“The Crescent Shallows.” He hesitated. “It’s a lagoon.”
That strange tension hovered between us like a spell that refused to break. I raised a brow, my lips half–turned up at the edges. “Let me guess, since this is Hell it’s frozen over?”
“No, actually. It’s one of the few places in the Seven Circles not touched by ice. It sits above a lava field, so the water is warmer than bathwater, regardless of the air temperature.”
“Do we have to fight a three-headed dog to get there?”
“No.”
“Is traveling there like going through the Sin Corridor?” Wrath shook his head but didn’t elaborate. I stepped closer, eyes narrowing. He was being more tight-lipped than normal. Which meant he was definitely concealing something. “Where is it?”
“Forget I mentioned it.” He refilled his glass and took a strong pull of wine, refusing to meet my inquisitive stare. “It’s late.”
“Blood and bones. It’s here, isn’t it? Have you been hiding a hot spring from me?”
“Not hiding. There are rules that must be followed before entering the water. I doubt you’d like them. And even if you did, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“I see.” Wrath straightened at my tone and slowly glanced in my direction. When his full attention settled on me, I continued. “Instead of asking my opinion, you decided for me. Since I am to marry the devil, that makes me your future queen, doesn’t it?” He didn’t answer. “I would like you to take me there. Now, please.”
“Nothing made may enter the water.”
“Nothing… you mean clothing?”
“Yes. You’ll need to fully disrobe before entering the water, my future queen.” His smile was pure wickedness. “I didn’t think you’d want to bathe with me naked.”
“Is that all?” I highly doubted it. He’d seen me without clothing on more than one occasion over the last few months. That would not be a deterrent. This was about self-preservation. For him. “I imagine there’s something about the water you’d like to avoid.”
He looked me over slowly. It was impossible to tell what he felt. “On occasion it seeks the heart of those who enter. And reflects their truth.”
I held his gaze. Maybe it was the wine, or this world and its proclivity toward sin, or the way his eyes glittered with triumph, but I refused to cede this battle.
I recalled what Anir said about challenging him. If I had to give up some of my truth to gain some knowledge of him, it was a small price to pay.
I jerked my chin at the bottle and glasses. “Take those and let’s visit this magical lagoon. I could use a warm, relaxing bath after tonight.”
Wrath’s grin vanished. “You’re certain that’s what you want?”
“Yes.”
It was a terribly dangerous answer, made apparent by the thick layer of tension that swiftly fell between us again, but it was the truth. I did not want to go back to my chamber alone, nor did I want to part ways with this prince just yet. A night adventure to a magical hot spring sounded like the perfect distraction. I wanted a pleasant memory to cling to before bed. I did not want to replay the staked tongue incident over and over until sleep claimed me. And if I went back to my chamber alone now, that’s exactly what would happen.
Instead of walking me there, Wrath took my hand in his and magicked us away. The familiar sensation of burning was replaced by a slight, warm tingle across my skin. It was far from unpleasant. I gasped as solid ground formed beneath us a moment later.
Wrath let go once he was sure I wasn’t about to tumble over. “Transvenio magic isn’t as jarring when we’re traveling in this circle.”
I wanted to ask him more about the magic but found all logical thought had been stolen as I took in our new location. We stood on the dark, glittering shore of a lagoon. It was shaped like an enormous crescent moon, and the water was a milky, glacier blue.
Fog drifted lazily above its surface. I managed to tear my gaze away from the sparkling pool long enough to glance at the obsidian walls that surrounded us. This lake was subterranean.
“Where are we, exactly?”
“Below House Wrath.” He strolled down the shore a little way, then pointed out a stone arch. “The Lake of Fire feeds into these shallows from over there.”
I looked up, expecting to see more stone, and sucked in a quiet breath. Stone did indeed cover us, but someone had painted the phases of the moon across it, along with a smattering of stars. Breathtaking was hardly the most accurate description. Ethereal, maybe, did it more justice.