Текст книги "Throne of the Fallen"

Автор книги: Kerri Maniscalcol

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Текущая страница: 33 (всего у книги 35 страниц)

SIXTY-SIX

IS IT WORKING?” Alexei asked, pacing around the stark room they’d set up to restore Envy’s court in the farthest wing of House Envy.

They’d emptied the chamber of everything except for the oversized wool rug, a high-backed chair, two stools, and a small table to set the chalice on. And chains.

“Too soon to tell.” Envy lifted a shoulder, forcing casualness he didn’t feel. His gaze slid between the demon strapped in the chair—his unfocused eyes feral with fear—to the clock. For the hundredth time in a second. Thus far, there was no discernible change. The demon seemed as terrified and as lost to that terrible fog as ever.

“Now?” Alexei pressed.

“Does he look restored?” Envy snapped as the demon struggled against his restraints. Envy blew out a breath, bringing his emotions back under control. “We’ll know when it works. He’ll recognize us.”

It had begun when Envy had picked up the Chalice of Memoria, the activation runes glimmering hunter green. It looked like it used to. Envy had cast the same spell he’d always used before, then offered the chalice to Lord Alden.

The demon had knocked the first attempt out of Envy’s hands.

Then Alexei had come in, held him down.

When that didn’t work, they’d strapped the demon to the chair and forced the chalice to his lips, tipping his head back to pour the spelled drink down his throat.

Forty-seven excruciating seconds passed. The fog didn’t dissipate from behind the demon’s eyes. Frustration built in Envy’s chest.

Winning the game was supposed to save his court.

To think it had been one more false hope…

“Fuck!” Envy paced around the room, mind whirling.

He could seek the Crone again—the creator of the Underworld itself. The Crone was to goddesses what Titans were to mortal gods. If anyone could help, it would be her. But he’d been desperate once before, had asked her years back.

She’d laughed in his face and vowed to do worse next time.

He supposed he could kidnap her daughters, force her hand.

But that wouldn’t end well for any of them.

Envy walked to the arched window on the far side of the room, gazing out at the grounds. It was twilight, a soft blanket of snow falling, the flakes tumbling and swirling as they danced down to the winter grass.

“Your Highness?”

There was an odd edge in Alexei’s tone.

Envy twisted, gaze snapping to Lord Alden. The demon blinked slowly, then squeezed his eyes shut. His head moved from side to side, as if shaking some internal nightmare away.

Envy moved closer, hope igniting once again.

He paused a few feet away, his breath lodged deep in his chest.

Another thirty seconds ticked by.

A minute.

Come on, he silently urged. Open your eyes, recognize where you are, remember who you are.

Lord Alden’s hands fisted, his wrists twisting, testing the restraints on the arms of the chair. Envy and Alexei both leaned forward, neither daring to speak. Lord Alden opened his eyes, squinting at first, then glanced down at his bound arms.

He looked back up, brows knitted as his focus moved from Alexei to Envy.

“Is this some new kink, Your Highness?” he asked, sounding annoyed. “I despise chains.”

Air whooshed out of Envy. He wanted to grab the demon by the lapels and plant a kiss on him but refrained. Lord Alden was properly aggravated. A personality trait he’d had for the last six centuries.

“How do you feel?” Envy asked instead.

Lord Alden’s gaze flattened. “Like House Wrath is looking appealing, Your Highness. Unless I’m being held for treason, untie me.”

Alexei snorted. “Same old prick.”

It had worked. Envy expelled another breath, relief barreling through him. The Chalice of Memoria would stop the memory blight. After years of turmoil, that dark, unending descent… the nightmare was finally ending. Part of him couldn’t believe it.

Alexei began untying Alden, then directed him to the Gallery of Dreamscapes, where Envy had set up refreshments in hopes the newly saved demons would need a safe space to wait until they’d restored everyone’s memories.

Once Alexei returned with the next demon, they started all over again. After the second successful restoration, they brought in more chairs and restraints.

Days passed, Envy staying right there with his court, even though plenty of volunteers had come together from the healed, helping their fellow demons.

Once it was clear the tide had turned, days later, Alexei cleared his throat.

“You haven’t said a word about her.”

Envy stiffened, then carried on as if he had no idea what the vampire meant. Alexei gave him a look that said he knew better.

“There is nothing to say. She’s Unseelie royalty.”

“You don’t honestly give a shit about that,” Alexei said. Envy’s attention snapped to his second. The vampire’s smile was all fang. “Your Highness.”

