Page 41 of Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1)

It had been a long time since Evie was excited for nightfall. Usually, she dreaded its arrival. That day, it couldn’t come fast enough. She kept looking at her phone to see if the minutes had decided to pass quicker since she last glanced at the screen.

“I’m not keeping you, right?” Sam said nervously. Evie looked up at her, having not listened to a word she’d said.

“Huh?”

“You keep checking your phone.” Sam shrank in on herself. “I don’t want to make you stick around if you’re busy.”

“I’m not busy.” Evie put the phone down, out of immediate reach. “I’m being rude. Sorry.”

Evie had decided to take pity on the shy, nervous Sam. After Evie finished her classes, they went searching for the overpriced coffee Sam had promised her, though they never actually made it to any coffee place.

Despite her poor first impression and general awkwardness, Sam turned out to be nice. She was the least intimidating person Evie had ever met, and it was so nice to talk to someone normal for a change that Evie immediately felt at ease around her.

Rather than go for coffee, she had invited Sam to go with her to The Five-Leaf.

Evie was waiting for Lily to finish her shift, and by being in the bodyguard-packed bar, she wouldn’t have to worry about Flea hovering over their conversation.

It was a miracle Sam hadn’t noticed him trailing them from the dance studio.

“You’re clearly distracted.” Sam gave her a shy smile. “Is it some thing or some one ?”

Evie bit her lip, grinning. “Some thing . I’m going out with friends tonight.”

Weeks had passed since Evie and Natalya made up, and Natalya had gotten some poles installed on the Court of Chains club floor. It being the weekend, the Court was open, and it would be milling with uninitiated humans. A normal night out. And not only that but Lily and Blake would be there too.

“Friends, huh?” Sam fidgeted. “What kind of friends?”

“The unsingle kind. Sorry,” Evie said, winking. Sam blushed.

“No, that’s not what I—” She stopped herself, hunching over when she realized the comment was made to tease. “Are they from the studio?”

“They’re…” Evie trailed off, looking for an answer that would satisfy. She couldn’t very well share exactly how she’d met Lily and Blake.

“They’re into the club scene,” she said finally. “They’re both regulars at the Court of Chains. Heard of it?”

Sam shrugged, looking away. “I don’t get out much. Never liked it, really. When I’ve gone out with people, I always end up sitting alone in a corner somewhere. I’m not very fun, I guess.”

God, this girl was a sad sight. She looked like a kicked puppy that had been left in the rain. And just like if she was a puppy, Evie wanted to pick her up and give her a hug.

“You could come with,” Evie said. “The more the merrier, right? We won’t leave you alone, promise. But be warned, we plan on raiding the bar when we get there.”

That was Blake and Evie’s plan, at least. The hidden agenda was that they would use peer pressure to make Lily join them.

“I don’t know…” Sam crossed her arms, all but hugging herself. “I shouldn’t. I got a meeting tonight.”

“What kind of meeting?”

Sam’s face turned such a bright shade of red that Evie guessed ‘meeting’ was code word for ‘date.’ When Evie shot her a grin, Sam quickly lowered her eyes and hunched over the table.

The act produced an odd squeak that didn’t sound like it came from the furniture but rather like it originated from inside Sam’s clothes.

Evie started to frown, but then bit her lip to stifle a laugh. “I thought that little critter wasn’t a pet.”

Sam followed Evie’s gaze, looking down at her jacket pocket, and her blush deepened even further. Peeking out was a small gray face with shiny black eyes. The mouse was squeaking in a way that made it sound in distress.

“He’s not, he’s just…” Sam poked the mouse on the head, making it duck back down in her pocket. It stayed there for just a few seconds before peeking out again. “I tried to let him go, but he keeps coming back.”

“Aren’t they pests?” Evie said, the words juxtaposed by how she was smiling at the little animal. It was holding onto the edge of Sam’s pocket with its front paws.

“He’s not sick or anything. And I made sure his fur is clean.” Sam made a quick glance over her shoulder before picking up the mouse from her pocket and holding it towards Evie. Partly hidden by her hand, the other bar patrons couldn’t see it.

Evie couldn’t help but grin as the little mouse carefully sniffed at her extended finger. It didn’t seem entirely comfortable going near her, preferring the apparent safety of Sam’s hand.

“Does it have a name?” Evie asked.

“I just call him Mouse. I don’t think he minds. He hasn’t mentioned it if he does.”

Evie giggled when the mouse’s whiskers tickled her skin. “Well, I wouldn’t want to offend him. Not when he’s so cute.”

As though it understood the compliment, the mouse let out a satisfied squeak and did an excited pirouette in Sam’s palm.

