction Tirrian went.
I shrug. “I guess so. It was just words, and none of it was true. I’m sure there are hurt feelings about Dylan. Maybe I just need to sit down and explain what happened to him.”
“Yeah, I think for now it would be best for you to avoid him.” William’s frown is fully in place.
Yay. Another person I have to avoid.
“I think it may be time for a circus meeting. We haven’t needed one for a while, but with everything that has been going on, I think it would be wise. I will not tolerate all the unacceptable behavior that has been happening.” John types some things into the tablet he’s carrying. I’m assuming he’s sending a circus wide message.
“Well, I’m not staying on the pod, so avoiding him won’t be any problem. Tonight has been a bit much, and I am ready for my bed. If Xavier wouldn’t mind taking me back to the hotel room, you and Link can join me when you finish up,” I tell Cas, and he beams.
“You want us to come too?” He sounds surprised but happy.
“Of course I do. That is if you don’t mind wearing your human form in public. I totally want you to meet Susie. All three of you.” I include Xavier in my request. The guys look like I handed them the keys to the Playboy Mansion. Beyond thrilled doesn’t even describe it, and a comfortable warmth spreads through my chest. I never realized that these simple gestures would mean so much to them.
“I’ll take Lila now and come back and get the two of you when you are ready,” Xavier tells Caspian who quickly nods.
“Oh, Lila, before you go, come meet Silac. I’m sorry we sprung that on you, but we thought it would be fun to surprise you.” He drags me over to his Naga friend who is still in half form after the parade. I was so mesmerized by him during the act, and there was so much going on around us, I didn’t really get a good look at him before I was wrapped up in his tail, but holy fuck! Seriously, is every performer in this circus smoking hot? Even that rude as fuck dragon was gorgeous, not that I would ever admit it or do anything about it.
Silac’s upper body makes me want to lick all the lines and ridges, and where his scales start at his waist, I just want to run my hands over them and feel the texture. I feel myself reaching out like I did during the act, determined to figure out if that skin is smooth and if that pattern is a tattoo or scales as well, but Caspian quickly grabs my hand.
“Silac, stop mesmerizing my mate.”
Silac holds his hands up in defense. “No, it wasn’t me, that was all her.” Caspian gives me a funny look, and I grimace, feeling guilty as fuck, even though we had already discussed my reaction to him.
