Page 76 of Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1)

The back of the van was filled with blood, though it was blessedly absent of bodies. Evie sat in the corner of the van, hands tied and staring at the floor, doing her best not to panic.

So far, everything was going according to plan.

Only hours after the events in Natalya’s apartment, Evie had contacted Sam. She was relieved to hear from Evie until she learned why Evie had called.

Sam still had the contact information of the would-be kidnappers who recruited her. Even though Sam had disappointed them, they were apparently still looking for Evie. Summoning them was as simple as letting them know Evie had agreed to meet up with Sam again.

Sam hadn’t wanted to go through with it. She refused to contact them at first, thinking Evie had gone mad. It was desperation that had allowed Sam to believe the men’s story in the beginning. Logically, she knew no one would pay the money they promised just to talk to a stripper from New Orleans.

Drago was the only reason Evie didn’t run away from it all. The fiend had volunteered to go with her on this suicide mission. She hadn’t understood why until she remembered he told Natalya he’d keep her safe. Though Evie knew Natalya hadn’t meant for him to keep her safe in this manner.

When the kidnappers arrived, Drago was on them so quickly that the men were dead before they even realized what had happened.

Drago let the driver live long enough that he could give the names of the people on the crew and information about their orders before he too was killed.

They left the bodies at the Court of Chains.

Drago’s expression never changed throughout the assault, except he looked a little more relaxed when he got behind the wheel and they started the long drive towards Louisiana.

They’d paused just before sundown, where Evie did her hair up using a hairpin, let Drago tie her hands together, and got into the back of the van.

She was exhausted and terror was making her breathing shallow.

She tried to ignore both, instead rubbing at the scab in the crook of her elbow where a Court of Chains nurse had injected her.

One of three methods of defense she’d been given.

She tongued the ampoule pocketed in her cheek, knowing she’d probably have to use all of them.

She just hoped she wouldn’t have to use them too quickly.

If they weren’t successful in this, it would mean their deaths.

Their success hinged on Evie’s ability to push against the monsters who’d enslaved her while at the same time acting like she wasn’t doing so.

She’d never been a great actress, but feeling fear around vampires wasn’t really acting for her.

The van turning onto a gravel road told Evie they were getting close. When the vehicle stopped, she readied herself for a sight she’d prayed never to see again.

The back door of the van was thrown open, revealing a grim-looking Drago. He’d put on sunglasses and black leather gloves. Next to him was a being she’d most recently seen in her nightmares.

“I don’t believe it.” Stefano smiled widely, the expression both astonished and cruel. “I don’t believe it!”

“She was heavily guarded,” Drago rumbled. “They killed my men. I barely got away.”

“You’ll be compensated,” Stefano said, not looking at Drago. His black eyes were locked on Evie’s. “Come here, slave.”

She almost forgot to push against the enthrallment.

It had been months since she’d last seen Stefano.

In that time, he’d become a figment. Something that wasn’t real.

Something that couldn’t hurt her. Seeing him so close made her shallow breathing turn into panting, and unwelcome tears rose in her eyes.

Her world started to zero in on his black gaze before she remembered that she couldn’t lose herself like this. It would be the death of her.

Evie exited the van, the pressure of his influence tensing dully around her head. She shook as she moved, nearly falling when she stepped onto the gravel driveway in front of Varro’s estate. It masked her tapping her index fingers together—her sign to Drago that she was still in control.

“You stay right there, slave,” Stefano said. Though he was trying to enthrall her, it wouldn’t have been necessary. Fear locked her in place. He turned to Drago. “Your name is Rodgers, right?”

“Yes, sir,” Drago said.

“You did an excellent job. Even if it was a bit late. We’d have preferred her back weeks ago, before she could spill everything.”

“She has been reclusive,” Drago said. “According to our contact, today was her first time out of the high-rise in weeks. Apparently, there was no longer a use for her where she was.”

Stefano looked at Evie suspiciously. He grabbed her face, fingers tightening around her jaw so hard it hurt.

“Is that true, Evelyn?”

