“I’m Aleksander’s representative.”
“Don’t play that game. I didn’t with you. You may have been ordered to come, but orders can’t produce the passion you showed in there.”
She had a point. Róisín had shared things she didn’t need to. That didn’t come for free.
“Kieran harmed someone close to me. He needs to pay for it.”
Róisín pursed her lips. “Right… I did hear stories of a certain human being tied up in this mess. She seems interesting. Pink suits her.”
She obviously said it to cause a reaction. Róisín had more experience with this game, so even when furious, she could maintain most of her composure. Maya hadn’t mastered that yet.
“How interesting.” Róisín cocked her head. “There might be some truth to those rumors. You’re charming, obviously. But there’s viciousness there, too. Makes me wonder which characteristic was the more convincing factor when the Chains let you join them.”
Róisín showed her teeth in a chilling smile. “Only, you didn’treallyjoin. You weren’t given many options when you were taken from that warlock’s estate. When your thrall’s brand was exchanged for shackles.”
Maya stiffened. “How do you know that?”
“It’s my job to know things. I do my job very well. How did they convince you to stay? Threats? Or flattery?”
“Neither. They asked.”
Róisín laughed. A hollow, joyless sound.
“Regents do notask. They command. You may be unique, but that does not make you immune to manipulation. The freedom your Court prides itself on is in name only. Unsurprising, for a Court whose symbol is Chains.”
That point contained just enough logic to turn needling. Just enough information to invite questions about how much choice Maya had in all of this.
When she first got to Chicago, she hadn’t been given the option to leave. Her joining the Chains happened in less than a day—without the normal ritual that accompanied it, too.
From Róisín’s perspective, it had been purely political. A way for Natalya and Aleksander to lock down a powerful asset before anyone else could claim her. It’s what Winter would have done. What most other Courts would have done.
But the Chains were different. They were a home to outsiders. The lost. The coveted. No Court had ever had a rarer collection of beings within its halls.
Yes, they made her stay. But only because her freedom would be forfeited as soon as she was alone. If Maya actually wanted to break from them, the Regents would make sure she understood the risks involved. They would probably be insistent about the foolishness of leaving. But they wouldn’t stop her.
Róisín was trying to sow doubt. Well, two could play at that game.
“Why did you join Winter?”
Surprise shined in Róisín’s eyes. She backed up a step.
“I was born into this position.”
“So you had no choice.”
“That is not what I said.”
“It was, though. In fact, it sounds like your role was there before you were. That your purpose was decided before you were even alive and you follow your Queen’s commands largely because you don’t have a choice in the matter.”
Maya gave her a hard stare. “You may doubt that my faction values freedom. That’s your prerogative. But if I wanted to, I could walk away, and I doubt you could say the same. If I’m wrong, counter my assumption. Tell me that if you ever wished to leave, you would be allowed. If it’s true, it should be easy to say.”
Róisín didn’t speak. She stood frozen, an ice sculpture in a storm, as the wind whipped free a few strands of silver hair.
“You should run on home now, Ms. Novak. Before your immortality gets tested.”
She turned and walked down the snow-covered street. She didn’t move with the same controlled grace as before. Instead, she walked as briskly as was dignified.
“The Chains are open to new members,” Maya shouted. “Just letting you know. In case you ever need somewhere to flee to.”
