Page 10 of Chaos Carnival (Cirque de Sanguine #2)

Chapter 9: Carnival of Shame

Maverick

The early morning mist clung to the ground as we approached Ivan's heinous carnival. My muscles still ached from the poison, but having Tess pressed to my side helped dull the pain. We crouched behind a half-built booth, scanning the silent grounds. Even in this hellscape, she was devastating—equal parts dangerous and delicious. The kind of beauty that could make a man forget himself. Forget everything except the need to possess.

Stone touched the fresh bandage under his shirt. Zara's contact had come through last night, though none of us had slept much after. At least now both he and Lux had some protection against stasis. It wasn't much, but we needed every advantage we could get.

“This place reeks. Of brimstone...” I wrinkled my nose. “And cotton candy. Weird combo.”

Tess's hand brushed mine as she peered around the corner. “Ivan always did have questionable taste.” Her breath hitched when a metal beam creaked somewhere in the darkness. Every graceful movement drew my attention—the sway of her hips, the way her chest rose and fell with each careful breath.

The others spread out behind us—Stone and Lux taking the perimeter while Cross and Zara watched our backs. But my focus kept drifting to Tess's warmth, the lingering effects of our moonlight ritual making every contact spark with electricity.

“See anything?” I whispered, leaning close enough that my lips nearly grazed her ear.

She shivered. “No, but those cages...” She pointed to massive iron structures looming in the pre-dawn gloom. “They've got binding runes.”

We crept forward, staying low. The Ferris wheel towered above, its skeletal frame casting prison-bar shadows across our path. Each step had to be calculated—one loose board or kicked stone could give us away.

“Careful.” I caught Tess's elbow as she nearly stumbled on a coiled rope. She steadied herself against my chest, her fingers splaying across my shirt. For a heartbeat, we froze like that, faces inches apart.

“Sorry,” she breathed.

“Don't.” The words came out rougher than intended.

A distant clang snapped us back. We ducked behind a cotton candy machine, pressed together in the narrow space. The metal was cool against my back, but Tess radiated heat.

“You're cold again,” she murmured, concern threading through her voice.

“Side effect of almost dying, I guess.” I tried for levity, but my smirk faltered when her hand found mine in the darkness.

“Don't joke about that.” Her fingers tightened around mine.

The carnival grounds stretched before us like a nightmare wonderland. Tess moved with stealth, and even worried sick about Addie, she was a sight to behold. The shadows played across her curves as she crept forward, her full lips pressed into a determined line. “If you're done mentally undressing me,” she muttered, “there's an actual horror show we need to deal with.”

“Multitasking, monstre. Besides,” I matched her careful pace, “the view helps distract from the whole 'walking into certain doom' thing.”

“Good to know my ass ranks above certain doom on your priority list.”

“Top three, easily. Right after 'keep you alive' and 'murder Ivan.'“

We slipped past a row of game booths, their canvas awnings snapping like teeth in the breeze. Everything smelled of rust and decay beneath the sugary carnival aromas.

“These mirrors look new.” Tess paused at the entrance to a house of mirrors. Her reflection multiplied infinitely, each version more distorted than the last. Something about the way they contorted made my skin crawl.

I pressed close behind her, partly protective, partly because I could. “Careful. Some mirrors trap more than reflections.”

She leaned back slightly, whether seeking comfort or warmth, I wasn't sure. “Don’t I know it,” she said, alluding to our time in a ballroom in the Devil’s Delirium mansion.

“What can I say? Even demon mirrors can't resist this face.”

“Your modesty is truly breathtaking.” But she didn't pull away when my hand settled on her hip to guide her past them.

The performer trailers were next—all empty, though hints of life lingered. A steaming coffee cup. Fresh cigarette butts. Half-eaten breakfast.

“Ivan's not stupid enough to keep her somewhere obvious,” Tess whispered, rifling through papers on a makeup table.

I watched her bend over the desk, admiring the view despite our damnable mission. “No, but I'm enjoying the thorough investigation.”

She straightened and jabbed an elbow at my ribs. “You're incorrigible.”

“You knew that when you let me claim you.”

“I didn't let you do anything,” she snapped, but there was less bite than usual in her tone.

“Well, you liked it all well enough by then,” I said, unable to resist baiting her. My lips curved into a knowing smirk as memories of her breathless surrender flashed through my mind. “If I recall correctly, there was quite a bit of begging involved.”

She huffed, and we moved deeper into the grounds, close enough that her arm kept brushing mine. Each touch sent a glimmering rush through me, the ritual's magic still humming between us like a living thing.

“Nothing in the big top either.” Frustration melted through her controlled tone.

“We'll find her.” I caught her hand, thumb brushing over her pulse point. She squeezed back, holding on a moment too long before pulling away.

“I know. I just hope...” She didn't finish, but she didn't have to. We both knew what Ivan was capable of.

The cages loomed ahead, their iron bars writhing like living things. Dark alchemy buzzed from the metal—I'd seen similar containment cells in the demon sector, designed to feed off prisoners while keeping them alive.

“These runes...” Tess traced the air near one of the symbols, her fingers trembling. “They're meant to harvest energy.”

I stepped closer, wrapping my hand around her wrist to stop her from touching the metal. “And drain the life force right out of whoever's inside.” The memory of similar cages made my jaw clench. “Ivan's planning something big.”

