Finally, it was my new admirer’s turn. It handed over its ticket, glanced back at me with a haughty sneer, and stepped through the flap.

The seats that I could see were filled with mostly circus folk, and some underdressed demons that clearly hadn’t gotten the memo. I saw my new admirer walk out to the middle of the performance area and raise his hands before the flap drifted shut.

The roar (which I’d gotten used to) drowned out the music (which I would never get used to) for a moment, announcing the start of the fight. Time ticked away and a few gasps punctuated with roars echoed through the flap. The lackluster cheering announced a favorable ending for my bestie.

I had no doubt he’d hang around and watch me. He was a sweetie like that.

Three Fists pushed through the flap and faced me.

Reagan… Darius, who’d been waiting next to the flap, had gotten a look through it. The accelerated beating of his heart confirmed it wasn’t good news.

“I sure wish I couldn’t feel your heartbeat at times like this,” I muttered as I handed over one of the tickets. I held my breath.

Three Fists narrowed its eyes.

“I’m ready,” I said, zipping up my pouch.

Its eyes drifted down and stuck to my pouch. It held out its hand.

“Dang it.” There hadn’t been an opportunity for Darius to snag it. I dug out the other ticket. “Sorry,” I said. “I thought my friend would be here. He’s not, so I don’t need that extra one.”

Three Fists hesitated, staring at the tickets. Its eyes held suspicion when it glanced back up. “Who is this friend?”

“My friend. He’s from the edges. You wouldn’t know him. Helluva nice guy, if a bit of a flake.”

Three Fists shook its head slowly. “You are being greedy, wanting double the time.” A grin spread across its face. “We do not allow that. You should be tossed out in disgrace.”

“Oh. Well, that’s okay, then. Go ahead and toss me. I’ll just head out the back, shall I?” I hooked a thumb behind me.

A pointy-toothed grin spread wider across its face. I wished I didn’t notice all the flexing hands. “Humans have no honor. That is why you are here, yes? You hope to prove yourself?”

“…No?”

“I think it is.” It snatched the last ticket. “Double the time. Granted.”

No! Darius reached for the neck of his suit. He meant to take it off. I will take my turn. It is enormous, Reagan. Obviously powerful. You cannot—

“Do not reveal yourself,” I said through clenched teeth. “Don’t you dare. I might joke that you are taking the cowardly way out—and if not, I meant to—but you are my ace in the hole. I might need a surprise counterattack. Stick to the plan. If this creature nearly takes me down, help me then.”

Reagan…

“Speaking your disgusting human tongue will not help you now,” Three Fists said.

“I liked you a lot better when you were being helpful.” I unslung my backpack and put it down beside the flap. Hopefully speaking English, I said, “Grab this as soon as I go through the flap. Wait until the first roar to follow me in. This demon’s able to carry things telekinetically, so I doubt anyone will question the backpack flying. Just make sure to get it before someone else grabs it.”

Reagan… He was pleading.

“Do you wish to remove that… What is it called?” Three Fists asked, pointing. “Fanny belt, yes?”

“Really? Even here?” I rolled my eyes. “It is a pouch, for fuck’s sake.”

“I was summoned for months at a time by a group of disgusting humans who wore them. I know the slang used by you vile humans.”

“You’re putting on blood sport, and you’re calling humans vile?” I rolled my shoulders and thought about opening my pouch. “Does magic work down here?”

“Of course. You are not the first offspring of a mage who summoned a demon for pleasure.”

“Gross. You know, I didn’t get this hostility earlier. This is a different side of you. Your grumpiness is showing. Are you tired?” I glanced in my pouch, making sure I remembered what all the various colors meant.

“Enough stalling. I will enjoy watching you die, greedy, disgusting human.”

“You guys are really disgruntled about the whole double-time situation,” I muttered.

Three Fists pushed through the flap and then held it open with its hand, watching to make sure I followed. I did so with a straight back and raised chin. Adrenaline pumped in time with my heart. Rage pumped in time with the music.

The crowd shifted in impatience. They banged on their seats or whatever they had at their disposal as I stepped onto the performance circle. A large demon decked out in a clown suit sat in a box I hadn’t noticed off to my right. I felt a protective wall of air draping down in front of it.

Even from the distance, I felt the pulse of that demon’s power. It was even stronger than Agnon, the lower level five from Seattle. It called to my ice magic, expanding it throughout my body. Unlike before, my fire magic rose as well, already more powerful than normal from being in the underworld.

I felt obscenely powerful. I felt alive.

I bowed, a grand gesture that felt right.

“A human,” the clown said, leaning back. “Interesting. We haven’t seen one of you since the Great Master enhanced the fog near the river. Your maker must’ve had substantial power. I can almost feel it. Who was it, tell me?”

That clenched it. Darius’s suit did deaden the feel of my power. Maybe I’d remember to thank him if I ever got over this whole circus situation.

“I don’t know,” I said with a flourish, playing to the crowd. “He was a love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy.”

“Hmm. Well. Please continue.” He waved his gloved hand, and it was then I felt the presence behind me.

I turned and the first thing I thought was, I’m going to blow my cover.

Chapter Nineteen

It wasn’t a creature I could’ve expected. Not at all.

I had no idea how I’d missed it upon first entering the arena. My suspicion was that I had intentionally blocked it out.

Because it was a freaking dragon.

A dragon!

I wasn’t sure if it was using that shape because it was massive and terrifying, or if it was actually the mythological creature. Being that unicorns were real, I had my suspicions.

Its scaly hide glittered and sparkled when it moved, like a writhing rainbow. With the lights shining down on it, throwing color around the room, I now understood the reason for the black-and-white decor. Heck, even for the color outside. This great beast was the attraction, and Clown Demon over there was hamming it up.

Great wings topped with hooked claws tucked against its sides. The large hind legs indicated its ability to launch into the sky, and the small front legs would probably soon be swinging at me, trying to rip me apart with the clawed ends. A great tail curved around it, the end spiked like a Brink dinosaur.

The thing took up a quarter of the performance area. All it had to do was stomp around and hope it squashed me.

Again. How in holy Hades had I not noticed it immediately?

“I bet my sword doesn’t do a great job of piercing that hide,” I muttered, reaching into my pack. “Well, then. Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

The dragon roared its challenge. It spread out its mighty wings as best it could, given the space constraints, and bowed.

“Oh.” Surprised, I bowed back. “That’s nice.”

It roared again and stomped toward me, fairly clumsy and odd. It wasn’t a ground creature, I could tell. If it got into the sky, I bet all that awkwardness would melt away.

What was this majestic beast doing in this ramshackle circus?

“Blink once if you are being held prisoner,” I said.

It rose onto its hind quarters and slashed at me with its front legs. Expecting that, I back-pedaled as fast as I could, putting away my sword. I was sure it had vulnerable spots, but I didn’t want to dodge underfoot to find them unless there was no alternative.

Let’s see if the Callie and Dizzy team can help me out, I thought.

I grabbed out the T-Rex spell casing, pinched, and threw it at the flap at the back of the performance area so it would distract the dragon that way and give me room to work. It flared pink light.