Kingdom of the Feared (Kingdom of the Wicked, #3)(43)

Wrath had told me a prince showing up to another demon circle uninvited was an act of aggression. Envy lifted his shoulder, undisturbed. “I didn’t exactly grab a quill and bottle of ink when your sister ambushed me. Pride will be reasonable. An access tunnel to the portal sits at the eastern edge of his circle, right before the Flaming Tombs begin. I doubt he’ll cause trouble.”

I slanted a look at the normally incorporeal demons. They didn’t seem like a welcoming party. The Umbra demons pulled their half-rotted lips back, their pointy teeth and dark gums clacking as if they were already imagining our blood wetting their tongues.

“Prince Pride will not see you,” the Umbra demon closest to us hissed. “Best to turn back. Hide in your castle until your prince rescues you, little princess.”

There was something especially infuriating about a sneering, miserable, mercenary spy spitting the words little princess that made my blood boil.

Envy’s low chuckle drew their attention. “Looks like my brother’s spies have been slacking. You really shouldn’t have flung that match.” He glanced at me, nodding. It was time to unleash my simmering rage. “Now you’ll feel her burn.”

The Umbra demons struck fast, but my magic was quicker. Flaming roses and flowers exploded between us, landing on the usually invisible demons. Before they could activate whatever power turned them incorporeal, my thorn-covered vines erupted from the earth.

With just a thought, the vines crawled up their legs, binding them to the ground, and I shoved them down their throats, preventing anyone from casting any spell or shouting for help. Oversized thorns tore through their throats, choking them with their own blood.

I released my fire magic and let the vines do the hard work of maiming and slaughtering. I used to love wearing flowers in my hair, now I loved watching them turn into pretty weapons and destroy my enemies.

One demon sneaked up behind me, but Envy shouted a warning. I turned just as its blade arced down, slicing my already tattered gown. I danced back with only a small scratch. Then I pounced on the demon, my dagger at its throat. It spat in my face and laughed.

“Your prince must not have been interested in teaching you how to fight.” It raked its oily gaze down my body. “I suppose he has other ideas for you. Too bad he’s about to be replaced. That never was a problem before, though, was it?”

I hauled the demon to its feet, shaking it a little with strength I didn’t know I had. “What do you know about Wrath?”

“Only that your beloved will soon be dead. And you will be nothing but the divine whore you are. Poetic justice if you ask me.”

Before I thought about what I was doing, I dragged my blade from ear to ear across its throat. Hard enough to tear its head from its body. I coolly stared down at the dead demon, unfazed by what I’d just done. It struck me then what I was slowly becoming. The more the curse lost its grip on me, the more I remembered what it was to be a goddess. To feel no remorse. To be fueled by vengeance and openly welcome the vice of my House.

I bent down and retrieved the head.

Envy whistled and stuck his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “Remind me not to call you any nasty names. At least not without donning armor and casting a protective spell or twelve first.”

“It wasn’t what it said about me.” I smiled, though it was tinged with sadness, not happiness or pride, at what I’d done. At the prince’s questioning look, I added, “Its mistake was saying Wrath would die. Imagining a world without him… I couldn’t bear it.”

Envy carefully studied me, his expression inscrutable. “If Wrath can’t ever give you his heart, would you still fight for him?”

I surveyed the bodies around us. Some still twitching from where they choked on the vines. If only I’d been able to do this during the battle with the werewolves, perhaps my husband might not have gotten stabbed or poisoned at all. “I can only hope one day you won’t have to ask me such a question,” I said. “That my actions will speak louder than my words.”

I thought of Wrath with that last statement, understanding exactly why he preferred actions over words. They held more value. More meaning than words that could just be pretty lies.

With my prize in hand, I faced the castle and started walking for the doors. It was time to pay the prince of this circle a visit. One way or another, Pride would let me use that portal so I could get to my husband.

Envy fell into step beside me, stealing glances I pretended not to notice. If he was about to question why I took a souvenir of our bloody battle, he decided against it.

And that made the mortal part of me wonder if I’d actually frightened a prince of Hell.





ELEVEN


After much arguing—mostly due to my less-than-palace-worthy clothes—and helped largely in part by a little display of my fire magic, we were announced to Pride’s court. His throne room was a testament to his sin. The first time I’d been detained in his House after wandering through his fields of slumber root, I’d seen only one room. It had been ornate, gilded, like something the Sun King would have adored. Perhaps Louis XIV was inspired by this prince.

The floor was white marble with delicate gold veins. Cathedral ceilings with colorful frescoes painted on them were also gilded where the wall met the ceiling. Oversized crystal chandeliers hung the entire length of the room in even intervals, giving off a warm, sun-kissed glow.