Envy assisted the next demon in line, then strode to the other end of the room, swiping an icy glass of water from a tray. His cursed second trailed after him.

“Everything is under control here. You can go back to the Wild Court. Talk.”

Envy’s jaw strained. “Talk. Yes, open and honest communication worked so well for us before. There is nothing left for us to say.”

“You knew she had secrets. You’re just angry that she outplayed you. I didn’t take you to have so much… pride.”

Alexei was pushing Envy too far. Envy’s eyes flashed and Alexei held his hands up, slowly backing away.

“You like her. Enough to consider breaking your rule. Don’t let another sin get in the way. Do you think Wolf is sitting back? If you’re all right with him taking her to his bed, his cock pounding all memories of you out, then fine. Leave her to it. She’ll be better off.”

Envy stood in one of his favorite galleries—where a statue of a fallen angel was proudly displayed. All the years his wings had been trapped, he’d come here, sipping a drink as he was doing now, plotting. With his court almost fully restored, his power was growing stronger, hour by hour. He summoned his wings now, allowing them to spread wide.

It felt good. The muscles between his shoulders straining as he moved them, testing the weight. His thoughts turned to Lennox, to the final battle.

Camilla hadn’t been the one to deal the killing blow, Envy had made sure of that. He’d seen something in her face just before he drove his dagger through the Unseelie King. She did not like her father, but it would have cost something precious for her to murder him.

Camilla was good. Lennox had seen it. Hated it.

He tucked his wings in close, then leaned against the wall, his Dark and Sinful going down easy. A detail flickered across his memory. In the cavern where the Twin Pillars were, Camilla had been about to confess something to him.

Envy sipped his cocktail, turning that conversation over in his mind. Looking back, it was easy to see she’d been about to tell him who she really was. She’d known, the moment they entered the Wild Court, that he’d figure it out.

He had, though. Already known.

He scratched the back of his neck.

Truth be told, Envy had started suspecting much earlier. It was easier for him to blame her for betraying him; otherwise, he’d have to consider facing the truth. He’d recently been able to lie to others, but Envy had been lying to himself far longer.

Did his one-night rule truly protect his court, or did it prevent him from ever feeling heartbreak?

He finished his drink, staring into the glass. Camilla might not want to see him. She might be perfectly happy in the Wild Court. With Wolf.

That meddling prick Alexei, now Envy couldn’t unsee Camilla and Wolf rekindling their flame.

Envy squeezed his eyes shut. That gods-damned Fae had truly gotten under his skin too. He knew the Unseelie would be attempting to win Camilla back. Maybe he already had.

Perhaps Wolf was holding her right now.

Jealousy froze the glass in his hand, until it began to crack, drops of bourbon leaking into his palm.

Envy glared at the physical proof of his displeasure.

“Gods’ blood.”

Miss Camilla Elise Antonius, lover, betrayer, Unseelie princess, drove him absolutely fucking mad, even here, realms away from Faerie.

The question now was, what Envy was going to do about it.

He sensed one of his spies a moment before he materialized, partially corporeal.

“I have news from the Wild Court, Your Highness.”

His tone made Envy’s skin crawl. “And?”

The spy handed him a folded piece of parchment.

Envy scanned the report, then crumpled it in his fist.

“Fucking hell.”

SIXTY-SEVEN

“ARE YOU READY?” Wolf’s voice carried through Camilla’s bedchamber.

She stepped out from behind the ornate dressing screen, her silk floor-length gown a beautiful lavender gray.

Camilla looked every inch an Unseelie princess as she situated a flower crown on her head. She twisted to the side, admiring the silver cuff she wore on one of her elongated ears. Little moons and stars were carved along the metal, an ode to her heritage.

She’d stopped wearing hunter green days ago, when the Prince of Envy made no attempt to contact her. When he’d left without uttering a single word, not even a curse.

She’d been foolishly hopeful. Those first few nights. Thinking he’d returned to his court, save them, then he’d be back.

Fighting with her.

Kissing her.

Playing games they both loved.

Surely he had something to say after… everything they’d been through. Camilla thought his freeing her from her father’s cruel games meant he’d forgiven her. Or would at least allow her the chance to explain. To admit how terrible she’d felt, keeping this secret.

But she’d been so afraid. Scared that he’d react exactly this way.

His silence spoke loud and clear. The Prince of Envy was never coming back. And Camilla needed to move on with her life, help her brother Ayden establish his temporary rule, then return home, to Wisteria Way. She missed her gallery, her cat, and Kitty.

