Page 7 of Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1)

The relief Evie felt didn’t stick. In fact, it lasted only the few giddy moments of driving it took for Varro’s estate to disappear in the distance. Then everything turned into a haze as she realized the ramifications of what she’d just done.

She’d escaped. And not only that, but she’d aided would-be prisoners in their escape too. She’d committed treason against a vampire King who ruled a quarter of the United States.

When he found her, Varro would flay her alive.

Evie was barely present as they started the drive north, even less when they exchanged the SUV for an inconspicuous gray station wagon, and Diana begrudgingly rescinded wheel privileges to Flea. Changing cars was their last stop before the final nighttime stretch toward Chicago. A pause at sunset.

In the daylight, the beings with her in the car seemed almost normal, and Evie could convince herself they were just that. When the light died, and the darkness crept in, the knowledge of what waited in the shadows sent her spiraling.

The haze cleared. In its wake, she found only terror.

“Let me out.”

“Sorry, love. Should have pissed when we still had sun overhead.” Flea was tapping his fingers against the steering wheel in beat to the playing music. Such a human behavior. Their act was so convincing.

These creatures weren’t going to help her. They were monsters in human form. She shouldn’t be with them. She didn’t even know where they were taking her or what their intentions were for her, but she could guess it wouldn’t be anything good.

Everyone had heard of the brutality of the Court of Chains, and dread filled her thinking about what a place like that would do with someone like her.

To an extent, she knew. She had no worth other than as a hole to fuck and a body to feed from.

They’d just brought her because they wanted a rare snack for their larder.

“Let me out!” Evie yelled. It woke up Diana, who had been sleeping in the passenger seat. If she had even been sleeping at all.

She had probably just pretended. It was all a ruse. Evie couldn’t trust any of them. If she believed what they said, they could hurt her more.

Flea looked over his shoulder, confused, and started slowing down the car.

“Keep driving, Flea,” Natalya said. She’d insisted on staying in the backseat with Evie. Earlier, Evie was grateful for it. Now, it spiraled her even further. Natalya just wanted to be near her, so she couldn’t escape.

As Natalya made to touch her hand, Evie moved away as far as the space allowed. When she couldn’t get further, she reached for the handle on the car door.

“Are you insane!?” Diana leaned into the backseat and grabbed her wrist. “We’re going eighty on the freeway.”

Evie tried to pull free, clawing at Diana when she couldn’t escape her grip. Diana cursed but didn’t let go. Evie started to scream.

“Calm down!” A hand grabbed her from behind. Cassius had been put in the rear to stretch out his leg, and he could reach her easily from there. He pinned her in place with barely any effort.

She couldn’t fight these creatures, no more than she could fight the monsters that had kept her prisoner for the past year.

She’d exchanged one evil for another. Left a life of rape and violence for one that was no better.

With Varro, she at least had some peace.

With Varro, she got a mattress to sleep on.

Meals and a place to shower. A chance to wash off their touch and their fluids and the blood.

With where they were going, she’d be bound in chains and left in a cold cell until someone needed to use her.

“Let go of her!” Natalya’s voice boomed through the car, terrifying and enraged. Diana and Cassius withdrew immediately.

“Please,” Evie whispered, cowering in on herself. “I want to go back. Please let me go back. Oh God, what have I done? I shouldn’t be here, please.”

She tried to grab the door handle again. This time Natalya was the one to stop her by putting her hands on Evie’s wrists. Sparks rushed through her body, prickling her nerves to attention.

“You’re not going back there,” Natalya said firmly.

“Please, I won’t say anything.” In the moment, Evie meant it. She also knew that when Varro’s vampires found her, she would tell them whatever they wanted to hear. If only they’d let her go back to her room. “You can just pull over and let me go. I’ll say I ran away. I won’t even mention you.”

“This is so fucked up,” Diana said. “Was she enthralled into acting like this?”

“If only it were that simple.” Natalya had a sorrowful look in her eyes. She tightened her grip on her wrists. “Listen to me, Evie. We’re taking you with us until we figure out where you can go. We’re not going to hurt you. You’re safe.”

Evie nearly laughed. How could creatures that were danger incarnate possibly know what was safe?

They were lying. The promise Natalya made back at Varro’s estate was just a means of getting her away from him.

Evie was rare, after all. She’d been lucky to be with Varro and not some other Regent who’d be half as merciful as he was.

Evie struggled against Natalya, trying to shove her off, and was unable to. She was probably trying to force emotion into Evie again. To make her compliant.

Panic rose in her at the thought. The car was shrinking. Her ribs were contracting, crushing her lungs and turning her breathing labored. If only she could get out of the car.

“She’s making it real hard to drive straight,” Flea said stiffly as Evie kicked the back of his seat.

“I can’t look at this.” Diana turned away, her face twisted in an angry grimace. “Fuck all of them.”

“Natalya, can’t you do something?” Cassius said.

“I am trying . She’s resisting me.” Natalya’s grip tightened. “ Evie !”

Natalya’s voice was sharp, the tone making Evie look at her. Her violet eyes were rapidly turning scarlet.

“We have a long way to go, and I’m not letting you get out of this car. You’re safe here. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“You’re lying!” Evie turned away. She didn’t want to look at Natalya and her frightening, bright eyes. “You’re lying…”

Natalya was quiet for a moment. Then her face changed into a regretful but determined mask.

“I’m going to make you fall asleep. That way, you won’t have to be scared. You’ll only feel it for a moment.”

“No,” Evie whispered, terror giving her new energy to struggle hopelessly against Natalya’s grip. “No, I’ll be good. I’ll stop. Just don’t hurt me, please. I won’t fight you anymore.”

Natalya’s face was set. Everyone in the car was quiet.

“Sleep.” Then Natalya leaned in and pressed her lips against Evie’s.

The act summoned paralyzing fear, as she knew what usually followed it.

Chill, and teeth, and pain. None of it came.

Instead, there was a jolt as a rush of electricity surged through her body, waking nerves until she sensed everything with keen intensity.

The ruggedness of the car seat, the smell of sweat and blood, the warmth of Natalya’s hands on her skin.

The intensity faded in favor of a soothing sensation moving through her, flowing with the blood in her veins. Natalya’s mouth was soft and gentle. Her tongue pressed against Evie’s lips and, without thinking, Evie parted them.

As she let Natalya in, warm numbness spread from her lips, rolling through her body like the wave of calm Natalya had produced earlier. Except now, it brought weakness and fatigue with it.

Her arms, still held by Natalya to stop her from fighting back, were heavy.

They fell to rest at her sides, guided down by Natalya’s hands on her wrists.

Evie slumped against the car seat, sighing as her body went slack.

It was like life had been siphoned out of her.

She couldn’t remember ever feeling so exhausted.

As Natalya pulled away, Evie struggled to keep her eyes open.

“I’m so sorry, Evie,” Natalya said. It was the last thing she heard before Natalya trailed her fingers over Evie’s eyelids, and she fell into unconsciousness.