Page 61 of Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1)

She dismissed Drago as she walked the floor.

She watched a lesser Lust fiend on one of the stages, grinning down at a kneeling man twice his size.

The man was bound, gagged, and blindfolded, and the half-demon was running a nail along the man’s cock.

The man looked like he would be shooting off in seconds.

Another lesser fiend was on one of the couches, getting her feet and shoulders massaged by two naked humans. By the fiend’s bright azure eyes, and by how delighted she was with being doted on, she was of Pride.

Fiends were still a rarity in the Court of Chains, but almost all who joined could be found frequenting the Second Circle. And lesser fiends bonded so easily with humans. They were allowed. They didn’t have to worry they'd accidentally kill them.

After walking the floor for a few hours, observing scenes, answering questions, and giving pointers where needed, Natalya retreated to the platform at the end of the room, holding her red leather throne.

Sitting in it, overlooking her domain and drawing in the energy of her patrons, she was at ease and satisfied.

She would feel better if Evie was with her.

“You look grim.” Aleksander had walked up to the throne. He gave her a small bow. “Something wrong?”

“It’s a good night. A closed Court and there are only regulars present.” She sighed, only just keeping herself from slumping in her seat. She’d been so content only a moment ago. After thinking of Evie, the Second Circle seemed gray and lifeless. “There’s nothing to complain about.”

She looked at Aleksander and his notably solitary presence. “Not like you to be down here without your flower.”

“I heard you were in the Second Circle and wanted to see for myself. You’ve barely left your apartment in weeks,” he said. She realized the strange look in his eyes was concern. “How is Ms. Atkins?”

Natalya sneered and looked away. She didn’t care for his worry. Much less for the thoughts it made stir.

Natalya may be fine physically, and her injuries fully healed, but her mind was in turmoil.

She’d been out of control the last time she and Evie were together.

She hadn’t acted like that since she was first free of Roland, back when it felt like the world was made of compulsion, Sin, and hellfire.

And the feelings she had for Evie raked her with pain.

Her continued inability to ignore them raked at her even more.

“She’s a tough little thing,” Aleksander said, taking Natalya’s silence as enough of an answer.

“She shouldn’t have to be,” Natalya said, more gravely than she’d meant to. “She deserves ease.”

“Does she not get that from you?”

“I’m not easy to be around.”

He surprised her by smiling. “It isn’t easy to be around either of us, Natalya. Most would cower, either in fear or awe. It’s a special kind of person who can feel relaxed in our presence.”

She thought of how she’d left Evie in the apartment. Smiling at Lily, her green eyes bright, skin and hair healthy and lustrous. The attack had rattled her, but she’d surprised everyone— including herself—by how quickly she got through the fear of it. By how quickly she’d found herself again.

She had looked calm. Relaxed. Happy.

But looks could be deceiving. Natalya knew that better than anyone.

Though the elation she felt from Evie wearing the Chain pendant hadn’t waned, neither had her guilt and worry.

Guilt at how rough she was with Evie after she woke up and worry she might do something to change Evie’s mind about being hers.

Guilt that she hadn’t been there to help when Evie was nearly taken and worry at what would happen if Natalya asked her to be more than she was.

Despite how well she’d handled it, the attack had shaken Evie’s sense of safety.

Natalya would understand if she wanted to back out of the life she’d accepted by putting on the Chain pendant.

She wasn’t technically Claimed yet, so her taking off the necklace would cause no ill effects to Natalya. At least no conjured ones.

But the mere thought of Evie leaving her summoned so much dreadful sorrow it was actually painful.

“Do you not worry?” she asked. “About Lily changing her mind regarding this life. She didn’t come here under ideal circumstances.”

“I used to.” Aleksander smiled, the warmth of it reaching his eyes. He never smiled like that before he met the little waitress. He never smiled at all. “Turns out, lilies aren’t as delicate as you might think. Remember the solstice before last?”

