Mayahadconsidered it, but only as a frightening hypothetical. Life with the Chains hadn’t been easy, but it was better than anywhere else.
As a vampire, her options were limited. She could join the Court of Night or become a nomad, and neither idea was inviting. Joining the Court that had branded her like a slave wasn’t attractive, and she wouldn’t last a month if she were on her own.
The Chains let in everybody. As long as you kept the laws and their core tenets of safety, consent, and control, they let you join, regardless of what your past looked like. Or what you were created to do.
She was a weapon. Made to be the catalyst of an undead, day-walking army. Staying with the Regents who had shown no interest in enforcing that purpose seemed like a wise move.
The crowd split, letting a mountain of a man move over to her section. He was bald, pale, and covered in scars, his face about as expressive as a concrete wall, and he stared at her with pure black eyes.
“The Regents want you in the royal lounge.”
Maya looked towards the platform. Natalya was saying something to Aleksander, who was staring straight at Maya.
“What do they want?” Maya gestured at the mostly empty bar. “I’m busy at the moment.”
“They want you in the royal lounge,” the vampire repeated. “Now.”
“Not beating the goon allegations, Viktor.” Diana vaulted over the bar. “I’ll take over here. If they’re both asking, it’s probably important.” She gave Maya a grin. “Who knows? Maybe they finally came up with a punishment for you.”
What a calming thought.
Ignoring the stares following them, Maya trailed Viktor across the floor and up the steel stairs towards the platform.
She had never even touched these stairs. The royal lounge was as exclusive as its name suggested. Only the Regents and the people close to them were allowed up there. Whatever they wanted, it had to be important. If that was good or not… That was less clear.
“Don’t try anything,” Viktor snarled, eyes piercing into Maya’s as she ascended the last few steps. She was about to back away from him, given that he did appear very goon-like right then, when Aleksander’s voice cut in.
“Stand down.” The King of Chains was still facing the crowd below him. “She’s not a danger to us.”
Viktor glanced at Maya. “But… King, she—”
“That would be all, Viktor.” Natalya’s voice was relaxed, but not exactly in a pleasant way. More akin to a lioness stretching prior to a hunt. “You can leave. This is a private conversation.”
Viktor’s mouth clamped shut. With a final look at Maya, the huge vampire bowed and walked back down the stairs.
Maya looked around the platform. This was awfully… sparse. The furniture consisted of a pair of couches and a chest pushed against the back corner, out of view from the floor. The onlyroyalelements of this lounge were two steel thrones, their usual occupants still standing by the platform railing.
She kind of wished Viktor would come back. It beat being alone with these two. Aleksander’s shoulders were tense, and just looking at Natalya made Maya want to fidget in place.
“Did I do something wrong?”
“Not beyond what the two of us have already discussed.” Natalya sipped on a glass of wine and set it on the railing next to Aleksander. “Come now. You said you would give it a try. Be nice.”
Aleksander let out what sounded an awful lot like an annoyed growl.
“What is your impression of me, Ms. Novak?”
Maya looked towards Natalya, hoping for a hint as to what the hell this was about.
None was offered. The fiend just regarded her with an odd glittering quality to her violet eyes.
“You wantmyopinion?” Maya said. Aleksander tightened his grip on the railing as though trying to strangle it.
“Yes, that is why I asked.”
His voice was tight. Maya took a small step back.
“I mean… You’re the King of Chains. From what I’ve heard, a lot of ruthlessness comes with that title.”
