Sword Swallower: Dimitri Part One (special preview)

I roll over, my moon like eyes glowing, illuminating Valentine’s beautiful skin like candlelight. “A lot of people would put up with you.”

Valentine leans in, kissing me and cupping her hands around my face. My fingers linger on the scar on her cheek, tracing it until I tuck her hair behind her ear. Valentine is so beautiful, taking after both her parents very well. She has her mother’s fae beauty, her father’s dark swarthiness, as well as her own angelic glow.

Valentine pulls from me, giggling as she wipes away her red lipstick that has smeared on my face. “I keep making a mess every time I kiss you.”

“You could wear that matte lipstick that doesn’t budge,” I grumble.

Valentine smirks. “But I like leaving my kisses on you.”

My heart melts, I forget how to breathe, and I dive in for another kiss. Valentine makes me weak and I love when she exploits that ability.

“Look, you can make me grandchildren later!” Dad huffs. “But right now, we have a show to put on for a tent full of werewolves.” He then picks up Valentine’s shoes. “You are lucky we are not the same size or I would’ve claimed these already.”

I hit my head on the bed and Valentine kindly tries to suppress her giggling. “Dad!” I scoff as I climb out from under the bed.

Dad smiles, his lips painted a rich burgundy and his eyes smudged with coal black eyeshadow. “There’s my beautiful son.” He places my wide brimmed hat over my head. “Get your glamour on.” He attaches the golden clips on my neck then smoothes down the lapels. “We have an extremely full audience tonight. My good friend, Winona, is in the crowd tonight and I want to show off my baby.”

I grumble under my breath and look to Valentine as she slips her heels on again. I sigh dreamily, something about the way she puts on shoes is so...lovely. Valentine smiles up at me, adjusting her eyepatch in the mirror.

“You know, Muna,” she says to him, “knocking is a thing.”

Dad snaps his fingers. “But an entrance is everything.” He grins, grabbing our hands and leading us to the backstage of the cabaret. Mom and Mama are waiting on us and Mom helps me adjust my hat and cape again.

“Under the bed?” She asks Valentine.

“Under it,” Valentine giggles as she collects her chainsaws. 

Mom sighs softly, a sad look to her eyes. “Just like your brother.” She gives me a warm smile. “Hearthway Hollow shouldn’t scare you. The town is very much like us, Dimi. It’s a safe haven.”

Hearthway Hollow was a sanctuary for werewolves, it was also a place that, ages ago, Mr. Faire had called home for a brief period. Back when it was mostly woods, he had befriended a woman named Winona Locklear, who had taken in the members of the carnival after it had been attacked by a lynch mob. They hid in the deepest parts of Hearthway Hollow for a few years, healing from the horrible act of hate against them.

Mr. Faire liked to return to Hearthway Hollow simply to repay the town for its kindness and protection, offering free tickets to everyone there and allowing those who were werewolves to wander around freely in their were forms.

I tug my hat down, pulling the wide bim over my face as I try to collect my thoughts and focus on getting my glamour ready. Valentine walks up beside me, putting her hand on the small of my back.

“Breathe in,” she whispers, “breathe out. Think your happy thoughts and you’ll fly.”

I dip down, hiding our faces behind my hat as I kiss her again. “You’re my happy thought,” I tell her.