She looked away from them, focusing on her twirls and spins. Watching these strangers who would be gone in less than a day was distracting. She should pay attention to her dancing. Shut off everything else, like she always did.
But her eyes kept drifting back to Natalya.Whatthehellwasshe?
Evie’s hand slipped on the pole, and she lost her grip. She slid down a foot before she managed to slow the drop, but it didn’t save her from slamming into the floor, landing on her knees. She cried out, stifling the sound immediately. They only wanted you to scream when it didn’t bother their conversation.
Everyone turned to her at the sound, but Natalya was the only one who looked concerned. Their eyes met again, sending horriblefeelingthrough Evie’s body. Natalya’s scarlet irises, with only dots of violet remaining, drilled into her head.
It didn’t shock her like it had the first time. Instead, it sent a flow of sensory fire through her, making her nerves come alive. Evie quickly lowered her eyes. That gaze was frightening and powerful, and she wanted nothing to do with it.
She stayed kneeling and pressed her forehead against the floor. Maybe they would ignore her. Maybe they would just go back to their conversation. Maybe they would be merciful and send her back to her chamber cell so she could sleep.
Evie knew it was pointless to hope for such blessings.
Natalya watched Evelyn press her head to the floor as if the act of submission could somehow hide the fear emanating from her.Natalya couldn’t smell fear as powerfully as vampires could, but she could sense it and other emotions with far more nuance. While others would only see the woman’s obvious fear, Natalya knewshehad caused it.
She hated knowing that. Almost as much as she hated Varro for organizing this little performance.
“She’s strange today,” Stefano said, looking at Evelyn. His voice was thicker than before. “She’s more afraid than usual.”
“With guests like these, it’s a wise enough response.” Varro smiled at Natalya, and she returned it. It felt stiff on her face.
“You can dismiss the girl. I don’t want her to distract from our conversation.” If nothing else, she could at least draw attention away from the poor woman. Natalya didn’t like how hungrily Stefano was looking at her.
“Nonsense.” Varro nodded at Stefano, who got to his feet and approached Evelyn. “She’s here for you, Natalya. I don’t want to be a poor host and not offer refreshments for my guests. We can always make things more exciting.”
Stefano tapped Evelyn on the shoulder. Without hesitation, as though she’d done it a hundred times before, she pulled down her underwear and got on her hands and knees as Stefano started undoing his belt.
The scene was horrid. Varro was right when he said the woman was something to look at, though Natalya found the sight more tragic than alluring. Evelyn was pale from anemia, and her body was covered in scars. Some came from fang marks, others from blades and whips. The beauty she’d once been had been stripped away by torment and terror, and then it was killed by the vacant, dead look in her eyes.
“King, a suggestion,” Dominic said. The slimy, blond warlock had barely stopped staring at Natalya since she entered the room. “I’ve been told eye contact makes it more intense. Makes the subject being fed on moreattentive, you could say.”
Varro nodded with interest as though Dominic had suggested a wine pairing rather than how best to rape a woman. Varro snapped his fingers again.
“Evelyn. Look at our guest.”
Evelyn’s nails dug into the floor. A tiny tremor went up her arms before she turned her eyes to Natalya’s. Her gaze was pleading, begging Natalya to stop doing what she couldn’t help.
A detriment to Natalya’s power was that she wasn’t supposed to have control over it. She was a succubus, a greater Lust demon, a creature made to give and receive pleasure. Any control over that purpose belonged to whoever last summoned her, and she’d killed him a long time ago.
It had taken over a century to gain mastery of her body and its abilities. It took effort to keep what she did innately under control. When she felt threatened, her gaze heightened the senses and emotions of mortals to make them cower from her. It was a defense mechanism that took energy to contain. Energy she didn’t have.
Making an example of Stefano had drained most of her reserves. Coupled with the tense company, she didn’t have the control she usually did. Supernaturals had a natural resistance, meaning they didn’t feel her influence as intensely. As long as no one touched her, she hadn’t needed to worry about affecting anyone untowardly. Then she’d made eye contact with Evelyn.
Evelyn had blocked herself off from feeling anything, and one look from Natalya had sparked life into her deadened senses. In another normal situation, it might have startled her, but it would have no other effect. Here, with Natalya’s eyes locked on hers, it was dismantling all her defenses. It made herfeeleverything.
Had they been alone, it would have been different. Had they been alone, Natalya could have maintained control.
“What’s gotten into you?” Stefano pulled Evelyn’s head back by yanking on her hair. He was still fully dressed—save for hismissing belt—but even clothed his proximity had an effect on Evelyn. He laughed as he smelled the fear oozing off her scarred frame. “We should have guests more often if this is how the slaves respond. She was starting to get a bit boring.”
“Impressive, Natalya,” Varro said. “Even knowing your kind could affect the senses of others, it’s something else to see it in the flesh. Go on, Stefano. I’m curious how Evelyn responds with Natalya in the room.”
Evelyn’s entire body was shaking. Natalya couldn’t take her eyes off her. In part because she was horrified at what was about to happen but also because she was keenly aware Varro was watching her reaction.
He was cruel enough to do something as wretched as this simply for enjoyment, but there was more to it. This was a test of some sort, maybe to assess the cruelty of Chains. If Natalya failed it, what would he do? She had other people to think about than just herself and this woman.
Natalya could tell Evelyn was trying to shield herself from the feelings welling up in her. Trying to block out the fear, to push down the panic. It wasn’t possible when around an out-of-control Natalya.
Evelyn’s every active emotion would increase several notches. Every sensation would heighten. She’d feel everything more intently than usual.