Wolf gave her a long once-over, momentarily snapping his mouth shut.

The gown was indecent by Waverly Green standards—clinging to every curve like a dream. In the Wild Court it was rather tame. But she was not interested in playing courtly games. At least not here. Things might have been different if her mother had never kidnapped her, bound most of her magic, and made her grow up human. Maybe if she’d grown up in Faerie she’d be as abominable as her older brother and sister.

Wolf’s gaze slid back up, his yellow eyes darkening. He’d made his intentions clear.

The blessed reprieve lasted only a moment. Then Wolf started in again.

“Ayden cannot rule in your father’s place forever,” he said. “We don’t even know if he’s capable. He might disappear one night and play carnival again.”

“Well, until our mother decides to return, there’s not much choice, is there?” Camilla said, her tone as gentle as she could manage.

“Your mother might not ever return, Princess.”

They’d had this same disagreement for the last week, and it was growing tedious. Camilla wanted to return to Waverly Green. Had no interest in staying to help rule the Wild Court. She had no interest in ruling the court she was supposed to see to, either. It had been running as a principality for decades and was doing just fine.

“You know I have no wish to stay here,” she said. “My brother will marry soon and have an heir. In a few decades the issue will resolve itself. His heir will rule over his court until—and if—our mother returns.”

Over the past week, Wolf had helped her glamour the minds of all who’d been tortured by the king, a necessary evil, a choice Camilla did not make easily before sending them home again.

It was one of what would be many difficult decisions in the wake of Lennox’s death.

Wolf wanted Camilla to take hold of the Wild Court before her debauched elder brother or sister scented opportunity. She’d immediately suggested Ayden step in. He had his faults, but he’d spent time among humans too.

“And you’ll simply live alone in Waverly Green, glamoured for the rest of eternity? You know that doesn’t suit you anymore. You have friends here, family. Me.”

He’d struck the one chord that always hurt. Camilla did not want to be alone.

“We could mate for life,” Wolf suggested. “I would help you acclimate again. You might not love me now, but love grows.”

“Except for that bothersome little fact that I do not wish to stay here.”

“Faerie?” he pressed. “Or the Underworld as a whole?”

Wolf was fishing. He wanted to ask what she thought about Prince Envy.

And that was much too complicated. Part of her wanted to pen him letters of apology, part of her wanted to paint his head onto an oversized donkey, pointing out that he was obviously an ass. But the longer they went without speaking, the more unsure she became.

Maybe it was for the best, giving up. Letting go.

Then Camilla wouldn’t have to worry about him leaving again one day.

A knock sounded at the door, followed by a mewl.

Camilla rushed past Wolf to open the door, smiling for only the second time since she’d set foot in this court.

“Kitty! Bunny.”

Her friend swept in, setting her cat on the floor, and hugged Camilla close. Then she stepped back to look Wolf over.

“Did I interrupt?” Lady Katherine asked, ever hopeful.

Camilla snorted. “Hardly.”

“That tone is most unappreciated, ladies.” Wolf shook his head. “Has no one in the mortal realm heard my legends recently? I might have to rectify that.”

“How are you here?” Camilla asked, ignoring Wolf. “You didn’t have to leave Waverly Green, Kitty.”

“I did, actually. When your glamour broke, mine did too. Most inconveniently.” Lady Katherine pulled her hair back, revealing her elongated ears. “It took some time for me to explain things to William, but he’s coping surprisingly well. You’re all right?”

Camilla lifted a shoulder, then dropped it.

Kitty had originally been tasked with asking Camilla to return to the Wild Court, a decade before, when Prim Róis had finally left her side. Then, when Camilla refused, Lennox had commanded Kitty to stay, to keep an eye on Camilla.

Little had he expected the two to unite as friends. And after her first refusal to return to the Wild Court, their true identities were a secret they never discussed.

Now, with her standing here, in all her Unseelie glory, Camilla knew Kitty had never forgotten her home.

“Bunny threw a fit that rivaled William’s. Think she’s tired of her glamour too.”

Camilla smiled. The cat had transformed into her true being. A lovely little gray-and-white Fae lioness.

“You could have talked to me,” Kitty said, her voice unusually soft. “About everything. We were close, weren’t we?”

Camilla expelled a breath, nodding.

“Of course.”

She wasn’t sure how to say it. Part of her had worried that Kitty preferred being blissfully unaware, freed of Unseelie chaos. And the other part had worried that Kitty remained a tool for her parents. Someone sent to spy and report back. Lennox and his games were never-ending.

