Natalya stared at Sam as she walked down the hallway, only turning to Evie when Sam was out of sight. She took off her sunglasses, revealing violet eyes.
“Are you alright?”
Evie was getting back to herself. Part of why was because Sam was gone, but Natalya’s presence helped just as much. It frustrated her to admit that.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?” Natalya sounded unimpressed. And a little annoyed.
“Yeah, I am,” Evie snapped, moving back into the pole room.Awayfrom Natalya. “I know you don’t like when I say that, but it’s what you’re getting. And I’ve told you, I don’t like it when yousense my emotions. That’s why you came here, right? You knew I was scared?”
“You were terrified. When it didn’t pass but instead increased, I needed to make sure you weren’t in danger. Did you know her?”
“Never seen her before. She wasn’t even doing anything. She was just acting really weird, and it freaked me out.”
Natalya surprised Evie by chuckling. Evie scowled at her.
“What?”
“She may have been flirting with you, Evie.” Natalya shrugged. “Or making an attempt at it, at least.”
Evie was stunned. It hadn’t even occurred to her as an option. She had been used to people flirting with her. It was a big part of her old job, but it was so long ago, and she’d just assumed Sam was interested in her for some other, nefarious reason.
The lack of danger was so obvious in hindsight she felt silly for having been so afraid. She started laughing, the nervousness leaving her body as she did.
“I guess I have to get used to that again.” Evie ran her hand over one of the poles. It was solid and familiar under her fingers. “People flirting with me.”
“Don’t care for it?” Natalya followed Evie into the room.
“Not really. It reminds me of work. And most people who did it were men, and it doesn’t do anything for me.” Evie glanced at Natalya, who was inspecting the room, touching a pole as she passed it. The movement was beautiful and elegant. “I guess you’re no stranger to it. People flirting.”
“You’d be surprised.” Natalya’s pupils narrowed into thin lines, making them look more reptilian than feline. “I think something about me makes people keep their distance. The same thing that stops you from sticking your hand in a fire.” She relaxed her eyes.
“I’d think a few would try?”
Natalya cocked her head, amused. “Would you mind if there was?”
A twinge of jealousy sparked in Evie’s chest. The thought of others flirting with Natalya wasn’t pleasant. It made Evie’s cheeks grow hot, and she quickly turned away. She caught Natalya’s eye in the floor-to-ceiling mirror on one of the walls. Natalya pretended she didn’t notice Evie blushing.
“What were you doing here alone? I saw Diana waiting for you downstairs.”
“I was just practicing,” Evie said, glad to be away from the previous topic. “I asked Diana if I could be on my own for a bit. I’m working on something.”
“Just for yourself?”
“For now. I’ve been missing dancing lately.Actuallydancing.” Evie leaned against a pole. “Is that weird? It feels like it should be.”
“Not at all. What do you miss about it?”
“The stage stuff mostly. The energy of it. And the other girls too. We had a tight thing going at the club I worked at before I went to New Orleans.” Evie shrugged, and her tone turned sorrowful. “I’ve always liked dancing.”
There was a moment of quiet, then Natalya gave her a small smile.
“We can have something arranged.” Natalya’s smile widened when Evie furrowed her brows in confusion. “The public face of the Court of Chains is a nightclub, among other things. And we have a thing for steel. Wouldn’t be much of a stretch to have some poles installed on the dancefloor.”
“You’d do that for me?” The sorrow was gone from Evie’s voice, replaced by excitement.
Natalya raised an eyebrow, grinning. “If you ask nicely.”
