Enough to bind themselves to someone they may enjoy between their sheets on occasion, but would never truly love. For eternity.
Well suited enough.
The choice of words grated on me. He also hadn’t denied there was someone else in his life. Someone he’d chosen before I destroyed his world.
“I invited you to bed tonight.” My voice was low, but not meek. Wrath stopped pacing and his heavy gaze clashed with mine. My attention roved over his face. “Would you have told me any of this before we slept together?”
“No matter how tempting, I would not have consummated our marriage tonight. There are plenty of ways to give and receive pleasure that would not jeopardize your free will.”
“Is that the truth? Or just what you think I wish to hear?”
He stared at me, his jaw tightening. The temperature around us chilled a few degrees. I half-expected the castle’s foundation to shake. “What kind of monster do you believe me to be?”
I had no good answer. And until I did… I drew in a deep breath, thinking over my options. Wrath had mentioned a few of his brothers were interested in hosting me at their Houses. Perhaps it was time for a visit.
“I want you to escort me to House Envy in the morning. Will you send a note letting him know I accept his invitation?”
Wrath didn’t react for a long moment; he looked like he wasn’t sure if he’d heard me correctly. He stared so hard I started to worry he could see through flesh and bone straight into my soul. I kept my expression bland and forced thoughts of tranquility: collecting shells by the sea, laughing with my sister and Claudia, drinking wine and talking about simple things.
Anything to keep my emotions from betraying me.
He finally nodded. He wasn’t pleased, that much was obvious from the way he’d tensed up at the request, but he also wasn’t trying to stop or imprison me.
I was not his cosseted princess. Thus far, my choices remained my own.
“You’re certain that’s what you want? Even after what Envy did?”
“Yes.” I thought about my next request. “I also need a mending kit.”
“You don’t need to sew your own clothing anymore, Emilia. A seamstress can do that.”
“All the same, I’d like one for emergencies.”
“Very well. I’ll have one sent to your room and let my brother know tonight. Will that be all?”
“For now.”
“Come.” He offered his hand, his voice and expression both genial enough to make me wary as I stepped closer. I ignored the little spark that passed between us when his fingers closed around mine. If he felt it, too, he didn’t let on. “I’ll take you to your chamber to pack. We’ll leave for House Envy at first light.”
FOURTEEN
Wrath made one small, seemingly innocuous request of his own before leaving me to pack a trunk for my visit. He’d asked to have a gown sent in the morning, one in which it was appropriate to be received by a prince of Hell. Regardless of any ulterior motives, of which I was certain he had many, I’d decided there was little harm in granting his wish and quickly agreed.
I told myself my swift acceptance had nothing to do with the fact my betrothed was in my private suite, standing shirtless near my bed, looking like he was carved from the very essence of temptation itself. He kept a careful distance, almost painfully so, but there wasn’t anything he could do to dampen my awareness of him. The space between us seemed to vibrate with both tension and anticipation. I wasn’t sure if it was only coming from me, or if he felt it, too. He’d retreated back to the enigmatic prince who was cordial, but otherwise difficult to read.
I was not nearly as calm. My emotions were still aflutter after learning the truth, and I had every right to tuck myself safely in denial until I sorted through them. Far away from the prince.
The twinkle of mirth finally broke into his cool features as I ushered him out of my rooms and practically shut the door on his heels. I leaned my head against the wall and exhaled. An hour earlier I’d felt much differently. I couldn’t get him into my bed fast enough.
I slammed the memory of our romantic encounter outside his rooms from my mind. Recalling the pleasant sensation of his hands stroking and exploring would do nothing to clear my head.
“What a nightmare.”
I rushed into my bathing chamber to splash water on my face and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, immediately understanding his amused reaction. My dark eyes were wide and wild, my hair unruly from our earlier dip into trouble, and my skin was flushed as if some torturous fever had overtaken me. I was an untamed, frenzied mess on the inside and it was shining through to the outside. Certainly not the ideal reaction to matrimony to boost any male ego or confidence. Though it wasn’t as if Wrath lacked in either of those areas.