Chapter Eleven

O nce the lions were secured in their enclosure, the adrenaline began to fade. Exhaustion hit Kitty like a physical force, her legs nearly buckling beneath her. She leaned against the bars of the cage, her mind whirling as she tried to process everything that had happened.

She was feeling again. The emptiness was gone, replaced by a tumult of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. Joy at having her Nala and Sarabi back. Fear at how close they'd come to disaster. Guilt over the deal she'd made, the danger she'd put everyone in. Grief over losing Brutus again. Peace that she had been able to say goodbye to him. Pain at the matching claw marks Brutus gave her on her other arm.

And love. God, how had she ever thought she could live without this? The passion that filled her chest when she looked at Leo, the deep connection she felt with her lions. It was everything.

Her gaze fell on Leo, still in his lion form, resting near the bars of the enclosure. He watched her with those intelligent eyes, and Kitty felt a surge of gratitude. He had saved her out there, not just physically but emotionally too. Somehow, their connection had been strong enough to break through Madame Noir's spell.

Kitty sank down beside Leo's cage, leaning her head against the cool metal. Dawn wasn't far off now. Her wounds from Brutus’ claws had been hastily bandaged, but they were deep and they would scar. But they would serve as a reminder to her of what she had almost lost.

Soon, Leo would transform back, and they'd be able to talk properly. There was so much to say, so much to figure out. But for now, Kitty was content to sit in silence, the steady sound of Leo's breathing beside her. She had made a terrible mistake, had nearly lost everything that mattered. But she was feeling again. And with Leo by her side, she had hope that somehow, they'd find a way through this.

The first streaks of dawn painted the sky in hues of pink and gold, casting a surreal glow over the Twisted Carnival. Kitty’s eyes fixed on his lion form, waiting for the transformation she knew was coming. As the sun's rays touched the carnival grounds, Leo's body began to shift.

Kitty watched in fascination as fur receded, paws elongated into hands and feet, and the majestic mane gave way to Leo's tousled human hair. The process looked painful, but Leo endured it silently, his eyes never leaving Kitty's.

As soon as the transformation was complete, Kitty sprang to her feet, reaching for Leo. "We need to talk," she whispered urgently, glancing around at the stirring carnival. "My trailer. Now."

Leo nodded, quickly donning the clothes stashed near his cage. Hand in hand, they raced through the carnival, dodging early-rising performers and stagehands. Kitty's heart pounded, not from the exertion, but from the overwhelming emotions coursing through her. After days of emptiness, feeling again was both exhilarating and terrifying.

They reached Kitty's trailer, and she fumbled with the lock, her hands shaking. As soon as the door closed behind them, Leo pulled her into his arms. Kitty melted into his embrace, breathing in his scent, relishing the warmth of his skin against hers.

"Leo," she breathed, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. Tears welled in her eyes, but for once, she didn't try to hold them back. "I love you. I love you so much. I thought I'd lost this, lost us. I never want to feel that emptiness again."

Leo's eyes shimmered with unshed tears of his own. "Kitty," he murmured, cupping her face in his hands. "My brave, beautiful lioness. I love you too, more than I ever thought possible."

Their lips met in a passionate kiss. Longing and need poured into a single, electric moment. When they finally parted, both were breathless.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Kitty said, her voice filled with conviction. "Whatever that means, whatever challenges we face. I choose you, Leo. I choose us."

Joy radiated from Leo's face. "And I choose you, Kitty. Always."

They kissed again, with a newfound urgency as they began to explore each other's bodies. Her hands roamed over the hard planes of his chest, feeling the racing heartbeat beneath her fingertips. He shuddered at her touch, his own hands sliding along her waist and up to cup her breasts.

"Leo..." she breathed, her body trembling in anticipation. "I need you."

Her hands tangled in his hair. His hands roamed her body, leaving trails of fire in their wake. She couldn't take it any longer. She pressed against his length, moaning with need. Their kisses turned wild, a tangle of lips and tongues and shared breaths. She reveled in his solid heat, the coiled strength in his muscles. He was pure masculine power. And for now, all that intensity was focused solely on her.

Leo laid her down on the bed, his golden eyes glowing in the low light. Slowly, he undressed her, his gaze devouring every inch of exposed skin. His touch was feather light, each brush of his fingertips sending showers of sensation down her spine.

Kitty’s breath came in pants as he feasted on her neck, his tongue tracing patterns that left her arching for more. A feral smile curled his lips. Kitty was reminded of the beast within him, so close to the surface. He gazed at her for a moment long enough to burn her skin, then slowly, he lowered himself to his knees. His tongue traced a line up the inside of her thigh. She parted her legs wider, granting him access.

Kitty wanted to savor every delicious second of his possessive hunger, the way he devoured her body with his mouth, his hands.

"You're so fucking beautiful ," he groaned, before taking a deep, lick inside her.

Pleasure coursed through her veins, making her toes curl. "God, Leo...more."

As he lowered his head again, his hot breath ghosted over her clit, sending shivers up her spine. In that moment, Kitty knew she was utterly lost to him. He began to lick and suck, his tongue teasing her just enough to make her squirm, but never relenting in its attentions. She gripped the sheets tightly, overcome by the pleasure that coursed through her.

"Leo... oh god, Leo..."she moaned, unable to contain the sounds that escaped me. "Please... don't stop..." she begged, feeling the wave of pleasure growing inside her, threatening to overtake her completely.

"Let go," he growled, his tongue delving deeper as he coaxed the orgasm from her with a skill that left her in awe. "Give me everything."

And with that, she came trembling, the room spinning as she was consumed by ecstasy. Her body was wracked by the intensity of her climax, and Leo continued to lap at her, drawing out every last shudder until she was a quivering mess beneath him.

Leo flipped her over onto her hands and knees, his fingers gripping her hips with an urgency that sent shudders down her spine.

He entered her from behind, a rough, primal thrust that left no room for doubt or hesitation. As he began to pump into her, a symphony of snarls and growls filled the air, each guttural sound igniting something dark and feral within her soul.

"Take me," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the storm of their passion.

His grip on her hips tightened, his thrusts becoming more insistent, more demanding. Her body responded in kind, the walls of her pussy squeezing around his cock, milking him with a ferocity that matched his own wild abandon. And as the pressure built within her, she felt truly alive. She loved. She could feel love. She’d never, ever take that for granted again.

"Kitty," he groaned, his voice a primal echo of the beast he harbored inside. "My beautiful, fierce mate."

And with that final declaration, he came, his roar reverberating through every fiber of her being as the heat of his release filled her. But even then, the intensity of their coupling did not wane, her body still quaked with orgasm after orgasm as reality seemed to warp and twist around them.

"Gods, Kitty," he murmured, his breath hot against her back as he kissed a trail down her spine, his lips reaching the curve of her ass. "I’ll never get tired of having you like this.

His tongue dipped between her thighs once more, lapping at her with a tenderness that stood in stark contrast to the wild abandon of his love making.

"Leo," she whimpered, her voice trembling as much as her body. "I can't... it's too much..."

But he showed no mercy, his tongue continuing its relentless assault on her senses until she came once more, collapsing onto the bed in a quivering mass of spent desire.