“So, the higher the rank, the more the demons exhibit the sin they’ve aligned with.”
“From what I’ve gathered in my time here, yeah. Though no one can ever gain enough power to overthrow a prince. They are something else entirely. It’s like the difference between a lion and tiger. Both are large, predatory cats, but they are not the same.”
“And the lesser demons? They’re different from the nobles.”
“Indeed. And it’s why they often choose to live on the outskirts of their circles.”
“If Lady Sundra is best aligned with House Wrath, how would she marry a prince who represented a different sin?”
“It would be rare, but not unheard of for her to shift sin alignment.”
I propped myself against the table’s edge and set my glass down. “You knew Wrath had initiated his acceptance of the marriage bond the night the Viperidae attacked me.”
“All hail the queen of changing topics.” He offered a dramatic bow. “Is there a question in there, or are you looking for confirmation?”
“I know I’m not his first choice in a wife,” I hedged, still thinking of the duke’s daughter, “but I’d like to know if there was someone he was interested in before… everything.”
The teasing light left Anir’s face. “It’s not my business or my place to share his story.”
“I’m not asking you to. I only want to know if there was someone else.”
“Would it change anything if there was?”
I thought about it. My curiosity was at play, for certain, but it would change matters. I would refuse the bond and have our fate decided by the council of three Wrath had mentioned.
If he loved someone, well, that would both make me uncomfortable and also clear my way to pursuing Pride. Which was still the surest path to achieving my goal of vengeance.
Unless, of course, I beat Envy to finding the Temptation Key and Triple Moon Mirror. And if a demon prince couldn’t sense the spelled wine or food, I might be able to garner truth that way. But I’d need to practice on a prince of Hell, and one was still notably absent, curse him.
I returned to the matter at hand. I would not want to be tied together in a loveless marriage with Wrath if he would always be pining for someone else.
“Yes. It would. It would change a lot.”
“Careful.” A low voice drawled from behind me. “Or I might think you’d actually like to marry me.”
SEVENTEEN
I closed my eyes and silently swore before glowering at Anir. “You are truly the worst.”
“I bet seven devil coins you feel different after your next lesson.” The traitor shot me a devious grin. “Don’t forget your purse tomorrow, Lady Em.”
“Lock the door on your way out.”
Wrath’s voice was much too close. I felt his breath near the base of my neck, and I briefly considered rushing to the door or inventing a spell to have the floor swallow me whole. Instead, I squared my shoulders and slowly turned around. His focus was entirely on the human. Anir lost a bit of his playful swagger, replacing it with a seriousness I hadn’t seen in him since the night Lord Makaden lost his tongue.
“No one is to enter this room until I give the signal that our training is over. Is that understood?”
“Yes, your majesty.”
Anir offered me a polite bow and quickly made for the exit. Coward. I smiled to myself. Speaking of cowards, pretending the demon prince wasn’t there, and hadn’t overheard something I never meant him to hear, would not serve my bid for being fearless, either.
I forced myself to meet Wrath’s imposing stare and hid my surprise as I assessed my newest opponent. He wasn’t dressed entirely in black today; he wore a brilliant white shirt and tailcoat. I took in his huge frame, the cold set to his features, and swallowed hard. He was not in a pleasant mood. I decided now was not the time for bravery. A clever schemer understood the art of retreat. Wrath was up to no good and I wanted no part in discovering how bad he could be.
“I don’t think your training is necessary. Anir was doing an exceptional job.”
A smile spread across the prince’s face, though there was no hint of mirth to be found in it. The look confirmed that remaining around for this training was a terrible idea. I took a step back and something dangerous sparked in Wrath’s eyes.
“He doesn’t possess the skills needed for this lesson.”
“Oh, well, I have a prior engagement. We’ll have to reschedule.”