Page 9 of Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1)

“A Lust fiend. A greater one. Succubus is the term most familiar to people, inaccurate as it may be. It means ‘to lie beneath,’ and I don’t do much of that.” Natalya smiled in a way that would have been humorous if it wasn’t for the sad look in her eyes. “I don’t kiss people for fun.”

“Oh…” Evie said quietly. “So, right now, did you… take some of my life away?”

She didn’t understand. Vampires had fed on her before, excessively even. It had left her feeling weak and lethargic. In the car, she had been overcome with exhaustion. But right then, her body was buzzing with energy.

“It feels as though I did.” Natalya inspected her again, looking confused. “But you’re still standing. It doesn’t make sense.”

Evie hated if she’d done something that would make Natalya mad at her. She looked away, ashamed and afraid, but Natalya drew her eyes back to hers by gently grabbing her chin. Her touch was warm. She smelled of lavender.

“Why did you think a kiss would be the right way to thank me?”

The question made Evie pause. Her life had changed to be about survival first and everything else second. She knew what she was. It was made clear in Varro’s Court. She had no value beyond what her body could provide.

But Natalya’s violet eyes resting on hers, calm and concerned, made her remember what it had been like before. How she’d liked dancing, teaching, and drinking cheap wine with Amanda.

The thoughts made her feel dirty.

“I don’t have anything else to offer,” Evie said, tears rising in her eyes.

Natalya’s face changed to a look of deep understanding. Like she knew exactly what Evie meant. It was hard to imagine someone as powerful as Natalya relating to something so shameful.

“The next time you kiss someone, let it be because you want to,” Natalya said. “Not because you’re grateful to them, or scared of them, or because they make you feel like you must. Can you promise me that?”

Not knowing what else to do, Evie nodded.

There was a knock on the door, and it opened, letting in a woman Evie didn’t know. She had a slight frame, tan skin, and dark hair, and she had fresh fang marks on her neck. A human.

Natalya quickly stepped away from Evie. The newcomer frowned.

“Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all.” Natalya put on a forced smile. “I’m glad you could come. I trust Aleksander didn’t mind.”

“He went to rest. I’m sure he’ll have plenty to say about it tonight.” The woman turned to Evie. “You must be Evie. I’m Lily.”

When Lily held out her hand, Evie flinched away. Lily’s arm hung in the air for a moment, and then she let it drop. She gestured at the couch.

“Want to sit down?”

Evie didn’t really, but then Natalya made an almost imperceptible nod. Evie followed the instruction, sitting down next to Lily.

“Natalya thought it would be good to have someone human talk to you,” Lily said.

“You being here in the high-rise is only temporary. You’ll be taken to an apartment later today, and we’ll have someone stay with you.

You’ll be cared for until you feel fit to be on your own.

It’s only an offer, though. If you want to leave, no one will stop you. ”

Evie thought she noticed Natalya tense when Lily said the last sentence, but it was such a brief thing she might have just been imagining it.

“I don’t understand…”

“The Court of Chains doesn’t keep slaves.

” Lily pulled at the necklace she was wearing, the pendant an iron ring wrapped in silver chains.

It glowed slightly. “A human can sign a contract to be bound to someone in exchange for protection, but they aren’t forced to stay in it. You can always leave if you want to.”

Natalya snorted, and Lily scowled at her.

“Something funny?”

“No, not at all,” Natalya said, smiling. It was the first time Evie had seen Natalya do so authentically, without hidden resentment or sadness. It softened her lethally beautiful features.

“I’m free?” Evie asked. “I can go if I want to?”

“You can.” Lily squeezed her hand. A tentative relief started forming in Evie’s chest.

There was a sudden, loud rumbling from behind her. Evie sprang to her feet as a steel black-out cover slid down over the window. The golden rays from the sun vanished, replaced by the glow of overhead lights.

