Circus of Monsters: A Why Choose Paranormal Romance by Lila Price

Author:Lila Price [Price, Lila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Anne

I slept like death himself had reaped me. There were no dreams, just the unidentified plague that marched on. Between the throes of slumber and unruly fidgeting rousing me, I believe someone sought to pass water through my lips, but my body had forgotten how to perform the everyday act.

There were voices, too. Male ones, who told me I was safe and to rest… rest but wake.

When the haze finally fled my body, the sound of fire crackle greeted me as I sat up, feeling as though I had crawled up through grave dirt.

“You’re awake.” Lady Blackburn’s voice filled the space. Blinking sleep from my vision, I was better able to make out her features while she occupied the chair aside from my bed. She had round cheeks, a kind face, and a long auburn braid twisting over her shoulder. In her lap sat a book, whose title I could not make out in the dim light.

“How long was I asleep?”

“It is the evening after your meal with the judge.” I shifted myself higher up the pillows, catching the chemise that gaped around my shoulders. “I helped you out of your dress. I hope that is alright? Even the most loyal of help will talk and, considering the circumstance, I thought it best if I helped you myself. When you are feeling well enough, I can run a bath for your use.” Nodding my understanding, I hoped the sight of hoisting an unfamiliar and unconscious woman into their house wouldn’t cause too much of a stir with the neighbors.

“Thank you, Lady Blackburn.” I wanted to ask if she was like her son—a wolf—but I wasn’t in the proper mind to seek out information shrewdly. Knowing if she knew about her son would have been welcome enough.

“There is a Mr. Legion and Mr. Hortensia downstairs. They will want to know you have awoken, but I wanted to give you all the time you needed first.”

“Mr. Hortensia is here? How?” I nibbled my lower lip, locating something of desired shrewdness. “Do they seem curious to you in their appearance?”

“‘Curious’ because they are circus folk… or because one has horns and another has serpents for hair?” She poured me a cup of tea from a teapot on the nearby nightstand.

“Thank you.” I placed the cup and saucer on my lap, enjoying the fragrant steam filling my lungs when the memory of Aldrich and the rat baiting hit me with full, nauseating force. “Actually, may I see them now?” I needed something more than the promise that they were here; I needed to see them.

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