Free Web NovelChapter 128: Chapter 127: Maya’s Quaries
They settled onto the sofa together, still holding hands like letting go might break the spell. Maya pulled out a tissue and began wiping at her ruined mascara while Eve tried to compose herself enough to speak coherently.
"Tell me everything," Maya demanded, her voice still rough from crying but gaining strength. "And I mean everything, Eve. Where have you been? What’s been happening? Are the Blackwood brothers treating you right? Because I swear to God, if they’ve hurt you...."
"They haven’t hurt me," Eve said quickly, squeezing Maya’s hand. "I promise. They’ve been... they’ve been good to me. Better than good."
"Then why did you disappear without a word?" Maya asked, hurt bleeding through her voice again. "Four months, Eve. Four months of not knowing if you were alive or dead or...." She broke off, unable to finish.
Eve took a shaky breath, trying to figure out how to explain without revealing too much. How did you tell your human best friend that you’d discovered you were a succubus? That you were mated to three alpha werewolves? That you were the lost heir to a supernatural throne?
You didn’t. You couldn’t.
"The contract," Eve started carefully. "The six-month arrangement with the brothers. It was more... complicated than I expected. Things happened fast, and I got caught up in their world in ways I didn’t anticipate."
She looked at Maya, seeing the questions forming, and rushed on. "I should have called you. Should have at least texted to let you know I was okay. I was selfish and scared and I didn’t handle it well. I’m sorry."
Maya studied her for a long moment, those sharp green eyes seeing more than Eve was comfortable with. Finally, she sighed. "You really are okay? They’re really not hurting you or forcing you into anything?"
"I’m really okay," Eve confirmed. "I promise. I’m safer and happier than I’ve ever been."
"Then I guess I can forgive you," Maya said, but her smile was warm. "Though you owe me like a year’s worth of girls’ nights to make up for the heart attacks you gave me."
"Deal," Eve said immediately, relief flooding through her.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, just being present with each other, reconnecting without words. Then Maya’s expression turned mischievous.
"So," she said, drawing out the word. "You going to tell me about these Blackwood brothers? Because girl, I saw them that one time when they came to the club, and holy shit. They’re even more gorgeous in person than they are in all those society photos."
Heat flooded Eve’s cheeks, and Maya’s eyes went wide.
"Oh my God," Maya breathed. "You’re sleeping with them. You’re sleeping with all three of them!" freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
"Maya!" Eve hissed, looking around to make sure no one was in earshot.
"Don’t you ’Maya’ me," her friend shot back, grinning wickedly now. "I can see it written all over your face. That is the look of a woman who is getting thoroughly dicked down. Multiple times. By multiple men."
She leaned in conspiratorially. "So? How is it? Scale of one to ten? And don’t you dare hold out on me....I’ve been living vicariously through my romance novels for months. I need details."
Eve laughed despite her embarrassment. This was so Maya...cutting straight through any awkwardness to the heart of things, demanding truth with that irreverent humor that had first made them friends.
"It’s... intense," Eve admitted, her cheeks still burning. "They’re very... thorough."
"Thorough," Maya repeated, her grin widening. "That’s code for ’I can barely walk after they’re done with me,’ isn’t it?"
"Maya!"
"I’m right, aren’t I?" Maya’s laugh was delighted. "Oh honey, good for you. After everything you went through at that shithole club, you deserve to be worshipped by three gorgeous billionaire brothers."
Her expression turned more serious. "But really....are they treating you right? Outside the bedroom, I mean. Are they respectful? Kind? Or are they just using you?"
Eve thought about the brothers....about Damian’s fierce protection, Damon’s playful devotion, Silas’s gentle understanding. About how they’d fought for her, trained with her, supported her through awakening and transformation and discovery.
"They love me," she said quietly, the truth of it still sometimes surprising her. "All three of them. In their own ways, they really love me."
Maya’s expression softened. "Then I’m happy for you. You deserve that, Eve. You deserve to be loved."
They talked for over an hour, catching up on everything that had happened since Eve had left the Eclipse. Maya filled her in on club gossip....who was still dancing, who had quit, who had gotten into drama with the management. She talked about her own life....the new apartment she’d moved into, the bartending job she’d picked up on the side, the guy she’d been casually seeing who turned out to be a complete asshole.
Eve listened and laughed and felt a warmth in her chest that she hadn’t realized she’d been missing. This connection to her old life, to the person she’d been before everything changed....it was grounding in a way she desperately needed.
"So when will your contract be over?" Maya asked eventually, her tone careful. "This is already the fourth month, right? You said it was a six-month contract."
Eve’s smile faltered slightly. How did she explain that the contract didn’t matter anymore? That she wasn’t staying because of any agreement, but because this was where she belonged now?
"We’ll talk about that later," Eve said, deliberately vague. "Right now, I have so much I want to ask you. How’s Rick handling things at the club? Is he still doing those terrible amateur nights?"
Maya launched into a story about the latest disaster of an amateur night.....complete with a girl who’d gotten her heel stuck in a floor grate and nearly broken her ankle....and Eve let herself get lost in the familiar rhythm of their friendship.
They were laughing about Maya’s impression of Rick’s panicked response when the sitting room door opened.
Maya’s laugh cut off mid-sound, her breath catching audibly.
Eve turned to see who had entered and felt her own breath hitch.
