Page 138 of Kiss of Seduction

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 Aleksanderfinally 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.