“I don’t want to know what you’ve heard. I want to know what you see.”
Why did he even care? He was a Regent. The only opinion he should care about was the general one, as well as those of people equal to him in status. Maya’s thoughts held no value.
Unless he was playing an angle, obviously.
She almost groaned, settling for a sneer instead. These games were getting old real fast.
“You’re a bit of a prick,” Maya said. Natalya sipped on her wine again—to hide a smirk, it looked like. Aleksander finally turned around.
“What makes you say that?”
He didn’t seem offended. Which might be because she hadn’t been deceitful. The King of Chains was known for his hatred of liars.
“Seems like you’re used to being the smartest person in the room,” Maya said. “That makes you impatient. And snappy if you feel your time is being wasted, like when someone is slow about getting to the point.”
“Is that all?”
“No. You’re arrogant, too.” Maya stepped closer. “Or presumptuous, at least. You have to be, since you’re assuming I wouldn’t notice that this is a test of some sort.”
Aleksander’s eyes narrowed, while Natalya smiled and patted his hand.
“Told you she was good.”
“Good atwhat?” Maya gave Natalya a hard look. “Mind telling me what the hell is going on? Or does it amuse you to keep it to yourself?”
“A bit. You vampires are always so dramatic.” Natalya ran a finger along the edge of her wineglass. “The situation in St. Louis has taken a turn for the worse. A victory was had, and that attracts attention. Kieran’s pack is growing, partly due to him throwing aside the rules and turning any human he fancies, and since the full moon just passed, his numbers have gone from being troublesome into an actual problem.”
Maya’s hands clenched. It had been a while since she had heard Kieran’s name spoken. An ache started in her canines.
“How do you know this?”
“We have a spy in the city. Or, a shadow, would be more accurate.” Natalya’s expression tensed. “The situation would be much easier to deal with if it had happened to any other city. But no one owns St. Louis. No one is directly responsible for handling the problem, meaning it’s allowed to grow unhindered. The Chains could oust this pack, but doing so would invite losses we would rather avoid. Every other Court feels a similar reluctance.”
Her eyes darkened in hue. “The pack is also growing bold. An issue given how close they are to our borders. Aleksander is taking a force south tonight to discourage these wolves from expanding where they aren’t wanted.” Natalya looked Maya up and down. “I suggested you accompany him.”
Maya’s jaw dropped. “Me? What do you… Why would…Me?”
“Yes. You,” Natalya said. “You’d be an asset, given that you know more about these people than anyone else here. They know who you are, too, and having you near our shared border willbe an effective deterrent.” She glanced at Aleksander. “Among other things.”
Maya stared at her, mouth agape. Then she let out a dry laugh.
“You’re kidding me? I just got back, and now you’re pulling me into another political pawn routine?”
“You’re not a pawn.” Aleksander cocked his head, gaze inspective. “But, perhaps, you could be a knight.”
“I don’t want to playat all! You might be in charge around here, but that doesn’t give you the right to treat me like a tool. I’m not going through that again.” Maya turned towards the steel stairs. “Screw both of you. I’m done with this conversation.”
“You fed on her.”
Aleksander’s voice brought her to an abrupt halt. His tone was hard and even, and if she hadn’t just heard that he always sounded like that, she would have read it as him being furious.
Maya turned around. Aleksander regarded her with cold, unblinking eyes, while Natalya had tensed slightly.
“What?” Maya said. Aleksander huffed.
“You’re right, Natalya. She doesn’t know how to play dumb.”
Maybe she read him wrong, and hewasangry. The Chains had a system in place for when their monstrous members wanted to couple up with a human. Chains pendants, of various colors and significance.
