Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1)(30)

A memory sprang to the forefront of my mind. The night before Vittoria was murdered, I’d demanded to know what she’d been doing at the monastery.

“I was summoning the devil. An ancient book whispered its secrets to me, and I’ve decided to take him as my husband. I’d invite you to the wedding, but I’m pretty sure the ceremony takes place in Hell.”

Blood and bones. Vittoria hadn’t been teasing. Questions swarmed around my head like angry bees.

“Was that all you wanted to know, witch?” Wrath stepped into view, breaking into my thoughts. My sister had told me the truth, and I’d let her down. I didn’t ask questions, or take her seriously. I should have known better—she always said outlandish things to humans, and delighted in them thinking she was lying. If I wasn’t so annoyed with her for embarrassing me in front of Antonio, I would have paid closer attention. I should have paid closer attention.

I took a steadying breath. I’d start noticing every detail now.

“Why did Pride want to marry her?” I asked. Wrath’s expression became impossible to read. My patience frayed. “I know my sister agreed to marry him. She told me so herself.”

He didn’t move, but I pictured his mind whirling as he probably formulated a thousand different scenarios, and tallied benefits against costs to information sharing. I honestly didn’t think he’d respond. He didn’t look pleased when he finally did. “Pride needs to marry in order to break a curse that was placed on him.”

“Why are you helping?”

He flashed his teeth. “I was bored. It seemed like fun.”

If he really couldn’t lie to me, that had to at least be partially true. “So, what . . . your mission is to find someone who’s willing to marry Pride?”

“Yes. He’s in need of a witch bride, specifically. Part of my task involves ensuring his betrothed makes it to our realm safely, should she accept his bargain.”

“Why does he need to marry a witch?”

“He requires someone with magical abilities to break the curse.”

“What if she refuses?”

“Then she’s made aware of opposing . . . forces . . . that wish her harm.”

It was a very polite way of saying if she declined the offer, she’d risk death.

“The other two victims were also witches. Which means they were offered the same bargain as Vittoria,” I said mostly to myself, thinking over the new information aloud. Wrath nodded politely anyway. “Were they killed before or after you spoke with them?”

“After.”

“You allow them time to consider the deal?”

“Of course. They’re given a full day to think it over.”

I was surprised by this. If I needed someone to accept a bargain to break a curse, time would be the last thing I’d want to give them. Too much could go wrong.

“How do you choose the witch?” Wrath gave me a look that said question time was drawing to an end. “At least answer this, demon. How many others from your world know who you’re offering the bargain to?”

“Only Pride and I.”

I mulled that over. That actually made the list of suspects greater. Instead of worrying about a spy in Wrath’s kingdom, it opened up the possibility of the victims telling people about the devil’s bargain in this world, too. Then those people who’d been told could have said something, or were overheard by others. A full day was a long time for the gossips to get to work.

Except . . . there was one major issue with that theory. Streghe didn’t spill their secrets. I thought about witch hunters again. Wrath didn’t sound like he thought they were a threat, but I hadn’t found any evidence to completely rule them out. It still made the most sense that they were responsible. Perhaps they’d somehow uncovered who the true witches across the island were, and the devil’s bargain timing was a coincidence.

“Will you tell me who the next witch is?”

“No.”

I considered my options. I could send notes to the twelve other families in Palermo, but there was a chance they could be intercepted. Showing up at their homes or businesses was also risky in case we were being watched, so that wasn’t an option. In these strange times, I had to be very cautious about each of my moves. My good intentions might end up costing someone their life. Hopefully the others were taking precautions after the recent murders.

Wrath stepped to the edge of the bone circle, looking like trouble. “Well? Are you ready to become a member of House Wrath?”

“No. Until you decide to work with me as an equal, I decline your offer of protection.”

His smile was filled with venom. “You weren’t ever planning on accepting the blood trade, were you?” I ignored him and plucked my satchel up from the ground and headed for the cave entrance. Wrath called out, “Where are you going?”

“To the monastery.”

“These are dangerous times; you shouldn’t go alone. Set me free and I’ll come with you.”

As if I’d let that happen. “Next time.”

“Benediximus.” Good luck. “It’s your funeral.”

His dark chuckle followed me all the way back to the city.





Fifteen

Two streets away from the monastery, I felt the unmistakable sensation of being watched. I pretended not to notice for a solid block before casually making my way down an empty street. If I had to resort to magic, I didn’t need any witnesses reporting my so-called devilry to the church. When we were much younger, a fratello named Carmine used to search for anyone with evil in their soul. I’d heard the church had sent him to northern Italy, but I thought of him every now and again. Especially when outside the monastery, primed to use magic.