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The shimmering magic of the circus tent glows against the pink and orange hues of the sunset sky. As the clouds begin to turn from pink to purple, casting shadows over the lake in front of me, I wonder how I got here.

Just a couple of months ago, I was in Faerie, fighting for what I believed in, and standing tall by my best friend’s side.

My life never really had any purpose before Prince Sorren of the Seelie Court found me all those years ago. I was nineteen, half-shifted in my kitsune form, dehydrated, starving, and tired.

It was the first time I shifted, and I feared it would also be my last. Go figure, I didn”t even know I was a half-blood until that day the hunters saw me change. Blue kitsune fur is not only beautiful and rare, but its magical properties are priceless. When I saw the gleam in their eyes, I did the only thing I could think of. I ran.

Prince Sorren found me hours later. But rather than hunt me down and use me, he took me in. Sorren gave me food and shelter. Taught me how to protect myself and how to fight. He became my friend and gave me something to believe in. I fought by his side for over a hundred years. Until it all came crashing down when the enemy saw me shift.

One day I was a strong, immortal fae, a fearless warrior, and Prince Sorren’s right-hand man. Then, I was a kitsune, being hunted day and night, an animal worth capturing rather than the fighter I had molded myself into. Now, I’m a creature forced to hide in the human world.

Sitting in the sand, I lean forward and pull my magic from deep within me. The heated sparks lick at my fingertips until I form a blue ball of magic and toss it at the lake. The magical sphere skims the surface, causing the water to ripple, and the reflection of the lit-up Ferris wheel to distort.

Glancing at the red and white striped tent in the distance, I can just make out the cheers of happiness and laughter. I feel this magical pull, almost like a playful tug, encouraging me to join the fun. And where I should feel elation at finally being safe, all I feel is uncertainty. Is this where I’m meant to be?

I’m in a new world without my best friend. Without a purpose. And without any goals for the future.

“Akira? Are you out here?” says a familiar, singsong voice, yanking me out of my thoughts.

Rhea. My lips tip into a grin. Just hearing my sister’s voice and knowing that she’s safe causes my melancholy to float away. I’m not alone; Rhea is here at the Black Cat Circus.

She”s safe from the dangers of Faerie, too, and that’s what matters most. She”s what matters most.

I look up to see my sister’s smiling face, her long brown hair pulled into a high ponytail. She”s wearing a pink top and a pair of light blue jeans. She already looks like she fits in here at the circus, while I don’t have anything but several fighting tunics and leathers. I need to go shopping, desperately.

Rhea glances at the lake, now steady again. “Is he gone?”

“Yeah,” I say with a sigh, as I glance at the spot in the water where Sorren just left. Sorren has a unique ability to create portals underwater. I don”t bother going into detail; Rhea understands how I feel. Sorren might as well be our brother with how close we all are.

When we reentered the human world, Sorren and I spent several weeks traveling together, before finally circling back to the circus. Then duty called, and it killed me that he had to go back to Faerie and fight our war without me.

Although, a very small, secret part of me is relieved. No more hiding who I am, no more fighting. For the first time in years, I’m not serving royals or fighting for my life. I can simply just be.

It’s freeing. But, if I’m being honest, I’m also bored.

“Please don”t tell me you are already planning on leaving,” Rhea says, with a frown. “Maybe you can use all that talent of yours to pull together a decent act for the circus.”

I scoff. What talent? As a warrior, all I know is fighting. But I don”t bother saying that. I know how bad Rhea wants me to stay.

Standing, I dust the sand from my leather pants and close the distance between us.

“When”s your meeting with Seven?”

I swing an arm over Rhea”s shoulders as we start walking back toward my trailer. “Tomorrow, after our lessons.”

As soon as we get close, my eyes land on my roommate, River, the man I can’t stop thinking about. I bite back a grin when our eyes meet before he jerks his gaze away, probably trying to pretend I don’t exist.

River is locking up our trailer while his brother, Indy, stands by his side. I have to admit the attractive gene is strong in their bloodline. They both have the same striking emerald green eyes, but where Indy is beautiful with platinum hair and fae-like features, River is the complete opposite. He’s classically handsome—or so I’m told—with a square jaw and sandy blond hair curling just below his ears.