She turned in my grip, her body flush with mine as she lost her balance on the uneven ground. “Mav...” Her eyes dropped to my mouth briefly, then snapped back up. “We have to get Addie out b—“

“Before Ivan puts her in one of these death traps. Yeah.” I didn't let go of her wrist, using it to tug her behind a stack of crates as footsteps approached.

We crouched in the shadows, her back to my chest. My arms bracketed her sides, holding her still as two of Ivan's carnival workers passed by. More of his puppets.

“Your heart's racing,” Tess whispered once they'd gone, tilting her head back to my shoulder.

“Can't imagine why. Maybe it's the deadly cages, or the sociopathic carnies.” I brushed my lips to her ear. “Or could be the witch pressed up against me.”

She elbowed me in the ribs. “Focus.”

“I’m focused. On multiple things.” I grinned as she squirmed in my hold. “Very focused.”

Shit. More footsteps, and getting closer. We froze. Tess's eyes went wide, darting to the trailer a few feet away. The door of the small metal unit was somewhat ajar. I mouthed a curse as the workers' voices carried, their eyes scanning the area.

“This way,” I mouthed, pulling Tess with me. We rushed to the trailer, squeezing inside just as the workers turned our way. I pressed Tess against a stack of costume racks, my hand covering her mouth. Her eyes flashed with unease, but she nodded, understanding the danger.

The trailer smelled of mothballs and grease paint, a thin bar of light slicing through the darkness. She was a statue in my arms, frozen as the workers' voices drew nearer. Her body tensed along mine, breath warm under my palm. One wrong move and we'd be caught among the props and performance gear cluttering the space.

The workers stopped outside the trailer, their voices echoing off the metal walls. “Heard something over here, Tony.”

“Ain't nothing. Just rats or somethin'.”

I held my breath, feeling Tess do the same. One of the workers kicked the door, pushing it wider. I pulled Tess deeper into the shadows behind a rack of sequined costumes, my body a shield between her and the light. As the workers peered inside, my hand tightened over Tess's mouth, her pulse hammering beneath my fingers.

“Thought I saw something.” The taller one squinted into the obscurity. “You got a flashlight?”

The other shrugged, pulling a flickering mag-light from his belt. “Probably nothing. Ivan's got eyes everywhere.”

The beam of light cut through the trailer, illuminating boxes of props and racks of costumes. Tess stiffened as the light danced closer, but I held her firmly in place, my body pressed protectively against hers. The light swept over us, my heart pounding like a snare drum. Then, just as quickly, it withdrew.

“Told ya.” The worker clicked off the light, dismissing us as rats or shadows. “Let's get back. Ivan's gonna want an update.”

I held Tess in place, waiting as their footsteps faded. Her breath fanned my hand, the trailer now darker as my eyes adjusted. Her lips were inches from my palm, tempting me to trace their contour with my thumb.

As soon as the workers were out of range, Tess writhed out of my hold. “They're gone.”

I let her go, resisting the urge to pull her back. “No thanks to you and your impressive rattling.”

She glared, cheeks flushed. “You're an ass.”

I smirked, stepping closer, backing her against the costume rack. “And you love it.”

“I do not.” But her voice lacked heat, eyes fastened on my mouth.

We were trapped in that tiny space, tension vibrating between us, and I forgot about the hunters, the poison, the whole mess waiting outside. Nothing but her ever mattered. My gaze flicked to her lips again. “What if I kiss you right now?”

“What if I stake you right now?”

My eyes gleamed. “You and your sharp objects.” I took another step, brushing her hip with mine. “Or maybe you want me to pin you to these dusty shelves and make you forget all about your missing friend.”

She slapped my chest, which I knew I deserved. “You are unbelievable!”

“I do my best.” I caught her hand, preventing another slap, and brought it to my lips. “And you, little witch, are lying through your perfect teeth. You want me to kiss you. To make you forget for just one damn second.” I lowered my head, my lips brushing her ear. “Admit it.”

The furious fire in her eyes transformed into something wilder, something that made my gut clench. Her lips parted on a sharp inhale, and the protests died on her tongue.

I nipped her earlobe, relishing her sharp intake of breath. If only we had the luxury of time and privacy. There were a thousand things I wanted to do to her. But this...this would have to do for now.

Sensing her hesitance, I leaned down, my lips brushing the sensitive skin of her throat. Her head lolled back, a soft moan escaping as I tasted her pulse point, my hands adjusting our position so I could explore further. My fingers found her jaw, tilting her face up to mine. Our lips met, and everything else melted away. I pulled her body flush against mine, her curves fitting perfectly with the hard lines of my body.

She tasted of arousal and fear and stubborn determination. Her hands clutched at my shirt, fingers curling into the fabric as our kiss deepened. Painfully hard and aching for more, knowing she wanted me too was a heady rush of power.

When she pulled back slightly, I trailed my lips, feather-light along her jaw, not wanting to part from her. She let out a shaky breath, her fingers tightening in my shirt.

“We should keep moving,” she whispered.

My cheek brushed her skin, as I stepped back, knowing she was right. “Priorities.”

Tess nodded, her eyes dazed as she smoothed her rumpled clothes. She pressed a hand against my chest, pushing slightly as the fog of desire cleared from her eyes and reality set back in. “We need to check the tunnels. That's where Ivan would be keeping her if he didn't want her found.”

“Sounds like a field trip.” I winked, unable to resist needling her. “But be warned, monstre, once we save your friend, I fully intend to pick up where we left off.”