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“Not like she hasn’t seen what we do to intruders.” I smirked, remembering that first night. A shiver ran down my spine as I recalled the pleasure of draining the blood from those fucking dirtbags.

They got what they deserved.

My poor Trinket. Now she was ours to protect.

“She doesn’t even have a mask.” Nash scoffed, shaking her head as she tried to find reasons to protect Tess from us.

Without another word, Cyrus stepped forward and pulled her machete from Nash’s hand. Crossing the path, Cyrus stood in front of Tess. She kept her dark eyes on Tess as she lifted the blade to her palm.

My eyes widened as I watched Cyrus slide the metal across the flesh. Bright crimson flowed from the wound as she brought her hands together.

Trying not to look terrified, Tess’s jaw clenched tight as she looked up at Cyrus who rubbed her hands together.

Lifting her blood-soaked palms to Tess’s face, Cyrus smeared the blood across Tess’s skin.

“Fuck.” I growled as I watched.

Her nose lifting to a snarl, Tess held Cyrus’s gaze as her cheeks were painted in a bright red blush. Cyrus used her index finger to paint an exaggerated smile from the corners of Tess’s lips up to her cheekbones.

“That won’t stop someone from ID-ing her.” Nash groaned, annoyed that Cyrus and I appeared to be on the same page.

She deserved to know. If we had any hope of keeping her here, we had to let her see all of us — all of what we did.

Cyrus took a step back and admired her work. It would be enough of a disguise to keep Tess from being immediately identified. But Nash was right, it wasn’t fool proof.

Laughing, I stepped closer to Tess and caressed her face, smearing the blood a little. “We’ll just have to make sure we catch them all after they see her pretty face.”

The thought made my clit throb and my heart race.

Nash lowered her voice as her gray eyes met Tess’s perfect oceans. “Are you sure? There’s no coming back from this. We aren’t gentle. These are the worst of the worst. The bad guys even the bad guys won’t touch.”

For a second, Tess’s eyes wavered. But she straightened her shoulders and nodded. “The whole world’s gone batty. Cults and murderers running the streets.”

With a laugh, Tess shrugged. “You Freaks might just be the most honest. Maybe you’re the most sane people left.”

The thought made me cackle. If that were true, this whole ship was going down.

Maybe she was right, or maybe she just needs to know what we did in the shadows before she really gave herself to us. Before she became truly ours.

“Maybe it’s what the world really needs. Someone to get their hands dirty.” Tess was certain of herself now, having talked herself into it. “I need to see.”

Shaking her head, Nash had no choice but to give in to what Tess wanted.

I felt my blood set on fire. Hunting these scumbags was always a pleasure. But knowing that I had to protect Tess by catching every last one of them…

It was enough to bring tears to my fucking eyes.

Jumping up, I twirled the twins in my hands and marched off toward Feverpoint’s gate. I slipped on my mask, hearing my breath grow louder in my own ears. My vision narrowed, forcing me to turn my head further to look back at my Trinket.

Her face looked so pretty smeared in blood. Even Cyrus’s rough attempt to cover her identity made me want to build her a mask of her own.

I wanted to bring her into the fold.

I wouldn’t feel at peace until I knew she was mine… for life.

The park was pitch-black by the time we reached the wrought iron gate. Peeling off toward the electric panel, I flicked on the green lights, the carnival music, and the rides.

Maximum chaos.