A glass of red wine arrived for her. She ignored it, just as Hasan ignored his. He couldn’t drink it, and she didn’t want hers.
“Why did you want to meet with the Chains?” she asked. “That it can’t be handled over the phone suggests it’s important.”
“That it does. And it is. I’ve heard a lot about your Court. About what it can do. Unorthodox, sure, but effective. It makes a man curious.”
“What about a woman? It was your Queen who called for this meeting.”
“Yes, butIsuggested we have it here.” His expression was almost apologetic. “I knew Aleksander was Court-bound.”
Natalya gave him a lethal smile. “If you wanted a date, there are easier ways to go about it.”
“I have a feeling you’d rip me in half if I made the offer.” Hasan smirked. He wasn’t afraid. “From what I’ve heard, you’d be successful in the attempt. There are few beings more powerful than greater fiends.”
“Then let me tell you, we don’t have much patience for trickery. Some of us don’t have patience at all. If you wanted to see me, there are easier ways to accomplish it. Ways that involve you approaching the Court rather than forcing me out of my domain.” Natalya leaned over the table. “I don’t like to be forced.”
Hasan looked her over with newfound interest. Then apologetically.
“I didn’t think of that. Greater fiends know of forced indenture better than anyone. I apologize.”
He was being genuine, and it dimmed Natalya’s anger somewhat. He was testing her, though for what reason she didn’t know yet.
“What do you know about Varro Visconti?” Hasan said. Natalya sneered.
“Enough that I’d like him staked.”
“Then we are of a similar mindset. The East Coast has prospered under my Maker. Queen Zahra is generous, as generous as she can be. And she abhors slavery, human or otherwise. Varro disagrees, as do most other Night Regents.”
Natalya thought of Evie and the tattoo Varro had marked her with. She clenched her fist to keep the anger out of her voice.
“He’s also a terrible host. I visited him a few months past. He planned on killing me then.”
“I heard stories of a stolen slave.” Hasan’s brows furrowed. “I thought the Chains didn’t allow the practice.”
“We don’t,” Natalya said sharply. “The woman helped us escape. Had we left her, she would’ve been killed or tortured for assisting us. I couldn’t allow that. She’s been given her freedom.”
Just thinking about Evie’s life under Varro made it feel like Natalya’s blood was boiling. If Evie hadn’t warned her in that guest room, Natalya might have left her behind. And then met an end to a group of vampire goons when they left the estate.
She sometimes forgot that Evie, at her most frightened and broken, had been brave enough to save her life.
Hasan regarded her keenly, trying to spot signs of deception in what she was saying. When he found none, he ran a finger along the edge of his wine glass.
“Your Court is expanding. Slowly but steadily. You are not like the Courts of Night, Wolf, and Winter, who can exist alongside one another in the same space. You demand complete subjugation from all within your domain. I am curious how far you’d like your influence to reach.”
“Far enough to house our members safely,” Natalya said earnestly. She gave him a wry grin. “We have no plans for world domination.”
“What about plans for the Heartlands?” Hasan asked. Natalya frowned at the question.
“You seem more curious about it than I, Hasan.”
His black eyes turned hard. It was the first sign of anger she’d seen in him. She thought she’d offended him until he started to speak.
“Varro is a blight on our kind. And he hates you. He was willing to give Zahra Ohio and Alabama for her help in toppling you.”
“A generous offer.”
“We’re not working with that snake,” Hasan said hatefully. Then he calmed. “If he was to fall, I suspect the Court of Chains wouldn’t see it as a tragedy.”
Natalya cocked her head. She had a feeling where this was going but couldn’t quite believe it.
