Evie’s hips ached from being knocked into the table. She’d probably get bruises. But it wasn’t a deep pain. It hadn’t come sharply and with the promise of scars. It was just a dull ache that would fade eventually.
“It’s not that bad.” Evie was breathing easier now. Maybe it was Natalya’s doing. No, it definitely was. Whether she was doing it consciously or not, being in her arms was the most tranquil thing Evie had ever experienced.
Natalya touched the steel chain around Evie’s neck. “Take this off.”
Evie pulled her hand away.
“You don’t want this, Evie.” Natalya’s voice was full of pain. “You don’t want to be mine.”
Evie intertwined her fingers with Natalya’s. “Yes, I do.”
Natalya shook her head in denial of what she was hearing. But there was hope in her violet eyes, even though she tried to hide it.
“I know it isn’t active yet,” Evie said. “Consider it a promise. Iwillbe yours. If you want me.”
The last words came out weakly. Her wanting this was only one part of the equation. She’d put the pendant around her neck, assuming Natalya had meant it for her and not someone else.
It was one thing trying to convince Natalya that she wanted to be hers and fail at that. It was another to have Natalya deny the request because she didn’t want Evie at all.
Natalya looked like she didn’t understand what Evie was saying. Her beautiful face was wrought with worry and disbelief. Not knowing how she was going to respond, Evie burrowed further into the embrace. As she did, Natalya’s robe opened, and Evie rested her head against her chest. She was warm. And so worried.
“Oh, Evie…” Natalya was smiling now, the sight beyond beautiful. It made the doubt Evie had just experienced feel like the most insignificant thing.
She caressed Evie’s cheek, then bent down and gave her a kiss so gentle it was barely there. It made her lips tingle, releasing a colony of butterflies in her stomach.
“Mine,” Natalya whispered into Evie’s hair. She didn’t sound possessive anymore. She just sounded happy. “My Evie. My sweet, sweet Evie.”
Chapter 33
Dominic turned a piece of chalk between his fingers, looking at the spot of concrete reserved for his desired prize. Currently, it was home to a trophy of lesser value than the one he desired. The one who’d gotten away.
He'd known it would be difficult. Fiends were notoriously guarded, and this particular Lady of Lust had been in the mortal world for over a century without being summoned again. That she was still free was impressive. And she had beensoclose.
It had been foolish to go after her at all, but the opportunity was too great. When he’d learned of the meeting with Hasan, Dominic had been blind to everything but the alluring possibility it presented. A greater Lust fiend, outside of her domain. Alone.
He’d expected her to run as soon as they were attacked, but she’d stayed by the East Coast vampire, even protecting him from a staking. Chains fiends were an interesting sort. They didn’t behave with the selfish, wicked mindset his research said was always found within free beings of Sin. It made her all themore interesting. It made her all the more precious. And she’d gotten away.
Dominic snapped the piece of chalk.
“Your spawn is no longer just useless but an outright liability,” Dominic said to Varro. They were in the east wing of the King’s estate, and neither of them were happy. “His tasks were simple. Kill the East Coast envoy. Capture the fiend. Somehow, he not only managed to do neither, but he actually made thingsworse.”
“Hasan had more guards than we realized.” Varro’s black eyes shined with wrathful flame. “Stefano almost died.”
“He defied orders,” Dominic said dryly. “I told him photographs would be useless. Either he was insolent and ignored my directives, or he believed them to be inaccurate. Regardless, he was an idiot.”
A few months ago, a comment like that would have enraged Varro. With how silent and contemplative the King got, it almost seemed like he agreed with Dominic.
Varro’s progeny had truly been idiotic. He’d taken pictures, all but stating his intention with the attack. Now the Chains might know what Stefano’s orders had been, though Dominic doubted it. Fiends didn’t trust easily, not even those of Chains, and they entrusted information about their freedom to no one. She might not even share that a photo was taken.
“Stefano will be dealt with,” Varro said. “I’m not letting him ruin this for us any further.”
“Us?” Dominic snapped. “You have gained more than you’ve lost from this alliance of ours. Don’t disrespect me by pretending the failures of your spawn affected us equally.”
“Don’t act like you’re not getting anything out of this.”
“I get thepotentialfor things. You have already gained tremendous value from our arrangement, King. Information that would have been otherwise impossible for you to get. I want my prize in return.”
“You’ll get it once the Court is crushed, as agreed. It will be soon.”
