Bonus Scene
ATTENTION
If this is your first time reading the Galaxy Circus, I would suggest skipping this scene until you have read it in its entirety because it may contain spoilers for future books.
If you have already experienced this wild ride, then please continue.
Hopefully these new scenes add another layer of enjoyment to the experience.
Saxon
I rub the bump on the back of my head that I got when Lila punched me into the wall.
I know it won’t take long to heal, but it would be quicker if I could have drunk from Lila again.
I could smell the abundance of blood her body is producing specifically for me, but there are other priorities for now.
I’m not looking forward to the upcoming conversation, but it has to happen.
I reach my former quarters. None of the others were around when I came by earlier to shift my belongings to Lila’s, but I’m sure they all realize by now that I moved out, and that Radella and Estrella are going to have a few words to say about it.
According to Hale, both of them are still stubbornly refusing to accept that Lila is my intimate.
The imminent conversation about clan dissolution is going to be difficult, but we were heading in that direction anyway.
None of us are particularly satisfied with the status quo.
I enjoy working for the circus and being away from Vilax, as do Hale and Velorina, but the other two have wanted to return to our home planet and our “status” for a while now, despite this assignment being ordered by the queen.
Our clan has been fractured for a long time, starting when this assignment was first given, and my brother argued that we both couldn’t leave our planet unprotected, especially for a group of performers.
My aunt, who has a soft spot for both of us, caved to his demands that one of us remain behind, and of course Xenos stayed.
He couldn’t face the idea of losing his reputation by joining the circus.
Kavita and Dante stayed with him. The three of them have always been close.
Hale decided to come with me. He’s been my best friend apart from Xenos since we were young, and Velorina and Hale have always gravitated toward one another, often sharing lovers.
The other two were torn to stay with Xenos and enjoy the life of being at court, or come with me and enjoy everything the galaxy has to offer.
Adventure finally won, and originally, I enjoyed having them with us.
I’ve used both of them for sex and blood, just like they used me, but lately, their blood has done nothing for me, and I lost interest in sex with them even sooner.
We had our own space back home, and I was often away with the fleet, training with my forces, so I didn’t see them regularly for long periods of time.
Here, I can’t fucking escape them. I never realized how shallow and needy they really are, and to be honest, that is a huge turn off.
I want someone I can have an intelligent conversation with, who shows interest in me and the things I like as well, so I sought sustenance from another source.
Xavier and I found ourselves in a bar one night, both of us lamenting the groups we were saddled with, finding a common ground.
I’m not blind, I could see how attractive he is when he lets the mist fall and shows his true form to the people he trusts.
It was no hardship to suggest under the influence of alcohol and the suva we smoked that he and I take care of each other’s needs.
We’ve enjoyed being together ever since.
Both our groups know we are feeding elsewhere, although they just aren’t sure who we are feeding from, and we are happy to keep it that way, not wanting any drama from the individuals involved.
Heaving out a sigh, I enter my former quarters.
The lights are much dimmer in here than the rest of the ship, and it takes a moment for my eyes to adjust. I hear raised voices, and I reluctantly make my way to the shared communal area.
There, Radella and Estrella are voicing their objections to Xenos about my blood rose—a soundtrack that has been constant since they first discovered what Lila is to me, despite the overwhelming evidence of the case.
“Saxon.” Hale shifts Velorina from where she was leaning against him so he can get up.
He hurries over and drags me farther into the room.
It’s a large, circular space with seating around the edges and a small round table in the middle.
It’s a traditional clan living area where all members are considered equal.
“God, I’m sorry about this,” he mutters as he pushes me into the sofa on the other side of Velorina before taking his own seat again.
“Brother,” Xenos greets me wearily, and I smother a smirk. Better him than me having to deal with their crap. I’m over it. “How is your blood rose?”
Things have been strained between Xenos and me for a while. I resented him for staying, and he resented me for going despite being ordered to by the queen, but he seems genuinely happy for me, and I appreciate it.