The pressure in her head felt like it was going to make her veins pop. “Yes. Natalya vanished. She was the only one who wanted me. The others didn’t care.”

Stefano cackled, believing what he thought was enthrallment-produced truth. “Isn’t that marvelous?”

He eased a finger under the chain around her neck. The one holding her Chain pendant.

“Then you won’t be needing this anymore.”

Stefano pulled at the chain, snapping it, and then threw it away. Her neck felt too bare without the pendant. She started shaking anew.

“How much did you tell them, Evelyn?” he asked. “Did you talk of Fane?”

“No.” Her voice was barely understandable, it was trembling so much.

“Not of his fiends? Or his plans to steal more from the Chains?”

Evie didn’t know Dominic had fiends, plural. She’d never seen them. She only knew of Vex, and that was mainly in hindsight.

She shook her head. “I didn’t tell them anything about that.”

Stefano laughed with delight. He turned to Drago.

“Did you sample her on the way here, Rodgers? Have some fun?”

Drago’s jaw clenched. “No, sir.”

“Wonderful.” Stefano grabbed Evie’s hair and pulled her close. “I’ve been looking forward to breaking her in again ever since she decided to run off with that devil whore Fane wanted so badly. And I’ve wanted to make her scream ever since she got Austin killed.”

He gave Drago a dismissive wave. “You can go wait in the barracks. I’ll handle your payment as soon as I’ve gotten the slut situated.”

He yanked on Evie’s hair for emphasis, making her whimper in fear and pain.

“Of course, sir.” Drago gave Stefano a respectful nod, though his fingers were digging into his arms, almost tearing the fabric of his shirt. Stefano was too busy looking at her to notice.

If Stefano was a different creature, he might have tried to enthrall her into complacency, like he’d done at the apartment.

But he wanted her afraid. A lucky thing really.

Vampires could smell fear, and that was something Evie couldn’t help feeling at that moment.

If Stefano tried to force her calm, the plan would fall apart.

“Come then, Evelyn.” Stefano started pulling her towards the estate. Towards her old prison. “I have so many wonderful plans for you. And they start with getting you out of those unsightly clothes.”

She was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Comfortable clothing. But Stefano didn’t want her comfortable. He wanted her afraid and in pain.

As he pulled her inside, Evie glanced back at Drago. He was standing by the van, looking as unfeeling as ever. Except he was tenser than usual.

Evie had an hour to find and free Natalya. After that, Drago would unleash fiendish Wrath on Varro’s grounds.

Stefano more dragged than led Evie through the estate. His fingers in her hair gripped her hard enough to be painful. It made her start crying. She couldn’t help it.

“When I got the call that they’d actually caught you, I almost didn’t trust it,” Stefano said.

“I figured a frightened little thing like yourself wouldn’t dare walk the city.

I had resigned myself to knowing a fiend had torn out your throat.

A fitting end for you, since you signed yourself over to one.

Tell me.” He pulled her close, extending his fangs.

“How does it feel to fuck a demon of Lust?”

He wasn’t trying to enthrall her. He was just taunting her. She didn’t answer.

“Is it pleasurable?” He ran a hand over her chest, touching her breasts through her sweatshirt. “Is it ecstasy?”

The pressure on her head told her she had to respond. “Yes.”

He flashed his fangs in a snarling grin. “That pleasure will live only in memory, Evelyn. I’ll make sure it hurts from now on so you remember how much of a slut you really are. How getting fucked is supposed to feel for someone like you.”

He led her through the estate, aiming for the guest wing. A secluded hall of rooms meant for visitors rather than Varro’s favorite spawn.

“Remember this place?” Stefano said, entering one of the guest rooms. Seeing it made new tears rise in her eyes.

She recognized the room immediately. The big bed with the black silk sheets. The armchair in the corner. It was where she’d spoken to Natalya for the first time.

“This is where you betrayed your Masters,” Stefano snarled.

“This is where you turned your back on your King and decided to run off with an infernal whore. Though it makes sense, now that I think about it. You’re a little slut.

You have no purpose other than as a thing to fuck.

It’s understandable you were tempted by Lust.”

