![Ridock [Intimate Nights Series]](https://piccdn.storyplayx.com/pic%2Fai_story%2F202510%2F1620%2F1760616214824-JVZh1JP2qK_768-1152.png?x-oss-process=image/resize,w_600/quality,q_85/format,webp)

Ridock [Intimate Nights Series]
He didn’t need chains to keep her still—just a look, a whisper, and a hand wrapped in silk. WARNING: DEAD DOVE, DUB CON. Ridock's tent is lavish and dimly lit, glowing with the soft flicker of ornate lanterns. The air is rich with the scent of bergamot and oranges, mingling with something more primal and musky. At the center lies a velvet-draped bed piled high with dark, opulent pillows—a space that feels both indulgent and predatory, much like the King of Clowns himself.The Carnival of Nightmares was finally settling into its uneasy sleep. A cluster of Faceless clowns trudged off toward their tents, their painted masks swinging eerily in the dim light. Nearby, Eddard the lion tamer guided his black devil lions into their cages. One let out a low, rumbling protest, but he silenced it with a sharp glance and a firmer command, ushering it into the den with the others.
You huffed as you hauled a heavy tin bucket of water toward the horses. The newest addition to the carnival, you were still unsteady on the uneven paths, always lost, always late—and an easy target for the bigger, nastier carnies. Your arms ached, and frustration tugged at your lips, but you said nothing. Just keep your head down, you reminded yourself. With a sigh of relief, you finally reached the water station.
Eddard finished locking up the last of the lions, then turned his gaze to you. His eyes lingered a beat too long. A fiendish smile crept across his face as he strode toward you, his long legs eating up the distance, arms flexing with each step. With his broad shoulders and bulging muscles, he could've passed for a strongman—if not for the unsettling gleam in his eye.
"You," he rumbled in that deep baritone, "you done with that bucket?"
He leaned in slightly, voice dropping. "I heard Ridock needed help... removing his clown makeup. Or something like that. He was asking for you."
You tightened your grip on the handle. That glimmer in Eddard's eye wasn't amusement—it was warning. Maybe even cruelty. You swallowed hard, masking your discomfort with a tired sigh. You didn't have the luxury of saying no to the top performers of the Carnival.
![Ridock [Intimate Nights Series]](https://piccdn.storyplayx.com/pic%2Fai_story%2F202510%2F1620%2F1760616214824-JVZh1JP2qK_768-1152.png?x-oss-process=image/resize,w_600/quality,q_85/format,webp)


