Page 116 of Galaxy Circus Act One

Round and round they soar as the whole carousel floats into the air and moves to the top of the arena before they descend back down to the wild cheers of the audience.

“Holy shit. How is that happening?”

“There must be some rigging, but I can’t see it anywhere.”

“They can’t be real, they must be animatronic.”

The crowd cannot believe what they are seeing but are no less impressed by the whole spectacle.

She herds the horses off to the side and the carousel returns into the bottom of the arena before it closes up again. She has them trot around the arena in formation before they line up across it. With a wave of her hands, the six of them rear up onto their hind legs before she has them canter around the arena once more. She walks over so she’s in line with them, and as the gold one passes her, she grabs hold of its mane and pulls herself up onto the moving animal. She tucks her feet in behind its wings, which then snap open once more, and she and the animal soar into the sky. The others take flight behind them and then they fly out the large double doors once more.

The applause in the circus tent is thunderous, and the crowd is on its feet, cheering and shouting.

“This is the best show I’ve ever seen.”

“The special effects are amazing.”

“I am definitely getting tickets for tomorrow night.”

William runs out to wrap up the show, thanking everyone for attending and reminding them of the merchandise stands in the foyer.

“Now, everyone, let’s show the performers how much you enjoyed the show as they all return to the ring for the grand parade!”

Marching music fills the dome as the giant doors open and the performers come out. Caspian, Tirrian, and Silac are all still in half form. Magenta smiles and waves from the back of a truck, swinging on an aerial hoop. A couple of the ice tigers are in a cage, snarling and growling at the audience, causing the children to scream with delighted fright. The clowns run in and out of everything. The smaller mermaid tank, with Nixie waving and Nikos in beast form, is being pulled by another truck. I see Viggy and Fiona, with no sign of Phillip and Htaed, and the aerialists, who are waving and walking in formation, occasionally flip and cartwheel. Lastly is Zala and her golden larnuk.

“Come on, let’s get out of here before the crowd starts leaving,” John says, helping me to my feet. As the crowd shouts and cheers around us, the grandpas and I make to leave, but not before the mermaid tank passes us and I feel a wave of warm water cover my back.

Shouting, I whirl and see Nikos’s damn beast laughing at me just like an Earth dolphin can, his sharp teeth shining in the light.

“He is so dead,” I grind out between gritted teeth as the audience laughs when they see what happened.

If only they knew how much Iwasn’tjoking.

Eric, John, and I make our way backstage to the big area where everyone gathers at the end of the parade. I’m talking to performers, congratulating them on their show, when all of a sudden I see the dragon storming toward me, still in half form,with his wings out and steam pouring out of his nose. Now how did I know this was going to happen? He wasn’t afraid to hide his hatred of me earlier.

“So you’re the Earth bitch who got my cousin kicked off this gig,” he growls, stepping right into my personal space. Unlike Dylan, who was pitch black, Tirrian is more like an oil slick black. He has a shimmer to his skin that flickers from green and gold to pink and blue. He’s holographic depending on what angle you view him from. Pink scales continuously shift back and forth across his skin in an agitated manner. He’s much larger and more intimidating than Dylan was as well. The guy is basically one Targaryen family member away from going fullGame of Thronesdragon on me. I feel my beast take over in defense of the unexpected threat, and I start to shift, growing rapidly, but this time it’s not just my bottom half,everythingmoves, and I get pushed into the background.

“Holy fuck. Tirrian, step back, you idiot, before she eats you in one bite,” Caspian shouts, putting himself between us and the puny dragon who looks like he might be tasty.

Dragon just like old one. Should have eaten him. Will eat this one.

No, no, no,I beg my beast as I hear her inner ramblings about eating Tirrian.Please don’t eat the dragon.

Caspian steps forward, the brave man, and we tower above him. We must be at least as big as Tirrian’s dragon form was, which was huge. He takes one of my tentacles in his arms and starts stroking it, murmuring soothing tones, and my beast forgets all about the stupid dragon and starts purring like a cat to her mate. His soothing sounds lull her into a sort of sleepy state, allowing me to push her back out of the way and force our shift.

I’m naked when I make it back into human form. Xavier steps out of the crowd of performers who gathered around andwaves a hand, quickly clothing me, but not before the dragon gets a good eyeful.

He sneers. “You’re just a pathetic, mate stealing Skarrian who has no powers and needs to rely on what your mate shared with you. You’re no better than a human. You should just go back to where you came from.”

I can feel my beast begin to shift in her slumber. This is so not going to end well.

“That is enough,” William bellows as he and his brothers join us. “Tirrian, your father assured us there would be no more problems. Don’t pick up where your cousin left off, or you may find yourself in a very difficult place. Your father will not be happy if you cause an international incident when you don’t have the full story. I suggest you go cool off before you do irreversible damage or irreversible damage is done toyou.” William’s tone allows no room for argument, and a couple of the performers from his act drag him off, leaving me with Caspian who is looking at me with wonder.

“You have a full form, and she’s beautiful.” He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tight as I try to get my bearings. “I can’t wait until we can swim together. My beast was trying to push his way out, but that would have done us no good. Hopefully she won’t actually want to kill me when they meet.”

He pulls back, and I shake my head. “No, she was pretty thrilled with your attention. But maybe we should ask Xavier to be on hand when they first meet just in case,” I suggest and turn to the warlock who has been not so subtly listening.

“Of course I will. Are you okay?” he asks and nods in the direction Tirrian went.