He laughed as she shivered in his grip. “Do you adore her, Evelyn? Do you love her?”

Evie let out a shuddering breath that was more sob than not. “Yes. I love her.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” Stefano smiled with satisfaction. “She’s with Varro now. Last I heard, he was making her scream. There’s little else coming out of the east wing besides her pitiful shrieks.”

Keeping a tight grip on her hair, he yanked her head to the side, baring her throat. Tears blurred her vision. She knew what came next, and even as she readied herself for it, her body started shaking uncontrollably.

“I’ve missed your taste, Evelyn,” Stefano said.

“It’s intoxicating. So rare . You may hope I’ll kill you in this room, but I have great plans for you.

We’ll keep you around for a long time. We’ve even discussed with Queen Cecilia that we should start a breeding program so we can have a host of little Seraphics running around.

Wouldn’t that be grand? Wouldn’t that be sweet ? ”

He ran his cold fingers over the veins on her throat.

“I have wanted to taste you again for months. Longed for it. I’m going to enjoy draining you into submission.”

With a hungry growl, Stefano sank his teeth into Evie’s neck.

His fangs pierced her skin with horrible, familiar pain.

Sharp and burning, and then warm as her blood spilled over her throat and ran down to stain her clothes.

Stefano groaned as he sucked deeply, feeding on her with great satisfaction.

He stiffened. Then trembled. But he didn’t stop sucking, too engrossed in feeding to realize the sudden pain he felt came from her blood going into his body. When he did, it was too late.

With a wet gurgle, Stefano staggered away from her, and Evie nearly collapsed. She had to grab ahold of the bed to stay standing. Stefano’s eyes bulged, and his face twisted into a surprised, pained expression.

“What the fuck…” The veins in his face tightened and he coughed, sending spatters of her blood all over the floor. His eyes found Evie’s, and they were filled with rage and confusion. “What is this?”

Evie’s arms shook as she pulled her hands free of the loose restraints around her wrists. They had only looked tight.

“Colloidal silver.” Evie’s voice was quivering, still afraid as Stefano stared at her with such seething anger it was almost paralyzing. Then he stumbled and dropped to his knees. Seeing him fall, her fear was replaced with fury.

“It gives it a kick , doesn’t it?” Her voice was still shaking, but there was hate in it now. “The Court of Chains didn’t let me wander on my own. Not without loading my veins with enough silver to roast you from the inside.”

Stefano retched. He couldn’t stay upright and fell to the floor. His body twitched and then convulsed, though he didn’t take his eyes off Evie’s.

“Stop,” he managed. There was a faint pressure on her head. Evie ignored it.

“You can’t control me anymore.” With hands that trembled, Evie pulled out the wooden pin she’d used to hold up her hair. It fell past her shoulders, and she clutched the wooden stake as she approached Stefano.

“Don’t!” he yelled. Desperately and fearfully. He looked terrified. “Have mercy.”

He’d tortured her. Assaulted her and frightened her. For months, he’d done it. Reveled in it. She’d begged him all that time. Begged him to stop, begged him to be quick, begged him to make her forget. He’d done none of it. He hadn’t shown her an ounce of mercy. She wouldn’t give him any.

Evie crouched next to him, staring into a set of black eyes that had delighted in seeing fear in hers. Now she delighted at the terror that was quickly filling his.

“You hurt me,” Evie whispered. “You killed Amanda. And you took Natalya. You don’t deserve any mercy.”

Evie grabbed the hairpin with both hands and plunged it into Stefano’s chest. He screamed in horror and pain as black lines cascaded out from his cold heart, marking his pale, olive skin like streaks of ink. His head fell back, his eyes widened, and he started shaking.

Blood poured from his nose and mouth. Then his eyes and ears. It ran out of him as Evie pulled out the hairpin and stabbed him again. His pores turned bloody, producing a flow of constant red from every orifice as Evie stabbed the monster from her nightmares over and over again.

She kept stabbing him even when he was no longer moving. Even when she was blind from tears and was just plunging a stake into a mess of flesh and torn fabric. She kept staking Stefano until her arms were too tired to keep going.