I don’t really know River all that well, despite bunking with him in the same trailer for the past two weeks. I only just met the handsome human at the Ringmaster’s bonding party and was shocked to see the scowling man dancing with Seven.

He was sexy and serious, and just a tad bit vulnerable. I don’t know what River was saying to the Ringmaster, but some strange bout of jealousy overcame me. I don’t get jealous. Ever.

Yet, there was something about this tall human looking up at Seven with his scowly little pout and those puppy dog eyes that had my kitsune stirring with interest and growling inside of me.

Usually, I check out someone whose personality matches my own, because life”s too short not to spend it smiling, even for an immortal fae warrior. But River is different; he”s more of the grumble and scowl type.

And yet, I”ve seen the grumpy man carry his brother around the campgrounds while Indy was shifted into his cat form.

Speaking of scowls, I don’t think I’ve really seen River smile much. Not a genuine smile, at least. Every once in a while, I’ll see him offer a small tilt of his lips to his brother, but it almost looks…sad. What I do know about this frowny human is that he’s smart. So freaking smart. And it only piques my interest and makes him sexier.

Last week, I walked in on a conversation he was having with Seven. They were discussing numbers. Something about profits and costs, and output over input. While it clearly went way over my head, I could tell by the excitement radiating off both men that whatever River had said would save Black Cat Circus a lot of money. Which meant that the Ringmaster could help even more people looking for refuge in this little magical circus of his.

“Stars, look at you,” Rhea says, nudging my side. “You got it bad.”

I give her a dazzling grin and shrug. No need to deny it, since she knows me well.

She shakes her head. “Didn’t you already bark up that tree?”

My head snaps back to her and I narrow my eyes. “I’m a kitsune, not a dog. I don’t bark at trees.”

She rolls her eyes and tugs me forward.

I watch as Indy animatedly tells River some story. Indy swings his arms wildly with a huge grin on his face. They walk in the opposite direction Rhea and I just came from, probably walking toward the little diner in town.

“He intrigues me.”

“So then, what”s the issue? Why did you stop dancing with him that night?”

I sigh. “He told me he”s straight, so I stopped immediately.”

Rhea”s mouth falls open. “What? He told you that after the third dance? That’s a long time to keep something like that to himself.”

“Maybe he was just trying to be friendly.”

Rhea shakes her head. “I”ve caught the way he looks at you. There is something there. Plus, that night, when the two of you were dancing, he was definitely aroused.”

I arch a brow at her. “What? I could see it in his aura.” My sister”s talent for reading auras and fortune-telling has only gotten stronger in the short time she”s been practicing for her carnival act.

“It”s called an act for a reason, you know. You don”t have to spend all your time practicing actual fortune-telling. Humans won”t know the difference.”

“Are you kidding? Of course, I”m going to practice, I love it! I got my own little purple tent and everything.” She punches me in the shoulder. “Hey, don”t change the subject. You can”t tell me you didn”t smell it on him?”

Grinning, I think back to that night. The way his tall body melted against mine, the shocked look on his face, and his scent that reminded me of burnt sugar and watermelon.

“Yeah.” He was definitely aroused.

I smirk over at my sister, my eyes following the trail that Indy and River took just a few minutes ago. My kitsune twirls in my chest, encouraging me to chase after him. What was it about this human, and why did I want to learn more about him?

“Maybe during my meeting, I”ll chat with Seven and see what I can do around here.”

She throws her arms around me. “You really are going to love it here. When you have time, maybe you can check out my tent. Who knows, if you’re nice, maybe I can read you your fortune.”

River and his brother are almost completely out of sight, but just as they turn a corner toward the town’s diner, I see River look back my way. I give him a little finger wave, hoping he sees. Yeah, I wouldn”t mind staying with BCC a little while longer if it meant teasing the tempting human.

As if hearing my thoughts, the magic of the circus tugs at me playfully, welcoming me to my new home.

I grin at Rhea. “How do you feel about pie?”