“You don’t see her after. It’s like she’s taken a beating from the inside, every time.”
“Is it really that bad?” Flea asked. Natalya would have made him shrivel to his knees for that comment if he hadn’t sounded genuinely concerned.
“You can’t imagine what it’s like.” There was more earnestness to the statement than she’d intended. It was like she was talking about herself as much as she was Evie.
Drago crossed his arms, still staring at her. Flea made a face and fidgeted where he stood. Natalya narrowed her eyes.
“Do you have a concern you’d like to share?”
“There was a message from Varro,” Flea said. “He apologized for the actions of his progenies. He said that Stefano is being dealt with, and he’ll make sure no other attempts are made to take Evie back. All he wants in return is Austin’s remains.”
Natalya laughed coldly. What was left of Austin had been thrown in an incinerator weeks ago, as was common practice. Varro knew this.
“What an understandable request,” Natalya said through clenched teeth.
“He’s apparently been in talks with the Night Queen of the South-West and the Night Queen of the East Coast,” Drago said. “If they join forces, it could get ugly.”
“It’s already ugly,” Natalya muttered.
This wasn’t a war of torn limbs and bared teeth. It was a chessboard where each piece had moves unknown to the opponent. It was a slow game where, somehow, Evie played a part.
Varro wouldn’t be so daring to try to take Evie again. Not in the high-rise, at least, but maybe somewhere else. Evie had quit the cleaning job she’d found, but she still had her weekend classes. They were in the early afternoon and close by, so there was little risk, and she would always have an escort. But the thought nagged Natalya.
What the hell was Varro planning?
“I’ll talk to her when she wakes up.” The thought didn’t excite her. Her drilling into all the horrible things Evie had been through wouldn’t be easy, even if it was necessary. Evie may come to detest Natalya for it. For demanding she remember what she tried to forget.
She dismissed Flea and Drago, giving the latter a cold stare as he continued to look at her as he left. She didn’t go back to the bedroom, instead staying in the living space—staring at nothing—as worry fought resolve in her mind.
The thought of Evie hating her hurt, but the thought of potentially losing her hurt more. Natalya was responsible for her being there. For her being chased like this. Figuring out why Varro wanted her was the best way to ensure her safety.
She wasn’t supposed to be Evie’s lover. She wasn’t her friend. She was her protector, and she was supposed to keep her safe. That was all. She had to remember that.
Though she knew the conclusion to be right, she disliked it all the same.
Natalya was drawn back to Evie when she felt a twinge of fear from her. The muted fright of a bad dream. Natalya lay beside her, running her fingers over Evie’s skin and sending calm into her body until the nightmares faded.
She was beautiful at ease like this. When Evie woke, Natalya would ask her to recount horrible memories, and the calm would vanish.
Evie woke to soothing fingers brushing over her forehead. It made her not want to open her eyes. The real world wasn’t as gentle as the feeling of calming touches on sleepy skin.
“I know you’re awake,” Natalya said.
Evie turned over, pressed her face against the pillow, and groaned. Natalya chuckled, running her fingers through Evie’s hair.
“Perhaps I was mistaken.”
They stayed like that for a few more minutes, Evie slowly coming out of sleep as Natalya kept touching her softly. When Evie finally decided to wake fully, she turned to Natalya.
She was sitting in the bed next to Evie, wearing the same dress as the night before. There was no mussiness of sleep on her face or her clothes. She looked glowing. Gorgeous. It made Evie still in place for a moment, so she could just stare at her.
Evie cleared her throat. “You were here all night?”
“Mostly. You barely stirred. You must have needed the rest.”
Evie recalled in bright detail what they had done the night before. It made her cheeks feel warm, but she couldn’t help but smile.
“I guess I was tired. Thank you. For staying, I mean.”
