Page 1 of Chaos Carnival (Cirque de Sanguine #2)

In the first book, we met Tess who is a witch who has been bound to her abusive boss, Ivan, for ten years. Ivan possesses a demonic entity and an enchanted tattoo, both fueled by fear to enhance his power. He enters Devil's Delirium, a deadly supernatural competition, to gain ultimate power.

Fearing the devastation Ivan would unleash, Tess enters the competition to stop him. She encounters Maverick, a charismatic, powerful, and immortal seraph, fleeing seraphim hunters from Hell with his companions, Stone and Lux. The hunters pursue them due to their forbidden presence in the mortal realm.

After an initial distrust, Maverick and Tess form an alliance to survive the deadly challenges. They find themselves increasingly drawn to each other, despite Tess's resistance and Maverick's internal struggles.

After the competition, Maverick pursues Tess. Shortly after, he claims Tess as his mate, creating a powerful, unbreakable bond between them, transferring some of his power to her and rendering them both temporarily immobile.

Following their recovery, Tess is enraged by Maverick's actions, feeling betrayed, and she demands separation. Maverick struggles to understand her anger, blinded by his desire to protect and possess her.

They seek help from Seraphina, a wise and powerful witch, who reveals their bond is not simply a mate bond, but a curse placed upon them in a past life by Susannah, a woman scorned by Maverick's abandonment. The curse dictates that they are bound together, destined to repeat a cycle of love, betrayal, and death throughout their many lives.

Facing this shocking truth, Tess and Maverick must navigate their complicated feelings and the curse's implications. They must learn to trust and understand each other while facing both seraphim hunters and Ivan.

Tess creates enchanted tattoos for Lux and potentially Maverick and Stone, hoping for a solution to their constant need to feed on fear to avoid stasis. This could change their lives dramatically with regard to evading the hunters and living freely.

While Tess remains furious with Maverick for claiming her without her consent, their connection deepens as they work together.