Natalya recalled it well. Aleksander and Lily had a huge fight the night before the Claiming because Aleksander suggested she shouldn’t sign up. That it might be better for her to leave him. For her safety.

Lily got so furious she’d refused to even talk to Aleksander. The night of the Claiming, the little brunette had stomped onto the stage, vibrating with anger, and stood there until Aleksander finally got to his senses and Claimed her again. They’d broken a lot of penthouse furniture that night.

But Lily wasn’t Evie. And Aleksander wasn’t Natalya.

“I think you worrying about her position is unwarranted,” Aleksander said when Natalya stayed quiet. “Ms. Atkins has become more than just a responsibility to you. More than a Purple. From what Lily tells me, she would fit better under a higher color. A Blue, or even a Silver.”

Natalya scowled, clenching her hand into a fist. She didn’t mind Evie talking to Lily about what they were doing. She minded that Lily couldn’t hide anything from Aleksander.

“Lily needs to keep her mouth shut.”

“But she’s not wrong?”

The question made Natalya even more dour.

The Pinks and Purples of the Ribbon contracts were humans who volunteered to establish either a feeding or sexual relationship with a supernatural creature, but those humans didn’t stay at the Court.

They had their own lives, returning when needed rather than by the whim of their Claimants.

The higher tiers of Red and Blue were different.

There the volunteer lived with their Claimant.

The Silvers were the same, except much more strict.

They received constant protection, not just from danger but from disease and aging too.

In exchange, they were subservient to their Claimant and were to make themselves available whenever wanted.

It was the responsibility of the Claimant to not abuse such a want.

Natalya wanted it. She’d never wanted anything more than to hold Evie forever.

“Evie needs her own life,” Natalya said, hating how disingenuous it sounded. “So much of it has been taken from her already. She was forced into this world. There was no choice for her. I shouldn’t demand more than she’s already given.”

“Shouldn’t, maybe,” Aleksander said. “Do you want to?”

Natalya couldn’t answer. She didn’t trust herself to not sound possessive.

“You can go, Aleksander,” she said, her attention drifting. “I’ll remain here the rest of the night, if you need me.”

Aleksander made to leave, but then something caused him to stop. Something he’d spotted in the room. The corner of his mouth quirked slightly.

The bastard was smirking.

“Maybe I’ll stay for a bit. The night is young.” He shrugged, shooting her an innocent glance. “Who knows what could happen?”

He walked to one of the nearby stages where Drago was standing, striking up a conversation with the fiend. Natalya glowered after him, unsure of his game but lacking the enthusiasm to investigate.

A human moved into Natalya’s periphery, stopping near her throne. They wanted her attention. She ignored them, hoping they would go away. She had other things to think about.

Evie had been in the Second Circle only once, and though she hadn’t panicked, she had clearly been anxious. Why wouldn’t she be? With people being bound, hit, and even whipped, it made sense she would be afraid.

With everything she’d been through, the attempted kidnapping, and Natalya taking her on the dining table so hard it left bruises, it would be reasonable that she was scared. And her being scared wouldn’t stop.

Keeping Evie in this world would subject her to untold horrors and dangers. Evie would have to accept that. Natalya didn’t want to ask that of her, and the reason was pathetic.

She was afraid. Afraid of Evie leaving her. Afraid that Evie only saw her as a source of safety and protection. Afraid that the love Natalya felt was one-sided.

She was the second-most powerful being in the state, and she was scared of being rejected. It was so pitiful as to be laughable.

Realizing a human was still waiting for her, Natalya turned towards them. “If your Master or Mistress left you to wander—”

Natalya froze. Then stared. And then she actually gaped.

Standing a few feet from her throne was Evie and the sight of her was breathtaking. She was wearing a dark green corset and thigh-high stockings held up by a garter belt over black lace panties. She’d slightly curled her long strawberry-blonde hair and put on a pair of painful-looking stilettos.

And most notably, most shockingly , Evie was giving her a wicked smile.

“My Mistress did leave me to wander,” she said innocently. “And I’m afraid it’s going to get me in trouble.”