Page 22 of Kiss of Seduction

Natalya lowered her hand. Her fingers had trailed to her lips again.

“Blake needs to distinguish between interest and worry. I only asked how Evie was progressing with the therapist we sent her way.”

“And what did Blake say?”

Natalya sneered. “She told me to fuck off and ask Evie myself.”

Flea threw his head back and cackled. “I love that woman.”

“She always says she hates you.”

“She loves to hate me. It makes the sex better. But if you’re curious, you should talk to Evie. She’d probably like the company.”

Natalya sighed and emptied her glass. “I’m not company, Flea.”

What was best for Evie wasn’t to be around creatures who fed on humans, especially not one who had fed on her without her consent. The guilt and unease of having done that was stillpainful. Outside of her first summoning, she’d only ever kissed people because she was ordered to, or to incapacitate or kill them. With Evie, she’d done it first to protect her and then...

Evie had kissed her and lived.

A kiss from a succubus had consequences, mostly lethal ones. If it didn’t kill its target, it left them feeling weakened but blissful. That was it. Whatever had happened with Evie,washappening with Evie, wasn’t normal.

She’d initiated a kiss when Natalya wasn’t ready, and she’d stayed standing. In the car, it had taken every ounce of control Natalya had to only drain a trace of Evie’s essence, and she’d only known she could do it because she’d killed hundreds while learning the skill. She had none of that control when Evie kissed her in the office. By every rule and law Natalya knew, Evie should be dead.

Flea turned away from her, having noticed the only person who could pull his attention away from something he found interesting. Pushing through the crowd, shoulder-checking anyone who didn’t get out of the way, Blake moved towards the bar. She made straight for Flea, grabbed him by the neck, and gave him a hard kiss. Natalya rolled her eyes.

“Hello, princess,” Flea said too nicely, toying with a strand of her black hair. Blake yanked on his in return.

“Hello, sweetheart,” Blake said in the exact same tone. They were undressing each other with their eyes.

“How was your afternoon off, Blake?” Natalya asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Blake leaned against Flea. “Are you asking out of interest for me or for Evie? I know you’ve been keeping tabs on the Chains who go to her place.”

Natalya thought she’d been discreet about that. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’d believe you if I didn’t have proof to the contrary. I overheard you and Cassius talking. And she’s fine. If you’re feeling worried.”

“I’m not worried,” Natalya said sharply. She looked at Flea. “Kindly remind your human that playing with hellfire is not the same as the flames she’s familiar with.”

“She’ll roast you alive, princess,” Flea said. “Better drop it.”

Blake rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I only have a few minutes anyway. Going out on patrol. I just needed to remindsweethearthere that I own his ass when I get back.”

Blake put her hand in Flea’s back pocket, flashing a mean grin.

Natalya was about to make a snide comment when she felt a surge of fear. Not from anything close, but a distant emotion. It came from Evie, strong and sudden, and then it was gone in an instant, replaced with deceptive calm. It was like she had started to panic, and then something forcibly suppressed it.

Other than herself, Natalya knew of only one type of being that could cause something like that.

Natalya spun on Blake, making both her and Flea frown. “Did you leave Evie at home?”

“Why do you—” Blake started, but she was cut off when Natalya grabbed and shook her.

“Is she at home!?”

“Fuck! Yeah, she’s home!”

Blake tried to get free of Natalya’s grip, but it took Flea pulling on her before Natalya realized she should let go. Natalya hadn’t thought to hold back her touch, and it had set Blake’s nerves on fire.