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VEIL

“ D o you feel ready?”

Grabbing my duffel bag with my change of clothes off the floor, I look over to Gemini and answer his question with a nod and a timid smile.

I’ve been practicing every day for the past week. My body is sore, beat up, and tired, but my physical ailments are overshadowed by the excitement of what comes next. And Gemini has sat in the same corner of the same room, never seeming to grow bored as I fine-tuned my very first contortionist routine.

My debut is tomorrow night on the grand stage, and I need it to be seamless. Maybe performing at the circus was never a dream of mine, but now that it’s part of my reality, it’s hard not to want it to be perfect. I missed this creative side of myself, tucked away ever since I had been called to Pravitia.

Gemini returns my smile as he heads for the door. Opening it, he waves for me to walk out first. “Wait,” he says as he grabs my wrist, pulling me the opposite way from the exit. “Let’s unwind first.”

His cold rings feel pleasant on my skin, and I don’t try to remove my arm from his touch. The reflex has become dormant, and even that small action—or lack thereof—tells me I’m slipping.

The road ahead is a treacherous one. I don’t want to trust Gemini, but I can’t seem to control the bricks being removed one by one from the wall I’ve built around me. We’ve fallen into a routine, and I loathe to admit that it no longer feels like I’m his captive. Instead, it almost feels like we’re … partners.

Then there’s the rising tension between us.

It has only gotten thicker as the days pass and nothing more has happened.

It’s a game. I know it is. But Gemini appears to be steadfast. Unbothered, he continues to casually sleep naked beside me every night.

Then why am I the one who feels like I’m cracking?

The circus is deserted at this time of night. Something about the emptiness helps me concentrate when I practice. Gemini took notice early on and started taking us to Animus after the crowd packed up and left for the night.

I follow him in silence, passing the grand stage until we stop in front of a large net. Gemini turns on his heels, a playful expression splashed across his face.

I give him a flat stare back, narrowing my eyes before slowly lifting my gaze upward to the tightrope high above us.

“Unwind?” I ask sarcastically when my eyes land back on Gemini.

He scoffs disdainfully, clearly bothered by my lack of excitement, but I can still see his cheeriness bubbling under the surface. “Where’s your sense of whimsy, love?”

Before I even have time to respond, he grabs his shirt by the back of the neck and pulls it off. He chucks it to the side, leaving him in only tight leather pants that hang low on his hips. Crouching down, he begins unlacing his boots.

“Shouldn’t you wait till I’ve agreed to this first?” I try to make my voice sound serious, but I can’t hide the smile tugging at the corner of my lips as I cross my arms.

As he continues to untie his boots, he lifts his head, a bleached-blond strand falling over his forehead. “Like most things”—he winks—“I know you’ll eventually give in.”

I act shocked by his answer, taking a step backward as I place my splayed hand on my chest. Our laughs merge in a melodic levity, and I forget myself in the innocence of the moment. It feels much too good, but I don’t care.

I toe off my shoes as Gemini finishes taking off his boots. “Have you ever walked the tightrope before?”

“A few times,” he says slyly before springing back up to his full height.

I peer at the tightrope, placing my hands on my hips. “I never have.”

“Something tells me you’ll be a natural, doll,” Gemini replies nonchalantly.

When my gaze lands back on him, I’m struck by his change in demeanor. His eyes have turned dark, watching me from under hooded lids. Something about his wide stance and slow breathing reminds me of a predator in wait.

Weeks ago, my initial—and only —reaction would have been to flee, but tonight, I find myself taking an unconscious step forward, a steady throb of heat pulsing low in my stomach.

We don’t move as we stare at each other with intensity. I could pluck the tension between us like a stringed cord. I bet it would create the most alluring of melodies. Something I’d yearn to record and capture forever so I could listen to it over and over again.

Finally, Gemini breaks eye contact and lifts his head up to the tightrope. My gaze falls on his parted lips. My throat goes dry.

“Ready, beloved?”

My body breaks out into goose bumps.

I nod.

He smirks and then points to the ladder. “Take that side; I’ll take the other,” he says, gesturing over his shoulder with his thumb.

“What if I fall?” The words rush out as my stomach flutters with nerves.

His smile widens, and his eyes sparkle. “I’ll be there to catch you.”

I shoot him an incredulous look. “You’ll be all the way on the other side.”

“Don’t you trust me?” Then he adds quickly, “Don’t answer that.”

Not waiting for my response, he walks to the ladder and begins to climb. I follow suit, heading to my side and grabbing on to the first few rungs.

At the top, I step onto the small platform on shaky legs, audibly gulping when I look down. I’ve never had a fear of heights, but the thought of falling through the air into a large net isn’t really soothing my nerves either.

Gemini stands on the other side, watching me intently. There’s an ease to his stance that makes me think he lied to me earlier and that he’s done this a lot more than just a few times .

His voice floats across the tightrope. “Mirror my movements, pet.” He flashes me a smile as he stretches out his toned arms on either side of his body, using them to balance. “You’ll be fine.”

My words stick to the roof of my mouth, so I nod instead and dutifully mirror his pose. I watch him take a slow step onto the tightrope, then another.

He’s mesmerizing. The muscles of his abdomen contracting as he uses his core to maintain his balance. His smile is arrogant as he keeps his gaze pinned to mine, chin straight.

“Your turn, Veil Vulturine.”

I push out a long, anxious breath and look down, chewing on my inner cheek. After tense deliberation, wondering if I should take the cowardly way out, I take my first step. But my left foot is still firmly on the platform, and I squeeze my eyes shut for half a second before taking the final step onto the tightrope. My stomach leaps up into my throat as I try to gain balance, my arms swinging on either side of me.

“Steady,” Gemini says.

His command irritates me, but unexpectedly grounds me into focusing on the art of staying balanced on the tightrope. After a few seconds, I gain my composure and straighten back up.

I giggle in shock, beaming at Gemini. There’s a proud look in his eyes, which spurs me to take another tentative step and then another. Until finally, we are only within arm’s reach of each other. I can’t stop smiling, an intoxicating adrenaline thrumming inside of me as I stare into Gemini’s darkening eyes.

“Look at you, love. I knew you could do it,” he says, his voice low and seductive.

My smile fades, and my mood shifts to something a lot more carnal as Gemini watches me with blatant hunger. He takes another step forward, swallowing the space between us. His skin glistens with proof of his exertion, his chest rising slowly and steadily.

“How did you know?” I ask softly, my tone meaning to convey a lot more than just that one question.

He stays silent for a long, tense beat.

“I see your potential just as clearly as I see your destiny, my beloved. I’ve never doubted you.”

His next movements are so fast that I barely have time to react as he snatches me by the back of the neck, pulling me forward. He pushes his body into mine, his arm around my waist as he keeps me hard against him.

Our lips crash together in a blaze of desire as we fall.