“She’s very well, thank you for asking. She transitioned perfectly and is already adjusting to her new Vilaxian abilities.
” I hide a wince when I think about how she managed to launch me across the room twice now, but that’s not unusual.
A few more days, and she will be fine. I can see she’s trying really hard to concentrate on how she moves.
“This is bullshit. I can’t believe your blood rose is not a Vilaxian. It’s disgusting,” Radella hisses, and Estrella nods her head in agreement.
“She’s hardly the first non-Vilaxian blood rose, otherwise the cup wouldn’t exist,” Dante points out dryly.
“This clan has been a mess for years now. I think it would be in our best interest for us to leave the circus and return to our rightful place in Vilax, so we can get back to the way things are meant to be.” Estrella crosses her arms, and there’s a stubborn set to her chin.
“Yes, the queen will understand, and it’s not like we are needed. She originally said we needed to protect the circus, but from what?” Radella throws her hands up in frustration. “There is no danger here, and we would be better off serving in her court.”
There’s an awkward silence as everyone stares at the delusional females.
“You are joking, right?” Velorina asks carefully. “That would be going against the queen’s wishes. It was because of her orders that we are here in the first place.”
“Yes. What you are talking about is treasonous,” Xenos warns dangerously, but neither female is particularly adept at picking up social cues.
“No, what’s treasonous is him bonding with the Skarrian slut,” Estrella spits, jabbing a finger in my direction.
A low growl comes out of my chest at her calling Lila a slut.
“Enough!” I shout, jumping to my feet. “I propose an official clan dissolution. Lila is my blood rose, which is an automatic accepted reason for clan dissolution. That will allow the rest of you to either reform as a clan without me or form new clans as you wish. All financial assets will be divided according to the contract and what you brought into this relationship, and since our place of residence is a suite in the queen’s castle and, as such, belongs to none of us, there will be no property disagreements.
It should be clean cut and straight forward. ”
“That sounds reasonable. I agree to this,” Hale says, and it doesn’t look like I am going to get an argument from Xenos, Dante, Kavita, or Velorina either.
All of them appear resigned to the plan, but I know they are happy for me, just as I would be for any of them if they were ever fortunate enough to find their blood rose.
Unfortunately, it isn’t very common on Vilax anymore.
Only a few blood rose bondings happen each year.
“Absolutely not,” Radella screeches. “I will not allow this. I will fight it to my last breath.”
“That can be arranged,” Xenos threatens, and Estrella gasps.
“You wouldn’t. We are your clan. Killing your clan members is forbidden.”
“Unless the clan member does something so heinous that none of the others would forgive them, and all other clan members are in agreement,” Kavita points out, eyeing the two females like she would relish the opportunity.
The three of them have always clashed, which is why she wasn’t sad to see our clan light-years apart for the last few years.
“Now don’t be so hasty.” Velorina holds up her hands, trying to keep the peace between the three of them.
Poor thing has always been smack bang in the middle of the females’ drama.
I think she was hurt when Kavita stayed behind with Xenos, as they were previously lovers, and neither Radella nor Estrella are inclined that way.
They wouldn’t even let her feed from them, which is unheard of for a clan.
I should have known then this would never work.
All clan members should be free to feed from each other as needed.
Hell, I even feed from Hale when necessary, even though I’m not interested in him in a sexual way.
The only person I don’t feed from is Xenos for obvious reasons and him me.
“I don’t think we’ve quite gotten to the killing part of the program. I’m sure we could come to some mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“That’s because you come from money, Velorina. You won’t be walking away from this clan with nothing, unlike the two of us,” Estrella sneers.
Dante starts to chuckle. “That’s what this is about? Money? You have got to be joking.” He shakes his head in disbelief.
“Why are you so surprised?” Kavita glares at the two girls. “Why do you think they pursued our clan so fiercely in the beginning? They are two power hungry whores who saw our clan as a ticket to the big time.”
