Page 117 of Galaxy Circus Act One

I shrug. “I guess so. It was just words, and none of it was true. I’m sure there are hurt feelings about Dylan. Maybe I just need to sit down and explain what happened to him.”

“Yeah, I think for now it would be best for you to avoid him.” William’s frown is fully in place.

Yay. Another person I have to avoid.

“I think it may be time for a circus meeting. We haven’t needed one for a while, but with everything that has been going on, I think it would be wise. I will not tolerate all the unacceptable behavior that has been happening.” John types some things into the tablet he’s carrying. I’m assuming he’s sending a circus wide message.

“Well, I’m not staying on the pod, so avoiding him won’t be any problem. Tonight has been a bit much, and I am ready for my bed. If Xavier wouldn’t mind taking me back to the hotel room, you and Link can join me when you finish up,” I tell Cas, and he beams.

“You want us to come too?” He sounds surprised but happy.

“Of course I do. That is if you don’t mind wearing your human form in public. I totally want you to meet Susie. All three of you.” I include Xavier in my request. The guys look like I handed them the keys to the Playboy Mansion. Beyond thrilled doesn’t even describe it, and a comfortable warmth spreads through my chest. I never realized that these simple gestures would mean so much to them.

“I’ll take Lila now and come back and get the two of you when you are ready,” Xavier tells Caspian who quickly nods.

“Oh, Lila, before you go, come meet Silac. I’m sorry we sprung that on you, but we thought it would be fun to surprise you.” He drags me over to his Naga friend who is still in half form after the parade. I was so mesmerized by him during the act, and there was so much going on around us, I didn’t really get a good look at him before I was wrapped up in his tail, but holy fuck! Seriously, is every performer in this circus smoking hot? Even that rude as fuck dragon was gorgeous, not that I would ever admit it or do anything about it.

Silac’s upper body makes me want to lick all the lines and ridges, and where his scales start at his waist, I just want to run my hands over them and feel the texture. I feel myself reaching out like I did during the act, determined to figure out if that skin is smooth and if that pattern is a tattoo or scales as well, but Caspian quickly grabs my hand.

“Silac, stop mesmerizing my mate.”

Silac holds his hands up in defense. “No, it wasn’t me, that was all her.” Caspian gives me a funny look, and I grimace, feeling guilty as fuck, even though we had already discussed my reaction to him.

“Lila, I’d like for you to meet my best friend, Silac. Silac, this beautiful woman is my mate, Lila.” I hold out my hand for him to shake, and he slowly reaches out to take it. As my eyes meet his, I wobble a little, feeling faint all of a sudden. His reptilian pupils seem to swirl, and I can’t take my eyes away from him. It’s like when Xavier sank into my mind to look for my powers but different. It’s almost like I can catch a hint of his thoughts.

Beautiful… sssssssexy… Casssspian… sssssso lucky…

They cut off abruptly and he pulls his hand away, frowning. “Nice to meet you, Lila,” he says and then quickly slithers away from us.

I look at Caspian in dismay. “What was that? Did you hear that? Did I do something to insult him?”

His brows are furrowed as he watches his friend disappear. “I’m not sure. What did you hear?” he asks, and I frown, following the sexy snake with my gaze.

“It was kind of like what my beast sounds like inside my head, but the voice was different. It sounded sibilant, lots of hissing.”

He turns to face me swiftly, his eyes wide with surprise. Leaning in, he gives me a kiss. “Why don’t you head to the hotel, and we will see you soon, okay?” He absently gives me anotherquick kiss before he hurries after his friend, his tentacles moving him hastily in the same direction.

I stare in the direction the two shifters went, but me going after them probably won’t help.

What the fuck is wrong with me today?

“Ready?” Xavier’s hand on my arm distracts me from my shitty thoughts and has me smiling at his mist-shrouded form as I turn to my warlock lover.

“Absolutely. I can’t wait to get back so you can get rid of your disguise. I missyou. Let’s go.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Caspian

“Silac, hey, wait up!” I call after my friend who has shifted back into his humanoid form and is hurrying for our dressing room. I do the same, and when I finally catch up to him, he’s wiping off his stage makeup and won’t look at me when I come in.

“Hey! What was all that with Lila?” I ask him, and he still doesn’t look at me.

“What was what?” He tries to sound unaffected, but it comes out strained. I know him well enough to know when he’s bullshitting me.

“Your reaction to Lila. I was hoping you would like her as much as I do,” I reply, and he sighs, puts down the makeup-covered wipe, and turns to me.

“Look, I guess I was surprised. I know we haven’t been a thing for a long time, and we agreed to just be friends, but when you called me to join the show, I thought you had finally changed your mind. When you said you had a surprise, I assumed it was because you wanted us to be together.”