The higher tiers of Red and Blue were different. There the volunteer lived with their Claimant. The Silvers were the same, except much more strict. They received constant protection, not just from danger but from disease and aging too. In exchange, they were subservient to their Claimant and were to make themselves available whenever wanted. It was the responsibility of the Claimant to not abuse such a want.
Natalya wanted it. She’d never wanted anything more than to hold Evie forever.
“Evie needs her own life,” Natalya said, hating how disingenuous it sounded. “So much of it has been taken from her already. She was forced into this world. There was no choice for her. I shouldn’t demand more than she’s already given.”
“Shouldn’t, maybe,” Aleksander said. “Do you want to?”
Natalya couldn’t answer. She didn’t trust herself to not sound possessive.
“You can go, Aleksander,” she said, her attention drifting. “I’ll remain here the rest of the night, if you need me.”
Aleksander made to leave, but then something caused him to stop. Something he’d spotted in the room. The corner of his mouth quirked slightly.
The bastard was smirking.
“Maybe I’ll stay for a bit. The night is young.” He shrugged, shooting her aninnocentglance. “Who knows what could happen?”
He walked to one of the nearby stages where Drago was standing, striking up a conversation with the fiend. Natalya glowered after him, unsure of his game but lacking the enthusiasm to investigate.
A human moved into Natalya’s periphery, stopping near her throne. They wanted her attention. She ignored them, hoping they would go away. She had other things to think about.
Evie had been in the Second Circle only once, and though she hadn’t panicked, she had clearly been anxious. Why wouldn’t she be? With people being bound, hit, and even whipped, it made sense she would be afraid.
With everything she’d been through, the attempted kidnapping, and Natalya taking her on the dining table so hard it left bruises, it would be reasonable that she was scared. And her being scared wouldn’t stop.
Keeping Evie in this world would subject her to untold horrors and dangers. Evie would have to accept that. Natalya didn’t want to ask that of her, and the reason was pathetic.
She was afraid. Afraid of Evie leaving her. Afraid that Evie only saw her as a source of safety and protection. Afraid that the love Natalya felt was one-sided.
She was the second-most powerful being in the state, and she was scared of being rejected. It was so pitiful as to be laughable.
Realizing a human was still waiting for her, Natalya turned towards them. “If your Master or Mistress left you to wander—”
Natalya froze. Then stared. And then she actually gaped.
Standing a few feet from her throne was Evie and the sight of her was breathtaking. She was wearing a dark green corset and thigh-high stockings held up by a garter belt over black lace panties. She’d slightly curled her long strawberry-blonde hair and put on a pair of painful-looking stilettos.
And most notably, mostshockingly, Evie was giving her a wicked smile.
“My Mistress did leave me to wander,” she said innocently. “And I’m afraid it’s going to get me in trouble.”
Chapter 38
Any risk connected to this plan was completely worth it for the look of utter shock on Natalya’s face. Her mouth actually dropped open, even though it was only briefly.
Evie had almost chickened out on the way to the Second Circle, but she toughed out the anxiety and walked into the dungeon with her head held high. Unlike last time, not a lot of people had looked at her. A few appreciative glances but nothing more, and Evie was used to that. She’d worn less while performing for worse crowds.
But that was before she’d walked up to Natalya and stunned her into silence. Now they had the attention of the room.
Perfect.
“What are you doing here?” Natalya said. Her eyes were a little wide.
Evie shrugged. Then decided to provoke further and twirled a strand of her hair. “Got bored. And lonely.”
If Evie’s outfit and mannerisms didn’t clearly communicate her intentions with coming to the Second Circle, her flirtatious tone certainly did. It was a tone easily adopted in Natalya’s carnal hall of Lust. And though Natalya was trying to hide it, Evie noticed how her gaze lingered on other parts of her body thanjusther face.
The game was afoot. Natalya was leering at the bait. Now Evie needed to hook in the catch. And she knew there were things Natalya would let her get away with only outside the domain of Lust.