When Sam pulled back her hand to return Mouse to her jacket, Evie spotted something on the floor next to her seat. A piece of soft, white plastic with lettering on it. It looked to have fallen out when Sam took Mouse out of her pocket.

Without thinking, Evie bent to pick it up, realizing only what it was when she had it in her hand. A hospital bracelet.

“What’s this?” Evie asked. Sam snatched it away from her.

“It’s nothing.”

“Are you okay?” Evie said, suddenly worried. “Are you sick?”

“No, I’m not, I’m…” Sam didn’t look at Evie. “It’s my sister’s. She’s institutionalized. She gives me her old bracelets when they update them, just in case the doctors need the information for something. Even though she knows they have that stuff catalogued.”

“Oh…” The sound was followed by awkward silence.

Evie didn’t have much experience being there for other people. Most she knew about it had come from watching Natalya navigate Evie’s own complicated cobweb of frayed emotions. She tried to lean into that, thinking of what Natalya would say.

“That’s nice of her.”

Sam glanced at Evie, looking for signs of teasing. When she didn’t find any, she smiled softly. “Yeah. It is.”

“Why is she institutionalized? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“You can ask. It’s fine.” By the look on Sam’s face, it wasn’t exactly fine .

“She was attacked. Two years ago, almost. She was out camping with her fiancé, and they were swarmed by wild animals. Rachel managed to get away, but Nathan wasn’t as lucky.

There wasn’t even enough of him for a coffin. She hasn’t been the same since.”

Sam sighed, the noise full of misery. She looked tired and sad. “She keeps insisting it was zombies that attacked them. She needs a lot of care. It’s expensive.”

“I’m sorry, Sam.” Evie almost went to Sam’s side of the booth so she could hug her, but she didn’t want to overstep.

“It is what it is. My parents and I chip in what we can.” Sam sunk another inch, looking even more demure than before. “It’s hard. But we find ways to manage.”

Sam lowered her head as though uncomfortable with the topic. And Evie felt like she was prying.

She was about to change the subject when Lily walked up to their booth.

“I’m clocked out and ready to be awed. I’ve heard enough talk about those poles that I expect a show when we get there.” Lily’s eyes went to Sam. “Who’s this?”

Evie made introductions, and Sam shook Lily’s hand like she was afraid she’d break it.

“Friend of yours, Evie?” Lily asked, clearly surprised.

“Sort of. Sam made a bad first impression and wanted to make it up to me with coffee. Somehow, we ended up here.”

Sam’s eyes widened. “You invited me here. I just—” She stopped when she noticed Evie’s calming smile. She returned it nervously. “A joke. Right. Sorry.”

“And they called me a rabbit…” Lily mumbled.

“What?” Evie and Sam said in unison.

“Forget it.” Lily flashed Evie’s and Sam’s tab at them. “This has been paid for, so we can go when you’re ready. I wasn’t kidding. I’m dying to see you show off.”

“You didn’t have to handle the bill,” Evie said.

“I only did it because I decided you’re buying the first round at Court. And I’m on a two-drink limit, so I’m expecting the good stuff.” Lily grinned. “Consider it nightclub warfare.”

Evie laughed, shaking her head. Lily was so easy to like.

“Does the offer still stand?” Sam said as Evie got up. “About me coming out with you tonight?”

Evie raised her brows with a smirk. “What about your meeting ?”

“I’ll cancel. They’ll understand.” Sam’s tense expression suggested that probably wasn’t the case, but it could just be her general nervous disposition.

Evie shot Lily an apologetic look. She hadn’t thought to ask if she’d be okay with Sam tagging along. Luckily, Lily seemed even less likely to kick a puppy than Evie.

“Sure. On one condition, though.” Lily put on a serious face. “You have to cheer when Evie starts dancing.”

“Oh, that’ll be easy. I already saw her dance.” Sam smiled genuinely for once, like she was happy to be in on the conversation. “She’s really good.”

“Now I just feel left out.” Lily dragged Evie along, waving at Sam. “Be there at seven. I’ll make sure you’re on the VIP list.”

As the two of them left The Five-Leaf, Evie was momentarily puzzled by the expression on Sam’s face through the window. She was on the phone, looking dour and nervous. Maybe cancelling with whoever she was meeting with that night had consequences.

Seeing it made Evie frown, but then Lily pulled her along, and Evie was distracted by excitement. She would get to dance again. Really dance. She’d feel the energy of a crowd drunk on alcohol and adrenaline. Let loose. Have fun. With friends, no less.

Lily almost had to break into a jog to keep up with Evie. When they made it to Natalya’s apartment in the high-rise, she had to endure Evie changing her mind about her outfit about a dozen times.

As Evie did her hair up, covered her scars with concealer, and put on bright red lipstick, she caught Lily looking at her.