Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
I start moving, my legs carrying me before my mind catches up. Performers and crew are already scouring the grounds, their faces pale with fear and confusion. Whispers of sabotage, betrayal, and theft buzz in the air, feeding the growing panic. This isn’t just a financial blow—it’s a violation, an attack on everything the circus stands for.
Dante’s voice booms over the chaos, barking orders, demanding answers. But no one has any. The tension is thick, and I can feel it gnawing at the edges of my composure. Rajah might be the prized tiger, but my thoughts are on Zeus. My Zeus. If Rajah can disappear, then Zeus could be next.
A wave of protectiveness washes over me, sharp and fierce. I push through the crowd, ignoring the questions, the worried glances. My only thought is getting to Zeus, making sure he’s safe. The idea of losing him—no, I can’t go there. I won’t.
The morning fog hangs low, clinging to the ground like a bad omen as I navigate the maze of tents and wagons. Every rustle of leaves, every distant noise, seems amplified, setting my nerves on edge. My breath comes faster, my heart pounding in my chest as I reach the animal enclosure.
“Please,” I whisper to myself, the word a desperate plea as I round the corner.
When I see Zeus, a wave of relief crashes over me, nearly bringing me to my knees. He’s there, lying in his enclosure, his golden eyes watching me with that familiar, steady gaze. But the relief is fleeting, replaced quickly by a gnawing fear. If someone could take Rajah, they could come for Zeus next.
I drop to my knees in front of the gate, my hands trembling as I check the locks. They’re secure, but it’s not enough. I tighten them, reinforce them, every motion fueled by a growing sense of dread. My fingers fumble slightly, betraying the fear I’m trying so hard to keep at bay.
Zeus watches me, calm and unbothered, but there’s an alertness in his gaze that tells me he senses the tension too. He’s my rock, my constant in a world that often feels like it’s spinning out of control. Losing him isn’t an option. It’s not something I can even let myself consider.
As I work, my mind races, cycling through possibilities. Who could have taken Rajah? And why? It doesn’t feel random—it feels calculated, deliberate. The fear that this is just the beginning of something much darker lodges in my chest, refusing to budge.
And then there’s Alex. Damn him. My thoughts keep circling back to him, no matter how much I try to push them away. He’s been a steady presence since he arrived, calm in the midst of the storm, and I hate that I’m drawn to that calm, to him. I don’t want to rely on anyone, least of all a man I barely know, but I can’t shake the feeling that I might need his help. And that frustrates me to no end.
I stand, my hands still shaking as I take one last look at Zeus. He’s safe, for now. But the anxiety gnaws at me, the fear that it won’t last. That I can’t do this alone.
Despite every instinct screaming at me to keep my distance, I find myself seeking out Alex. I spot him across the grounds, his presence like a beacon in the chaos. He’s calm, collected, the only one who doesn’t seem rattled by the morning’s events. And that calm draws me in, even as I fight against it.
My steps slow as I approach, uncertainty gnawing at me. This isn’t me. I don’t ask for help. I don’t let people in. But this is different. This is about Zeus.
As I get closer, he looks up, his gaze locking with mine. There’s something in his eyes that unsettles me, a knowing look that tells me he’s been expecting this. Expecting me. And it pisses me off, because it feels like he’s already got the upper hand.
“Alex,” I say, my voice betraying the tension I’m trying to suppress. “We need to talk.”
His expression is unreadable, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—interest, maybe even a hint of amusement. “I’m listening.”
And just like that, I’m caught in the pull of him, knowing full well that this is only going to complicate things. But with Zeus’s safety on the line, I don’t have a choice. I just hope I don’t regret it.
I find Alex near the training ring, his back to me as he packs away his gear. The air around him is still charged with the remnants of his earlier performance, the scent of smoke and sweat clinging to his skin. The intensity of the flames he commanded lingers in the space between us, but it's nothing compared to the heat that simmers when our eyes finally meet.