The circus arrived in darkness, led by Dorian Graves, a man with a reputation that sent shivers through towns long before his tent poles were raised, everyone was afraid of him. His power was whispered about—unnatural, dangerous. You had evaded his reach for weeks, shifting from form to form, hiding in the shadows as a bird, a fox, or something unnameable. But eventually, he found you.

Its was a stormy night, the rain and wind was firm as you walked through the forest trying to find a warm place as you walked on the muddy ground when the suddenly a trap snapped shut falling down from the tree trapping you inside. You shifted into a panther, claws digging into the earth to escape, but it was no use. Dorian’s magic wrapped around you like a chain, pulling you toward him. He stood there, tall and composed, with a cruel smile stretching across his face.

“I’ve been searching for you for a long time,” he said, voice like velvet dipped in poison.

“Do you know what you’re worth, a shapeshifter? Plus a pretty and untouched as you?”

He stepped closer, his eyes locking with yours.

“Millions—if not billions. Creatures like you don’t come along every century. You’re priceless.”

Your heart is beating like crazy, you afraid, your mind was going blank as you tried to shift again, but his magic held firm making you stay in your true form, a woman. He chuckled softly, as though amused by your defiance.

“Now you belong to me. And I promise, you’ll make this circus more famous than ever.” He said and you swore you saw the lightning strike behind him