Contortion — Aurelia T. Evans

Arcanium's getting a little more twisted…

After one too many demons leave her for other women, Valorie, the circus contortionist, is thinking about quitting Arcanium. It's not that she hates performing, but she's been in Arcanium for almost twenty years. She's bored, feeling neglected and rejected, and there's nothing keeping her there anymore.

Until ex-lover Bell, the fortune teller and owner of Arcanium, gives her the fire-eater -- bound and gagged -- as a present and a bribe to convince her to stay.

John -- cursed into Arcanium and heavily scarred from fires gone out of control -- turns out to be an adequate distraction. He's almost sweet, in spite of the bad person he used to be -- a decent enough pet willing to work his way to redemption in Valorie's collar and under her command. Valorie's just not sure whether he's enough.

Especially when her former fiancé from twenty years ago stumbles upon the circus and discovers where his would-be wife disappeared to.