Page 3 of Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1)

The scene was horrid. Varro was right when he said the woman was something to look at, though Natalya found the sight more tragic than alluring.

Evelyn was pale from anemia, and her body was covered in scars.

Some came from fang marks, others from blades and whips.

The beauty she’d once been had been stripped away by torment and terror, and then it was killed by the vacant, dead look in her eyes.

“King, a suggestion,” Dominic said. The slimy, blond warlock had barely stopped staring at Natalya since she entered the room. “I’ve been told eye contact makes it more intense. Makes the subject being fed on more attentive , you could say.”

Varro nodded with interest as though Dominic had suggested a wine pairing rather than how best to rape a woman. Varro snapped his fingers again.

“Evelyn. Look at our guest.”

Evelyn’s nails dug into the floor. A tiny tremor went up her arms before she turned her eyes to Natalya’s. Her gaze was pleading, begging Natalya to stop doing what she couldn’t help.

A detriment to Natalya’s power was that she wasn’t supposed to have control over it. She was a succubus, a greater Lust demon, a creature made to give and receive pleasure. Any control over that purpose belonged to whoever last summoned her, and she’d killed him a long time ago.

It had taken over a century to gain mastery of her body and its abilities.

It took effort to keep what she did innately under control.

When she felt threatened, her gaze heightened the senses and emotions of mortals to make them cower from her.

It was a defense mechanism that took energy to contain. Energy she didn’t have.

Making an example of Stefano had drained most of her reserves.

Coupled with the tense company, she didn’t have the control she usually did.

Supernaturals had a natural resistance, meaning they didn’t feel her influence as intensely.

As long as no one touched her, she hadn’t needed to worry about affecting anyone untowardly.

Then she’d made eye contact with Evelyn.

Evelyn had blocked herself off from feeling anything, and one look from Natalya had sparked life into her deadened senses.

In another normal situation, it might have startled her, but it would have no other effect.

Here, with Natalya’s eyes locked on hers, it was dismantling all her defenses. It made her feel everything.

Had they been alone, it would have been different. Had they been alone, Natalya could have maintained control.

“What’s gotten into you?” Stefano pulled Evelyn’s head back by yanking on her hair.

He was still fully dressed—save for his missing belt—but even clothed his proximity had an effect on Evelyn.

He laughed as he smelled the fear oozing off her scarred frame.

“We should have guests more often if this is how the slaves respond. She was starting to get a bit boring.”

“Impressive, Natalya,” Varro said. “Even knowing your kind could affect the senses of others, it’s something else to see it in the flesh. Go on, Stefano. I’m curious how Evelyn responds with Natalya in the room.”

Evelyn’s entire body was shaking. Natalya couldn’t take her eyes off her. In part because she was horrified at what was about to happen but also because she was keenly aware Varro was watching her reaction.

He was cruel enough to do something as wretched as this simply for enjoyment, but there was more to it. This was a test of some sort, maybe to assess the cruelty of Chains. If Natalya failed it, what would he do? She had other people to think about than just herself and this woman.

Natalya could tell Evelyn was trying to shield herself from the feelings welling up in her. Trying to block out the fear, to push down the panic. It wasn’t possible when around an out-of-control Natalya.

Evelyn’s every active emotion would increase several notches. Every sensation would heighten. She’d feel everything more intently than usual.

The emotions of every creature in the room blasted against Natalya.

Behind her, she sensed anger from Diana and Cassius and sadness from Flea.

Varro was attentive, Dominic excited, and Stefano aroused.

He got off on the fear, and Natalya breathed it in to fill her with dark anger.

She let his Lust satiate her, though it made her feel sick.

She moved her gaze upwards, finding Stefano’s eyes. Having fed from his desire, her irises would no longer be all scarlet as they were when she was spent or furious. Her gaze summoned fear in the vampire, though she had to push hard to produce the feeling. It seemed Stefano wasn’t afraid of much.

He would be afraid of her.

Stefano took a quick step back, eyes wide. His pants were partially opened.

“With all due respect…” Natalya turned to Varro, speaking with as much politeness as she could muster. “I am not one for feeding for an audience. My satiation is not entertainment. Unless you want your progeny to make a mess, tell him to pack it away and sit back down.”

Dominic leaned forward. “King, I must object. She’s just—”

Natalya’s eyes snapped to his, and she only had to push slightly to instill terror in the man, making him reel back in his seat.

She didn’t like warlocks. They possessed the skill to enslave her and others like her. The lustful, sadistic glint in Dominic’s eyes meant she despised him. She knew that look. The stare of a man who wanted to own her.

Natalya looked back at Evelyn. She was still on all fours, forehead pressed to the floor again, and taking in shallow, shuddering breaths. By how Stefano was looking at her, Natalya’s interruption had only delayed the inevitable. He’d take her the second Natalya left the room.

“I would ask a favor, Varro,” she continued. “When we take our rest, I would like Evelyn with me. We face a long journey tomorrow, and having such a responsive girl to feed on before we go would certainly assist.”

Varro narrowed his eyes. There was something about this he didn’t care for. Maybe he didn’t like denying his favorite spawn, or maybe he just didn’t like others playing with his things.

“You’re coming off awfully hesitant,” Natalya said. “I just agreed to stay the daylight in your home and to release guilty prisoners into your custody. And then you balk at the idea of lending me a slave. Your lack of trust is borderline insulting.”

“Of course we trust you.” Varro waved an angry Stefano away. “She’s yours for the day, Natalya.”

Natalya almost smiled. Convincing him provided some dark satisfaction, and it gave her back a sense of control.

Evelyn pulled up her underwear and returned to the other slaves sitting at the back of the room. She didn’t look at them, or anyone else, when she sat down, but Natalya noticed how the other humans leaned away from her as though she’d been tainted by being given attention.

The sight stung. Natalya may have given this woman relief for a day, but what awaited her when it was over? And not just her, but what torture would these other souls have to face?

There had been necessity in this meeting with the Night King of the Heartlands. Yet, Natalya couldn’t help but feel her presence had made everything worse.