“Sins…” Natalya muttered as the final bit of sunlight was blocked out, and the door swung open. In walked a tall, pale man with black hair and pure black eyes. At a glance, he would have looked delicate, but his eyes were alight with an anger that was anything but.

A vampire.

Evie immediately dropped to her knees and pressed her forehead against the floor. She wanted to run, but she knew she wouldn’t make it more than a few steps before he caught her. Better to offer herself to him and pray he was feeling merciful.

Lily dropped to the floor next to her. Was she kneeling too? No, she had her hands on Evie’s shoulders. Lily was shaking her. Saying her name.

It was a lie. It had all been a cruel lie, and she’d allowed herself to hope.

“I thought you’d withdrawn for the day,” Natalya said icily.

“I was about to,” the man said. “Then I heard you pulled Lily into this shitshow. Varro’s not happy with you.”

“How heartbreaking.” Natalya made the words sound like acid. “Let that conniving rapist seethe. If he wants to be pissed about being cheated out of killing his guests, let him. Good thing you didn’t go. He’d have staked you in your sleep.”

“Murderous or not, he’s particularly angry about you taking his things. He mentioned a Seraphic had gone missing from his estate.”

They were talking about Evie. Varro had contacted them. He wanted her back. They were going to send her back.

Evie started shaking.

“What were you thinking?” he said angrily.

“You weren’t there,” Natalya said, voice hard. “You didn’t see what he was doing to them.”

“You think I don’t know the cruelties of Night?

I’m well acquainted with what they consider entertainment.

Varro is already starting a story of how you stole one of his favorites and that you’re refusing to return his property.

Too many people believe him. Too many people are getting pissed. We can’t afford more enemies.”

“Aleksander! You’re scaring her.” Lily’s voice was loud and angry. She was yelling at a vampire.

Evie crawled away from her, trying to create some distance to her insolence. She was going to get them both killed. As Evie moved, she glanced up from the floor.

The black-haired vampire, youthful and frightening, was almost in Natalya’s face. Aleksander, he’d been called. Natalya had placed herself between him and Evie, blocking Aleksander so he couldn’t come nearer. He looked furious. Then he turned his eyes on Evie.

She quickly lowered her head.

“This is her?” Aleksander asked.

He sounded so angry. He was going to hurt her. Panicked, Evie pulled the flannel partially off, baring her ribs. Lily tried to stop her, but Evie was stronger than her. Evie turned her body so her tattoo was visible.

EVELYN A. - O-NEG SERAPHIC - LANGUAGES: ENGLISH - SPECIAL SKILLS: DANCING

It was all she was. He needed to know her value so he could best decide how to use her. If he found her valuable, he might let her stay. He might let her live.

“Evie, look at me.” Natalya’s voice. Assertive, unwavering, and so close.

Evie looked up. Natalya had crouched down in front of her, violet eyes stern.

“He’s not going to hurt you. Sit up.”

An order. Orders were easy to follow. They didn’t leave room for responses that could make someone angry.

Evie sat up. Natalya pulled the flannel back on her, covering her again.

“We need to solve this, Natalya,” Aleksander said.

“She’s not going back there.”

“Obviously not, but—”

“Let me worry about it. My fuck up, my clean up, right?” Natalya’s eyes flared with anger. She stood and turned to Aleksander. “And next time I tell you to stay out of my office, it’s not something you’re going to treat as a fucking suggestion. Especially not when we’re well past dawn.”

Aleksander looked displeased, but he didn’t oppose what she was saying.

“And I’m keeping your flower for the day,” Natalya said, glaring at Aleksander. “Go on, King. To bed with you.”

Aleksander was a King ? Just the thought of anyone speaking to Varro that way filled Evie with terror. That Natalya would even dare was shocking, but not nearly as shocking as Aleksander actually obeying. He let out a dissatisfied growl and then left the office.

“Sins, he infuriates me sometimes. I don’t know how you stand him, Lily.” Natalya scowled at the now-closed door. Lily ignored her.

