Angel's Kiss by Jessica Mason

Author:Jessica Mason
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Phantom of the Opera, Monster Romance, Opera Romance, Beauty and the Beast Romance, bondage elements, steamy, slow burn, retold, lgbtq characters, The Phantom of the Opera, paranormal romance, monster romance, Dark Romance, spicy dark romance, Gaston Leroux, Erik and Christine, Eristine, retelling, Morally Grey Protagonist, horror retelling, gothic romance
Publisher: Murmuration Books
Published: 2023-07-11T00:00:00+00:00

Shaya did not, as a habit, frequent taverns. He was banned by faith from spirits and he detested the smell. When he made an exception, it was for nights like this, when he knew the denizens of the Opera would be spending their coins close to work. There was always gossip and tonight was no different.

Every tongue was wagging with the story of Carlotta and how she had finally pushed the Phantom too far by slighting Christine Daaé. Daaé of course was a witch or a gypsy, or a gypsy witch, who had ensnared the ghost as her dark servant. Either that, or she was having an affair with any number of men in and out of the Opera. So far tonight Shaya had heard that she was the mistress of everyone from Gerard Gabriel or Claude Bosarge to Charles Gounod or the minister of fine arts. But the most likely candidates were the men she’d been seen with regularly – Raoul de Chagny and Robert Rameau.

“She left with Rameau last night,” a woman was saying at the table behind Shaya. “The little slut.”

“As if you wouldn’t spread your legs for that devil,” a man hooted back. The crowd erupted in laughter, but the mirth was cut short by a commotion near the door.

“Let me in and give me my wine!” A man was yelling at the entrance, while two more men held him back.

“You need to be at home, Joseph,” a huge stagehand (Alonzo was his name, Shaya believed) rumbled. “You’re not well.”

“Fuck off, you fat clod!” the man – Joseph – spat. “I’m not sick! That thing tried to kill me again and I want a drink!”

This interested Shaya. Unobtrusively, he made his way towards the door where the proprietor of the establishment was making it clear that Joseph was not welcome. Shaya recognized the man now. Buquet was his surname, an odious man who oversaw the flies. The one Erik had thrown down to the stage months ago. And now his face was purple with bruises.

“It’s alright, my friend. Let me buy you something at a kinder establishment,” Shaya said, stepping through the crowd and leading Buquet away.

“Who the fuck are you?” Buquet slurred.

“A curious friend who’d like to know how you were injured,” Shaya replied, leading Buquet down the street. “Was it the ghost?”

“What hurt me was no ghost. It was a demon,” Buquet said. “Broke Franc’s jaw and his arm. Nearly killed me too. He was a monster.”

“Was this in the Opera?” Shaya asked in horror.

“No, Carlotta didn’t want it there,” Buquet answered with a cough as he leaned on a wall. Shaya’s interest sharpened. “Wanted Christine away from him. Lot of good it did us.”

“So the ghost came to help Daaé?”

“She’s his mistress, that whore.” Buquet spat on the ground then finally looked at Shaya. Really looked at him. “And you – you’re his apprentice! Or minder!”

“No, I’m—” The blow connected before Shaya could protest.

“Trying to trap me again, are you?” Buquet howled as he punched again, connecting with Shaya’s stomach and knocking the wind from him.

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