Page 131 of Galaxy Circus Act One

After Xane grovels a little bit more, asking for my forgiveness, we finally have a discussion about my two friends. After a few interesting tidbits of information are imparted, I’m almost certain there’s another conversation going on I can’t hear. Damn telepathic warlocks! Some facial expressions don’t match up with the verbal discussion, and their replies are often delayed, but I don’t care for now, so I make a decision.

“As long as their consent isn’t taken away, I guess there’s no harm in inviting them to join in. They can always say no.” I’m a little hesitant to trust this complete stranger, but I know Xavier would tell me if I couldn’t. He doesn’t seem concerned in the least, and when he spoke about the master, he seemed like he had a lot of respect for them.

“Yes, and we’d muddle their minds again so they wouldn’t remember. I can’t do what Xavier did and remove the memory,but I can manipulate it so all they will remember is staying overnight until a tow truck arrived,” Xane assures me, but to be honest, Iwantthem to remember. It would also be good if the master took an interest in them and invited them to stay longer. That way, they would be protected from anything or anyone who may try to pump them for information about the circus.

“I’m saying you can try. I really would like them to be protected,” I finally agree, and both warlocks look surprised, but Xane’s shock quickly turns to anticipation.

A growling sound behind us penetrates my consciousness, and I turn around, startling when I realize Saxon has started to break free from the stasis Xavier had him and Cas in.

“Fuck, I knew it wouldn’t hold him long in his state. Got to go, talk soon.” Xavier cuts off the call and looks at me. Thoughts of Mark and Susie drift away as I swallow the lump in my throat that returned as soon as my focus shifted back to the present.

“Make a decision, Lila, and make it quick,” Xavier orders, snapping me out of my daze. The fear of the unknown is what’s affecting my decision making. It’s like playing Russian roulette with my life.

“Shit, fuck, I don’t know. Like, Iwantto bond with him, but how?” I can hear the slight tremble in my voice as my usual confidence waivers and my pulse begins to thump loudly in my ears. I try to sync up what my soul is saying with what my mind is thinking, but it’s pointless. I just don’t understand why they can’t be on the same fucking page.

“Link said it would be his natural instinct to protect you. I think Cas and I are going to have to let him go and let it happen, Lila. If we try to interfere any more than we have, he could get more dangerous.” Xavier is wearing a look I haven’t seen on his face before—helplessness. I know he wants to fix things, but he can’t.

My heart is racing a million miles an hour, but I understand what Xavier’s saying. If he and Cas stay in the same room, it might trigger his protective instinct, and then Saxon may end up attacking them, and they are struggling to hold him now. I don’t want either of them to get hurt in the crossfire just because I’m nervous.

“Okay. Can you two find out about Grandpa J for me?” He quickly agrees, and I nod, gesturing for him to unfreeze Cas. “It’s okay, Cas. Let him go.”

“Fine, but if he looks like he’s going to go too far, I won’t hesitate to shift into my beast and eat him,” Cas growls to the both of us. I can only hope Saxon actually hears it, because I don’t think Cas is messing around. He really will eat him to protect me.

I brace myself for what happens next, but nothing could prepare me for what does. Cas releases him from his tentacles, and Saxon strikes, his fangs bared and lips peel back with feral intensity. He leaps for me, but instead of snatching me and tearing into my vein, he gathers me gently into his arms, a growling sound still rolling from his lips. He nuzzles my neck, and I brace for the pain, but all he does is inhale deeply.

“Mine,” he growls again before picking me up bridal style and flashing out of the room. I feel nauseous just like the first time he moved me too fast and groan. Saxon must hear me, because he slows to a normal walking speed. The immediate relief I feel at his consideration eases a bit of my anxiety. We get to the elevators, and he presses a button. Before long, we are in front of a door on the sleeping quarters floor. He puts his hand against the panel, and it slides open, and then he steps in. The room is shrouded in darkness, my eyes refusing to adjust, and I can’t make out much except for a few lumpy shapes. I don’t know if they are people or furniture.

Talk about an ominous start to our bonding. Nothing woos a woman quite like not being able to see her environment.

“Saxon, you’re back,” a hopeful voice calls through the darkness, and then we are surrounded by people—up close and personal and Vilaxian, if the fang-filled smiles have anything to say.

“Brother, are you well?” A Vilaxian I don’t know steps in front of all the others, holding up a hand to stop Saxon from going anywhere. “Put the human down. You know nothing good can come of this.”

“Mine,” Saxon growls, and there is a feminine gasp. A wave of possessiveness washes over me at hearing those words. I like being claimed by him, and I’m ready to throw that “mine” stamp on his ass too.

“So it’s true. You have found your blood rose?” The man in front of us is still frowning. “The queen said as much. It is unusual that she is not Vilaxian, but it is not the first time this has happened. That’s why she asked me to bring the goblet! Happy bonding, brother.” The man loses his frown, and his smile is blinding as he slaps Saxon on the back before clearing a path. “Get out of the way. You know not to come between a Vilaxian and their blood rose.”

“No, it can’t be true.” One of the pretty females crosses her arms and stubbornly refuses to move out of Saxon’s way. From the corner of my eye, I see Hale, but he’s not interfering. He just has a small, amused smile on his face. I continue to play possum in Saxon’s arms, not wanting to stir him or any of his clan members up.

“Why? Just because it isn’tyou?” Another woman, the one I’d seen dancing with Magenta at the club the other night, steps up with a stubborn set to her jaw. Suddenly, we’re surrounded by super tall, super buff vampires who all intend to give theiropinions, whether positive or negative, on me, thehuman, being Saxon’s blood rose.

Assholes.

They argue noisily, and I feel Saxon grow more and more tense, his body vibrating with annoyance. He roars and takes off into the air, flying over the arguing group.

I’m not ashamed to admit I screamed when he took off like Superman. I had fully expected for us to hit a ceiling, but we just kept moving through the air, avoiding any objects in our way. I can see that we’re in a horizontal shaft of some sort, with low lights illuminating sporadic gaps in the wall. He lands on one of these gaps. Leaning over, he pushes his hand against a panel, and a door slides back, revealing another dark space.

Note to self, Vilaxians love the dark.

He floats us into this space before setting us down on solid ground again. He then stalks through the pitch-black room, causing me to get a little disoriented since I can’t see anything. I pat him gently on the chest, trying to get his attention.

“Where are we?” I ask quietly, hoping not to agitate the already super agitated vampire even more.

I get no response, but my neck is still intact, and I’m not dead, so I’m calling that a win. Suddenly, I’m flying through the air, on my own this time. A small screech leaves my mouth, but as gravity kicks in and I land on a soft bed, the noise cuts off. Heaving a sigh of relief, I try to make out my surroundings again, but it’s still too dark for me to see much. Soon enough, however, Saxon follows me up onto the bed.

The curious part of me can’t wait to see where this goes.

CHAPTER TWO