A deep roar sawed through the silence. Every head shifted to the platform across from Canary’s, boasting an enormous black-haired, growling lion who only calmed beneath the palm of the trainer standing coolly behind.
“So, any foolish beast who even dares to bite without asking, beware. Aya never says no to fresh meat.” Canary cracked a laugh, laced with an undeniable threat that had everyone nodding immediately. Half in excitement, half in fear.
At the raise of her hands, the drums started up again, accompanied by trumpets and pipes breathing life into the night. “Without further ado, on with the show!”
Right on cue, light burst high into the sky. It crackled and sparked before exploding into spirals of colors. Again and again, lights shot from Canary’s stage, until it looked as though all the stars had taken on different shades and faces, falling like wishes granted.
All heads tipped back and gaped in pure delight. From the way even Aaros looked up, Daron was certain the people of Glorian had never seen so much color in all their lives. In the sky, in their streets, surrounding them entirely in the most impossible ways.
As each burst skyrocketed, Daron watched Kallia standing behind Canary. Her hands twisted outward, fingers beckoning at the colors to soar. She drew no attention to herself, her movements so subtle, one would have to tear their gaze from the sky to even notice the magic wasn’t appearing out of thin air.
Daron noticed.
He noticed the strain in her jaw, and the smile that stayed. The slight quiver of her fingers, and the strength of their hold. He noticed the cheers rising louder around him, the spectacle no doubt growing more fantastical by the second, but he was fixed on her alone, unable to bring himself to look back to the sky.
* * *
Kallia stumbled down the stage, laughing all the way. Exhilarating performances always exhausted her until everything seemed a little funny. The rickety squeaks of the stairs, how high her heels were, how off-balance she was.
“Careful there, prima donna.”
At the last step, Canary all but broke her almost-fall, propping them both up. “You need a hand back to the hotel?”
“I’ll be fine.” Kallia steadied as the crowd’s maddening applause faded behind them. “Just need a second and I’ll be back on my feet soon enough.”
Canary righted her and steered them both toward the only tent stationed between two of the backmost platforms. “Good. Because Conquerors don’t sleep on the first night.”
“Are you saying I’m a Conqueror?”
“Glad you stuck around, now, aren’t you?”
Neither of them had spoken about that night of the second act. Kallia had seen them plenty of times since then to practice for tonight’s opening and make well on her promise to the Conquerors. No questions asked, no explanations necessary. As if they knew it was a night worth moving on from. Kallia couldn’t be more grateful when Canary tossed back her red hair now, as if forgetting she’d even said a word about it. “Enjoy it while it lasts.”
Kallia most certainly would. It was the most herself she’d felt in ages, the adrenaline running through her veins. Her heart wildly beating from the high of a spectacular set. She entered the tent with her chin raised high, steps surer—taken aback by the round of hoots that met her. Camilla, who’d been sharpening her green-edged knives, clinked them loudly together. Juno, sending them a salute as she bent toward the vanity. The Starling twins, slouching on a large, jewel-orange couch, immediately perked up as Canary and Kallia passed through, tossing two small packs in their direction.
Canary caught them without turning. “Thanks, Cass.”
“What’s this?” Kallia began untying the string that clasped the velvet pouch closed.
“Essentials, to keep your energy up,” the acrobat stated blithely. “Chocolate bombs, cherry-rum candies, and sugared ginger. We collect sweets from each town we pass through.”
“They’ve got buckets of it hidden under their beds, it’s disgusting,” Canary whispered, before a cherry-rum candy smacked against her temple from across the room. The other Conquerors laughed as the ringmaster picked up the fallen candy and triumphantly crunched it between her teeth.
Kallia popped a sugared ginger in her mouth, the spiciness invigorating. A warmth rushed through her that had nothing to do with magic. It was everyone around her. It was smiling and relaxing and laughing so much, her teeth hurt. Her eyes watered. Her throat rasped until she could hardly catch her breath when Juno impersonated Erasmus’s possible over-the-top reactions at