Epilogue

Even after more than a year, the sparkling lights of Archer's Circus still dazzled Rhosyn. Every time they stopped in a new town, she felt like one of the visitors drinking in the spectacle for the first time. The sweet warmth of roasted nuts and spun sugar made even the air seem magical. At night, the flickering lamplight gave the whole place an enchanted quality, as if magic and adventure might lurk around any corner.

And at Archer's Circus, it did.

Tonight's performance, though, was particularly electrifying. They were back in London after touring most of Europe, and Rhosyn had convinced Ansel to celebrate the occasion by performing with his Merry Men.

He hadn't had time to perform before, when he was so busy running the business side of the circus and leading a secret Talented smuggling train. Now, though, with Rhosyn helping him, he had some time to spare for acrobatics.

Although, they still managed to find trouble—legal and otherwise—in almost every city they visited.

Rhosyn peeked out from her post backstage to the box where their most honored guests sat. She smiled at the sight of Contessa and Nate, baby Eliza, who was named after Contessa's mother, perched happily on Nate's lap. The child watched with wide eyes as the colorful acrobats flew and arced through the air, gravity having loosened its hold in the confines of this tent.

Even Scarlett was wide eyed with wonder, leaning into Benedict, who wrapped an arm around her obligingly. Kristoff and Gregor sat in the back of the box, but based on the way Gregor blushed after Kristoff whispered something in his ear, they were paying far less attention.

The sight of them all warmed her heart. She loved being on the road with Ansel, and each homecoming was sweeter knowing she had a family to come back to.

Rhosyn ripped her eyes away from her friends in the box, and she turned her attention to the performers on stage. As always, the Merry Men were consummate performers, but her gaze fixed itself on Ansel as he flipped and twisted through the air.

Her eyes tracked him through every improbable maneuver until at last he landed on the stage and the audience exploded in wild cheers. He bowed several times at their appreciation before ducking behind the curtain to the backstage area.

Rhosyn jumped on him in a heartbeat, never able to contain herself after watching him perform—something that had played no small role in Ansel's eagerness to appear regularly with the Merry Men once more.

He caught her easily as she jumped into his arms, and the rest of the acrobats groaned and chuckled good-naturedly.

She kissed him soundly, not discouraged in the slightest by the thin sheen of sweat coating his skin, but he pulled away in favor of nipping her earlobe.

"What have I told you about being patient?" he murmured, his voice taking on the deep, teasing timbre that made her shiver.

"You know I'm not very good at being patient," she quipped, but he just smiled and kissed her again before putting her down.

"Then it's a good thing I have all the time in the world to work on that."

As always, Rhosyn couldn't wait.