“We could mate for life,” Wolf suggested. “I would help you acclimate again. You might not love me now, but love grows.”
“Except for that bothersome little fact that I do not wish to stay here.”
“Faerie?” he pressed. “Or the Underworld as a whole?”
Wolf was fishing. He wanted to ask what she thought about Prince Envy.
And that was much too complicated. Part of her wanted to pen him letters of apology, part of her wanted to paint his head onto an oversized donkey, pointing out that he was obviously an ass. But the longer they went without speaking, the more unsure she became.
Maybe it was for the best, giving up. Letting go.
Then Camilla wouldn’t have to worry about him leaving again one day.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by a mewl.
Camilla rushed past Wolf to open the door, smiling for only the second time since she’d set foot in this court.
“Kitty! Bunny.”
Her friend swept in, setting her cat on the floor, and hugged Camilla close. Then she stepped back to look Wolf over.
“Did I interrupt?” Lady Katherine asked, ever hopeful.
Camilla snorted. “Hardly.”
“That tone is most unappreciated, ladies.” Wolf shook his head. “Has no one in the mortal realm heard my legends recently? I might have to rectify that.”
“How are you here?” Camilla asked, ignoring Wolf. “You didn’t have to leave Waverly Green, Kitty.”
“I did, actually. When your glamour broke, mine did too. Most inconveniently.” Lady Katherine pulled her hair back, revealing her elongated ears. “It took some time for me to explain things to William, but he’s coping surprisingly well. You’re all right?”
Camilla lifted a shoulder, then dropped it.
Kitty had originally been tasked with asking Camilla to return to the Wild Court, a decade before, when Prim Róis had finally left her side. Then, when Camilla refused, Lennox had commanded Kitty to stay, to keep an eye on Camilla.
Little had he expected the two to unite as friends. And after her first refusal to return to the Wild Court, their true identities were a secret they never discussed.
Now, with her standing here, in all her Unseelie glory, Camilla knew Kitty had never forgotten her home.
“Bunny threw a fit that rivaled William’s. Think she’s tired of her glamour too.”
Camilla smiled. The cat had transformed into her true being. A lovely little gray-and-white Fae lioness.
“You could have talked to me,” Kitty said, her voice unusually soft. “About everything. We were close, weren’t we?”
Camilla expelled a breath, nodding.
“Of course.”
She wasn’t sure how to say it. Part of her had worried that Kitty preferred being blissfully unaware, freed of Unseelie chaos. And the other part had worried that Kitty remained a tool for her parents. Someone sent to spy and report back. Lennox and his games were never-ending.
Instead of admitting that, Camilla said, “Vexley’s a vampire now.”
Kitty looked at her for a solid minute before bursting into laughter.
“How?”
Camilla told her. “I… I was the one to kill him, though.”
“You beheaded him and set him on fire?” Kitty’s eyes were round, a mixture of impressed and horrified.
“Not exactly. But I did behead him.”
Wolf looked pained. “Unless you set him on fire and watched his ashes scatter, he likely isn’t dead. A vampire isn’t easy to kill.”
Camilla felt oddly relieved. Vexley was a nightmare, but it was one less death on her hands.
Kitty remained far too amused. “Fitting. A mortal driven by his thirst for lust is now driven by his thirst.”
“When he was a human at the vampire court he was… still Vexley.”
Kitty laughed, delighted. “Please tell me he bedded a succubus.”
“He held her tail and…” Camilla shuddered. “I’m sure you can imagine. Blood lust at the vampire court is a sight.”
“Speaking of lust,” Kitty said, far too casually, “I heard the most interesting rumor. It seems your Lord Synton is the Prince of Envy. Please”—she grabbed Camilla’s hands—“please tell me you had wild demon sex with him.”
Camilla’s thoughts went immediately to the throne room.
“You did!” Kitty jumped. “Oh! I think I’m experiencing envy at the thought. How was it? I’ve heard his cock is huge. Is it?”
“Please, don’t answer that,” Wolf muttered.
“Oh!” Kitty practically bounced. “Please, please tell me it was as legendary as they say. There are rumors a portrait hangs above his bed, a kind of… visual stimulant. Would you sell your soul for another taste?”
Camilla sank her teeth into her lower lip. The portrait did hang above his bed, but nothing compared to the reality of the demon. She couldn’t very well admit it aloud.
“I—”
“I’m curious too, Camilla, darling,” a low voice drawled from the doorway. “Would you? Sell your soul?”
At the sound of his voice Camilla spun around, a hand pressed to her heart.
Envy stood in the doorway, his enormous glittering wings tucked close to his body.
Blood dripped from the feathers onto the floor.
For a horrifying second, she couldn’t tell if the blood was his.
Envy stepped fully into the room, scanning Wolf, then Kitty. He gave no indication of surprise when he took in Kitty’s true form. He did pause on the lioness, though, and she could have sworn amusement flickered before he banished it.
His attention settled on Camilla. Cold. Merciless.
She glanced again at the blood dripping off his wings. It wasn’t ichor; it was Fae.
“What have you done?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
His gaze remained locked on hers when he said, “I’d like some privacy with the princess.”
Kitty came up to Camilla’s side. “No.”
Envy arched a brow, waiting. His expression said You owe me that much.
Despite the dangerous glint in his eyes, Camilla silently agreed.
“Go,” Camilla said. “It will be fine.”
Kitty’s jaw tightened. She looked to Wolf, who stared Envy down.
“We’ll be close,” he promised, gaze on the prince. It was a warning.
Wolf escorted her friend out, leaving Camilla alone to face the very angry demon prince.
SIXTY-EIGHT
ENVY TOOK A perverse bit of pleasure at seeing the shock flicker over Camilla’s features. She hadn’t heard his approach, hadn’t expected him to be standing there.
She certainly hadn’t expected to see his wings.
Truth be told, he hadn’t expected to be there either. And he likely wouldn’t have been if Alexei hadn’t taunted him.
A wild, snarling, territorial beast had risen inside him. He’d almost leashed the monster inside; then his spies brought news of an assassination attempt, sealing Camilla’s fate.
He knew right then it was time to challenge the Fae.
Seeing the Wild Court as it had been after Lennox had opened the portal…
Envy would not leave her to the plotting of her wretched siblings.
If he had to throw her over his shoulder and magic her to his court, so be it. He didn’t know the first thing about being a hero, but he excelled at being the villain.