Page 20 of Chaos Carnival

“Always so dramatic.” He caught my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “We need backup. Stone can break those runes, Lux can—“

“By then it could be too late.” I yanked my hand away, but he pulled me closer.

“Getting yourself killed won't help her.”

“Neither will your overprotective bullshit.”

His golden eyes darkened. “Overprotective? You're the one rushing in half-cocked—“

“Half-cocked?” I pressed closer, voice low. “That's rich coming from the seraph who can't keep his hands to himself during a rescue mission.”

“You weren't complaining in that trailer.” His fingers tightened on my hip.

“Focus, Maverick.”

“I am focused.” His gaze sharpened. “On keeping you alive.”

Behind us, Addie's laughter rang out. “Such pretty lies you tell each other. My master says devotion is just another chain.”

I flinched. Maverick's jaw tightened. “Back up,” he said firmly. “Or we risk losing you both.”

“Fine.” I stepped back, hating that he was right. “But if anything happens to her while we're gone—“

“It won't.” He caught my face between his hands. “Trust me.”

He caught my eye and I paused, swallowed. “I do,” I whispered. The admission cost me. “That's what scares me.”

The worst part was how much I wanted to lean into him, to let him shield me from all of this. It terrified me, this trust I'd developed in him. Every rational part of me screamed that I should run—that letting anyone have this much power over me again was asking for heartbreak. But I'd seen how far he'd go to protect me, felt the fierce certainty of his devotion. In any other situation, I'd have walked away, protected myself. But with Addie's life on the line and supernatural forces hunting us, I couldn't deny that Maverick was my best chance at survival. That just made everything more complicated, knowing I needed him even as I feared how much I was starting to want him.

That telltale scent of ozone made me look up just as a slow clap echoed through the auditorium. My blood turned to ice.

Ivan emerged from the gloom, his tattooed face distorted into that signature demented clown smile—but wrong, stretching impossibly wide across his face. Blue sparks crackled between his fingers as he raised his hands.

“Leaving so soon?”

Lightning arced around us, forming a dome of crackling energy. The hair on my arms stood up as the electricity hummed.

“No one's going anywhere.” Ivan's arm snaked around Addie's waist. She dropped the knives with a clatter and melted into him, gazing up with pure adoration.

Maverick stepped in front of me. “Let her go.”

“Oh, but she doesn't want to go.” Ivan's fingers traced Addie's jaw. “Do you, pet?”

“Never leave you,” Addie breathed.

Ivan captured her mouth in a brutal kiss. She moaned, jumping up to wrap her legs around his waist. My stomach lurched as they ground against each other, putting on a grotesque show.

“Jesus fuck,” Maverick muttered, turning away.

I fought back bile as Ivan's hands roamed over Addie's body. This wasn't her—my best friend would never act like this. Not with him. The wraithshade's corruption poured off them in waves of evil.

“Stop this,” I growled.

Ivan broke the kiss, his impossibly wide smile gleaming. “But we're just getting started.”

Addie writhed on him, panting. “More, master. Please.”

I grabbed Maverick's arm, unable to watch anymore. His muscles were coiled tight under my fingers, rage rolling off him.

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