“Soon isn’t good enough.” Dominic caressed the violet-eyed woman kneeling at his feet. She flinched when he touched her. “I’m taking steps of my own. For my prize and for that slave of yours. I tire of the unnecessary risk of having Evelyn’s pretty little head still attached to her neck.”
“No,” Varro snarled. “She’s not yours.”
“She’s notyourseither. Not anymore, at least. Unless you deal with her soon, Iwilltake matters into my own hands.”
Varro gave him a hateful stare that seemed designed to make humans recoil in terror. Dominic didn’t move. He was no ordinary man. He was a warlock and a powerful one at that. The influence and protection granted him by being in the Court of Varro Visconti were significant enough that he didn’t want to sever his ties to the vampire King, but it was only just so.
He was coven-less and had no community to lean on. There was no one he could trust, at least not any free creatures. Staying at the Court of Night ensured he was as untouchable as Varro himself.
But that value was nothing compared to the dream of his menagerie. If Varro and his spawn continued to hinder that dream, be it intentionally or through incompetence, Dominic would leave Varro to his shrinking Court and find another place that would better appreciate his services.
“She’ll be dealt with.” Varro clenched and unclenched a hand. “Soon. I swear it.”
“Do not fail,” Dominic said. “Otherwise, my shadow will take over. And she isn’t known for being kind.”
He looked down at the woman kneeling next to him. Just a lesser Lust fiend. What he wouldn’t give to have the real thing.
Chapter 34
Rays of sunlight illuminated the bedroom in a golden glow. It cascaded over the floor, over the furniture, and over the two women entangled on the mattress. They’d been there longer than Evie intended, but Natalya made it easy to forget the rest of the world existed.
“You have to let go of me,” Evie said. She was in Natalya’s arms, nestled against her chest, and Natalya wasn’t letting her get up.
”No, I don’t.” The smile was obvious in Natalya’s voice, even if Evie couldn’t see her face. “I don’t have to do anything.”
“I need to get ready, or I’m going to be late!” Evie protested. “I missed my classes last weekend. If I miss them today too, my boss won’t be happy.”
“I don’t care,” Natalya said, and Evie laughed at her carefree tone. Natalya hummed at the noise. “I like hearing you laugh.”
It had been almost a week since Natalya woke up. Almost a week since she first saw Evie wearing the Chain pendant. Several days where she had barely let Evie go.
Every night, she slept wrapped in Natalya’s arms. Every day, Natalya hovered near her, touching her and kissing her, though it never went further than that. Evie going to her classes would be the first time they’d been apart since Natalya woke up, and Natalya was acting humorously difficult.
That would be one way to interpret it, at least. Evie saw the worry hiding behind her amused tone.
“It’ll be fine, you know? I’ll be fine.”
“You know I don’t like that word.”
“Well, in this case, it fits okay.” Evie moved a little closer, her forehead pressed against Natalya’s chest. The silken nightrobe Natalya wore was soft against her skin. “It’s just for the afternoon. I’ll be back long before nightfall. Though it will be a bit later than usual.”
Natalya leaned back and looked down at Evie. “Oh?”
Evie scooted up so they were face to face. “Sam asked if we could go out for drinks after my classes.”
The dislike on Natalya’s face was so apparent it made Evie grin.
“You really don’t like her, do you?”
“I don’t, no.” Her displeased expression waned a little. “She scared you. I don’t like people who scare you.”
“Then you won’t like anyone. Everyone scared me when I first got here.”
“Including me?” Natalya said, smiling sadly.
Evie had already shared how much Natalya frightened her at first. But that fear was a distant thing now. It was only a memory.
“I’m not scared of you.”