Radella and Estrella were the last two members we invited into our clan. They impressed both Xenos and me with their viciousness during their military stint, and we thought having them in our clan would make us stronger and a force to be feared. In truth, it’s been nothing but hard work.
“Well, I guess we are going to have to go to mediation and resolution then,” Hale says reluctantly. “It’s only going to make things worse for you two,” he warns. “The queen oversees all resolutions, and she is not going to be impressed that you’re contending the existence of Saxon’s blood rose.”
“Are you sure about that?” Radella smirks. “I’m pretty sure the queen isn’t going to be impressed that her nephew’s blood rose is a slutty Skarrian with multiple mates. How do you think that will look to her court?”
“I think my aunt is going to be thrilled.” I’ve sat here quietly and listened to them argue for long enough. “After all, she sent the blood rose cup with Xenos so that Lila could transition smoothly.”
“What choice did she have? It was either that or you die,” Estrella screams, and I smirk.
“Ah, so you do concede that she is my blood rose, and without her, I would have died,” I point out, happy that we backed her into a corner.
“Blood rose matings can be broken. Once she realizes the optics of the situation, then it’s only a matter of performing the ceremony and putting that bitch to death. I will be happy to deal the killing blow,” Radella crows, not even blinking at threatening my blood rose.
I fly from the couch, wrapping my hand around her throat and pinning her to the wall with such force, it cracks, and the metal groans in protest.
“If you so much as look at her threateningly, I will make sure you are the one that bleeds. I will have you dismembered quicker than you can blink then scatter your parts amongst the galaxy so you will never be able to heal but will never die, forever suffering in pain,” I snarl.
“You would be punished for harming a clan member without everyone’s vote.” Tears stream down her face, but she is still defiant.
“No, I won’t, because trying to harm someone’s blood rose is an automatic death sentence. In fact, I am well within my rights to kill you now, considering you suggested to the warlocks that if Lila and I were to bond, she might not survive the process.”
Her eyes widen with surprise, and fear enters them.
“The only reason the two of you are still breathing is because I want to see you punished in front of the entire court, and if, for some reason, you survive, I want to see you suffer for your remaining years when no one will take the potential killers of my blood rose into their clan. You will be clanless and reliant on begging and scheming to get blood to feed yourself.”
“Dare I say they will need to whore themselves out in some back world brothel, exchanging their bite for blood just to feed. Oh yes, that would be a glorious punishment,” Kavita says triumphantly.
“Saxon, I always knew you were vicious, but that is impressive.” My brother steps over and removes my hand from her throat, pulling me away. Radella slides down the wall into a heap, her mouth open wide as she gasps for air.
“You wouldn’t.” Estrella shakes her head. “You love us. We love you. Haven’t we fed you and satisfied your needs all these years?” She is still deluding herself.
“I have never, ever uttered those words to anyone, and the only person I will be offering them to is Lila. The two of you never knew me at all if you think I wouldn’t do all that and more to protect her,” I announce, scowling at them as Estrella hurries over and helps Radella back to her feet.
“I’m not sure if any of you noticed, but I have moved my belongings to Lila’s suite and will be residing there from now on.” I turn my back on them, focusing on the remaining members of my clan.
“We are happy for you, brother, and wish you many glorious years with her and her clan. Our aunt will feel the same way,” Xenos assures me, and the others chime in their agreement, completely ignoring the other two. They will be shunned now.
What they did is unforgivable, but I make a note to warn the Adams brothers that they will need to feed elsewhere now and to keep an eye on them.
They can compel someone who might not be willing to give up their blood.
I will ask Xavier to make anti-compelling charms for the crew so they will be forced to drink bagged blood until we can return to Vilax and get rid of them.
Ideally, I’d send them home now, but I don’t trust them not to stir up trouble in court for my aunt.
It will be better if we are there to back her and her security up when the mediation occurs.
“I know she will.” I nod my thanks, not doubting our queen. After all, there was a reason she ordered us to protect the circus, and I have a feeling I now know why that is, but how did she know?