Page 44

“Her bloodline will be bound the moment she accepts the ring and believes your promise. The theater will have what it needs from her.” Evangeline pulled a silver ring from her pocket and set it beside the contract. “What happens after that is between you and me.”

I stared at the ring. It was a small thing, tarnished. The kind of thing a man gave a woman to make her believe in something that didn’t exist.

“She’ll know I lied,” I said.

“Eventually.” Evangeline’s smile didn’t waver. “But by then, the bargain will be sealed.”

Saying no would have been the right choice.

Walking out with Zinnia would have saved us both.

But I didn’t.

Because Evangeline promised me money. Status. Power. A place in the new order.

And I wanted it more than I wanted her.

“I’ll do it,” I said.

That evening, I found Zinnia by the back door, her bag already packed, her face pale and determined in the gaslight.

“Ready?” she asked.

“Almost.” I pulled out the ring and held it up. The silver caught the light, and for a second I almost put it back in my pocket. “I want you to have this.”

She stared at it. “What is that?”

“A promise.” I took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. “We’re leaving tomorrow night. After the last performance. I’ve got enough saved, and I know a place two towns over where your aunt won’t find us.”

“Malachi—”

“Say yes, Zinnia.” I pulled her closer, close enough to see the hope starting to break through the exhaustion on her face. “I’m choosing you. I’m done with this place. I’m done pretending I can fix it from the inside.”

She looked down at the ring, then back at me. “You’re serious”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life.”

“What about Evangeline?”

“She doesn’t own me.” The lie came easily. Too easily. “I’ll tell her tomorrow that I’m done. She’ll find someone else to manage her freak show.”

Zinnia’s hands moved to my chest, her fingers curling into my shirt. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that for months.”

“I know.” I kissed her forehead, her temple, the corner of her mouth. “I’m sorry it took me this long.”

“Don’t apologize.” She kissed me back, hard and desperate. “Just don’t change your mind.”

“I won’t.”

She believed me.

I watched her walk back toward her room, the ring catching the light one more time before she disappeared around the corner.

Then I turned and went to find Evangeline.

Her private room was on the third floor, past the dressing rooms and the storage closets. I’d never been inside before. The door was unlocked.

Evangeline was waiting, already half-undressed, her hair loose around her shoulders. The room was small and warm, lit by candles that made the shadows move like they were alive. There was a bed. A mirror. Nothing else.