Instead of admitting that, Camilla said, “Vexley’s a vampire now.”

Kitty looked at her for a solid minute before bursting into laughter.

“How?”

Camilla told her. “I… I was the one to kill him, though.”

“You beheaded him and set him on fire?” Kitty’s eyes were round, a mixture of impressed and horrified.

“Not exactly. But I did behead him.”

Wolf looked pained. “Unless you set him on fire and watched his ashes scatter, he likely isn’t dead. A vampire isn’t easy to kill.”

Camilla felt oddly relieved. Vexley was a nightmare, but it was one less death on her hands.

Kitty remained far too amused. “Fitting. A mortal driven by his thirst for lust is now driven by his thirst.”

“When he was a human at the vampire court he was… still Vexley.”

Kitty laughed, delighted. “Please tell me he bedded a succubus.”

“He held her tail and…” Camilla shuddered. “I’m sure you can imagine. Blood lust at the vampire court is a sight.”

“Speaking of lust,” Kitty said, far too casually, “I heard the most interesting rumor. It seems your Lord Synton is the Prince of Envy. Please”—she grabbed Camilla’s hands—“please tell me you had wild demon sex with him.”

Camilla’s thoughts went immediately to the throne room.

“You did!” Kitty jumped. “Oh! I think I’m experiencing envy at the thought. How was it? I’ve heard his cock is huge. Is it?”

“Please, don’t answer that,” Wolf muttered.

“Oh!” Kitty practically bounced. “Please, please tell me it was as legendary as they say. There are rumors a portrait hangs above his bed, a kind of… visual stimulant. Would you sell your soul for another taste?”

Camilla sank her teeth into her lower lip. The portrait did hang above his bed, but nothing compared to the reality of the demon. She couldn’t very well admit it aloud.

“I—”

“I’m curious too, Camilla, darling,” a low voice drawled from the doorway. “Would you? Sell your soul?”

At the sound of his voice Camilla spun around, a hand pressed to her heart.

Envy stood in the doorway, his enormous glittering wings tucked close to his body.

Blood dripped from the feathers onto the floor.

For a horrifying second, she couldn’t tell if the blood was his.

Envy stepped fully into the room, scanning Wolf, then Kitty. He gave no indication of surprise when he took in Kitty’s true form. He did pause on the lioness, though, and she could have sworn amusement flickered before he banished it.

His attention settled on Camilla. Cold. Merciless.

She glanced again at the blood dripping off his wings. It wasn’t ichor; it was Fae.

“What have you done?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

His gaze remained locked on hers when he said, “I’d like some privacy with the princess.”

Kitty came up to Camilla’s side. “No.”

Envy arched a brow, waiting. His expression said You owe me that much.

Despite the dangerous glint in his eyes, Camilla silently agreed.

“Go,” Camilla said. “It will be fine.”

Kitty’s jaw tightened. She looked to Wolf, who stared Envy down.

“We’ll be close,” he promised, gaze on the prince. It was a warning.

Wolf escorted her friend out, leaving Camilla alone to face the very angry demon prince.

SIXTY-EIGHT

ENVY TOOK A perverse bit of pleasure at seeing the shock flicker over Camilla’s features. She hadn’t heard his approach, hadn’t expected him to be standing there.

She certainly hadn’t expected to see his wings.

Truth be told, he hadn’t expected to be there either. And he likely wouldn’t have been if Alexei hadn’t taunted him.

A wild, snarling, territorial beast had risen inside him. He’d almost leashed the monster inside; then his spies brought news of an assassination attempt, sealing Camilla’s fate.

He knew right then it was time to challenge the Fae.

Seeing the Wild Court as it had been after Lennox had opened the portal…

Envy would not leave her to the plotting of her wretched siblings.

If he had to throw her over his shoulder and magic her to his court, so be it. He didn’t know the first thing about being a hero, but he excelled at being the villain.

Now that they were alone together, Envy looked Camilla over and swallowed thickly. His gaze snagged on the necklace she’d made of his ring, then hardened. If her cursed siblings had gotten to her first, they would have ripped it from her throat.

Camilla must have mistaken who had angered him.

“I’m sorry,” she said, reaching up to undo the necklace. “I wanted to give this back to you…” She dropped her hands, looked at them. “I wanted to tell you the truth. I should have.”

But he’d given her every reason not to.

When he’d told her how much he hated Unseelie royalty, she’d flinched.