“Come on. Let’s go back to the couch.” Lily pulled gently at Evie’s arms, leading her along. She followed without resistance. Fear had pulled it all out of her.

“Will you send me back to Varro?” Evie asked as they sat down.

“No matter what happens, you’re not going back there.” Natalya paced the office, the action not fitting her regal visage. She looked enraged. “I’m going to kill him.”

“Varro or Aleksander?” Lily asked with surprising cockiness. Natalya shot her an icy look.

“Aleksander does have a way of making regicide look tempting. He should know better than to come in here when there’s a—” She clenched her jaw. “I hate men.”

Lily pulled a phone from her pocket. She looked at Natalya.

“Can she…?”

Natalya sighed with frustration. It took a moment for Evie to realize the feeling was directed at herself.

“Yes. Of course.”

Lily held the phone towards Evie. “Do you want to call someone?”

Evie stared at it, stunned. She’d fantasized about getting hold of a phone and calling the police on Varro several times. Not that anything would have come of it. Any officers who showed up would’ve been enthralled into leaving again without even investigating the property.

Who else could she call? She knew, obviously. It was something she’d dreamt of doing for months. To hear her voice again.

Lily mistook her silence for disinterest. She pulled the phone back, and it was like she’d punched Evie in the stomach.

“Is there anyone we need to reach out to?” Natalya asked. “To make sure they’re safe?”

Evie shook her head. Before all this, she’d been a newcomer to New Orleans. No family. No friends. No connections that mattered. Who wouldn’t buy the story of a stripper running out on a gig? She’d had only one attachment, and Stefano had severed it.

“They made sure you didn’t, right?” Natalya asked. “Before they took you away?”

Evie looked at the floor, blinking back tears. She remembered Stefano talking to the other dancers at the Love Light. He’d asked if they had children and where they were going for the holidays.

She’d been easy to take because she wouldn’t be missed.

“Darling...” Natalya put her hand on Evie’s, the touch assuring and gentle. “What happened with Varro won’t happen here. As long as this Court stands, you’ll have its protection. You’ll have mine. I promise.”

She promised. Like she’d promised to get Evie away from Varro.

Away from his cruelties. And just like before, Evie believed her.

Natalya was powerful enough that she could force a vampire like Stefano to the floor and take a bullet in the chest like it was nothing.

And Natalya hadn’t hurt her. Only kept her safe.

Natalya took the phone from Lily and put it into Evie’s hand.

“If there’s someone you’d like to call, call them.”

Evie stared at the phone. It was odd to hold it. Once, it had been the most common thing. Now it was a treasure in her hands. Another small kindness, like the bedsheet around her shoulders, and somehow that made all the difference.

Slowly, Evie typed in the only number she had memorized. Her hands were so shaky she had to try twice before she got it right. She held the phone to her ear, hearing a dial tone and then muffled static before the voicemail picked up the call.

“ You reached Amanda Forrester! I’m out doing crime, so leave a message at the tone .”

There was a beep as the message ended, and the voicemail waited for Evie to speak. Evie redialed the number. The same tinny recording sang out of the phone speakers.

“ You reached Amanda Forrester! I’m out doing crime, so leave a message at the tone. ”

Amanda. Happy, wonderful Amanda, who had loved her despite all the shit Evie had been through. Amanda, who could paint and sing, and who had come to New Orleans wanting to make a career out of both.

Evie hadn’t heard her voice since Stefano enthralled Amanda into inviting him into her apartment. She’d turned to Evie and asked in a confused but trusting tone, “Who’s your friend?”

Stefano had torn out her throat, splattering her blood all over the painting she’d been working on.

Evie dialed the number again, listening to her girlfriend’s voice as her death played on repeat in her head. Stefano could have made her forget it happened. He hadn’t wanted to.

As she listened to Amanda’s voice playing over and over, a memory of a better time, Evie clutched Natalya’s hand and started sobbing.