“Well, I think you look fantastic.” Evie held out the lipstick she’d just been using. “And I know for a fact wearing lipstick makes you feel sexier.”
Lily chuckled, accepting the makeup. “Aleksander likes when I wear lipstick.”
“Will he be there tonight?”
“I don’t know. He’s still busy.” Lily applied red to her lips. She smiled a little wider when she was done. “From what I heard, Natalya has been too.”
With Night vampires still moving around near the borders, Aleksander was away from the high-rise more often than not. It left Natalya in charge, and her having to manage the Court meant she wasn’t in the apartment as much as she’d been in the beginning.
Evie had felt a twinge of fear—and disappointment—when she learned Natalya wouldn’t be walking the floor that night. It dulled her enthusiasm a little, remembering she wouldn’t be there. Evie hadn’t seen her since the previous evening.
“You okay?” Lily asked.
Evie had gone quiet, thinking about the violet-eyed woman. She shook off the feeling, trying to restore her excitement.
“I’m fine.” Evie tensed as soon as the words we’re out. She could easily picture the look of annoyance Natalya would give her if she’d heard her say that.
But Natalya wasn’t here. And though Lily was nice, Evie didn’t owe her the concerns in her head. Even if just thinking about Natalya made Evie’s heart pound against her ribs. Her lips started tingling slightly.
“You miss her,” Lily said.
Lily wasn’t human. She was a goddamn mind reader.
“I just feel better with Natalya around.” Evie cleared her throat, realizing what she’d said. “Safer, I mean.”
She remembered what Natalya had told her. She was a being of Lust, a being made for Sin. She couldn’t care for another. Not in a romantic way, at least. Natalya had been clear about that.
Despite knowing it, a persistent nagging feeling of wantingmorehad burrowed its way into her chest.
It was a useless feeling. A stupid one. Natalya didn’t want someone doting on her like that. She probably got plenty of such things already. She felt responsible for Evie, and they had their fun. That was all. She needed to accept that.
“Right…” Lily didn’t sound entirely convinced, but she must have seen something in Evie’s face that made her drop the topic. Maybe it was pleading.
She didn’t want to talk about it. Or even think about it. She planned on drinking enough at the bar that she wouldn’t be able to do either.
The Chicago River stretched out far below, the glow of streetlights scattering over the surface. A deceptive calm, hiding darkness and other wretchedness beneath. Natalya did her best to mimic it.
“I don’t like asking this of you,” Aleksander said. They were in his penthouse, one of the few places the King of Chains could act as though no audience was watching. Such was the curse of ruling. Showing weakness and insecurity was prohibited.
“I don’t recall you asking as much as me offering,” Natalya said. “But after what happened at Varro’s, I understand your apprehension.”
“I would go myself.”
“I know.” Natalya gave him a long look. “It’s your own damn chains locking you in place. You only have yourself to blame for being Court-bound.”
Almost two years before, Aleksander had lost control and nearly drained Lily to death. The minimal punishment for attacking a human in that manner was clear. Territory confinement.
The King of Chains wasn’t above the laws and had shackled himself to his Court for five years. It was why Natalya had visited Varro rather than Aleksander.
Natalya ran a finger over her lips. “Since we’re alone, I’ll let you know it was foolish taking on that punishment in the first place, even if it was just. You’re an idiot, but at least you’re an honorable one.”
“I should have you whipped for speaking to me like that.”
His voice was deep and steely. It was a voice that demanded obedience. It was how he always spoke, but a twitch near his mouth told Natalya the comment was made in jest.
Then he narrowed his eyes, watching her fingers still touching her lips. Natalya lowered her hand, speaking before Aleksander could do so.
“Did Zahra say what she wanted with this meeting?”