Thinking back on that conversation now, when Envy had admitted what had happened to make him despise the king so much, he saw her reactions in a new light.

She’d paled when he told her the role her father had played. A tear had slipped down the curve of her cheek. She’d also apologized.

Envy thought it was that foolish mortal reaction of accepting blame for others’ actions.

Now he knew. Camilla had been apologizing on behalf of her family.

Apologizing was no small thing for a Fae. It was something they rarely did.

And she’d just done so again.

Fresh anger iced the chamber.

“Do you know whose blood that is?” Envy pointed to the floor.

She swallowed hard, the column of her throat moving with the action.

“Some is Onyx’s,” Envy said. “The rest is from his guards.”

Her gaze sharpened on him. “My brother?”

“Yes.”

“You killed him? Are you mad?” she hissed. She looked around, as if searching for any spies. “You probably just started a war.”

He gave her an amused look that seemed to rankle her more.

“Whose side will you choose, pet?”

She glared at him, notching her chin up.

Envy wasn’t sure how he’d ever mistaken her for anything but royal.

“My own.”

Devil, grant me sin. That tone, that haughty, defiant look.

He was inconveniently aroused.

“Your brother isn’t dead. He’s… caged.”

Envy’s smile was all teeth as he thought of Onyx. He’d thrown the scheming Unseelie Prince into the birdcage Lennox had crafted to torture Camilla. A clever ward would keep him from hearing or speaking to anyone outside his cage. There would be no plotting or escape.

Onyx would have a good long while to reflect on his sins.

“I spelled the bars, trapping him for eternity. Unless of course your other brother decides to grant him a pardon. Though I wouldn’t count on that. Ayden will make a fine king. He seemed to have everything under control. Your doing, I imagine.”

“I helped, yes.” A tiny crease formed between her brows. “Why did you strike at Onyx?”

Without thinking, he reached over to smooth the crease away.

She flinched, and he dropped his hand.

“He plotted to kill you. My spies reported back.”

If she was surprised by this revelation, she didn’t appear so. If anything, she seemed to exhale relief. She’d known it was only a matter of time before her older brother or sister made a move.

“My mother will hear of this and fight—”

“Your mother hasn’t been seen at court since she left you.” Envy hesitated. “My spies have been looking for her for years. No one knows where she went.”

Several emotions flickered across Camilla’s face before she schooled her features into forced indifference. He understood how complicated their relationship must be. Understood that it wasn’t easy to walk away from the ones who’d hurt us the most.

“She’s been traveling. But she will eventually hear of this and return. This court means everything to her.”

Envy wouldn’t mind if the queen burned in the deepest, hottest pit of sorrow he could find, but he hated the worry in Camilla’s voice.

“Don’t,” he warned quietly. “Don’t romanticize her. For all we know, she is playing another game and couldn’t be bothered.”

He glanced around the suite. He could feel more and more of his court being restored and needed to get back.

“Do you want to take anything from here?”

“What?”

He knew she’d heard him. He also knew she was trying to figure out his plan.

Envy kept his smile to himself, walking around the room. He fingered some of the clothing. It was pretty. His tailors were better.

“If there’s anything of sentimental value, grab it now.”

If he listened quietly, he was almost certain he could hear her heart pounding.

He pivoted and stood before her, holding out his hand. She looked at it like it was a snake ready to strike.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Grabbing what has sentimental value to me.”

He took her hand, braided their fingers together.

She didn’t remove it.

“We’re leaving. Unless you wish to stay here.”

Her thumb stroked his, hesitating.

His heart raced.

A small eternity passed.

“Your rule…”

“Fuck the rules,” he growled. “You’re mine.”

Her excitement hit him a second before her desire did.

Thank fuck. In all the stories, the damsel didn’t get aroused by the villain threatening to steal her away.

But this was their twisted fairy tale.

“You can come back, of course, as you need,” he said more softly.

Camilla gave a small nod. “This has never been my true home anyway. But wait—I can’t leave without Kitty and Bunny.”

A few moments later, after being ushered back in, Kitty promised to travel to House Envy on her own. She had family in the Wild Court she hadn’t seen in years. Wolf gave Envy a hard look but hugged Camilla close. Promising he’d also visit soon.

Bunny gave Envy a long, lingering look of her own, then sauntered over. The unusually colored little lioness hopped into Camilla’s arms, nestling in.

Envy dragged Camilla and her lion closer, wrapped his other arm around her waist, then magicked them all to his House of Sin.