Envy’s pulse raced. Wrath would hear it, ever attuned to the hunt. The area between his shoulder blades burned with the sudden need to release his wings. Wings that he couldn’t summon. Wings he’d lost with the fall of his court.
“You bore me with your drivel. But yes. I would care if harm came to her. The game wants her in play. Therefore, she holds value for me.”
Wrath narrowed his eyes, silent as he assessed Envy.
“Choosing not to answer the question directly is as good as answering it, Aethan.” His brother was exceptionally cunning when he wished to be. “Perhaps it’s time to stop playing, then. She could get hurt.”
Envy couldn’t have stopped the game even if he’d wished to. And Wrath standing there, acting superior, as if Envy had no clue how much danger Camilla was in, made him want to lash out.
“Do not use my true name in that perverse shorthand again. And do not come to my circle and lecture me. My patience only stretches so far.”
Wrath’s expression didn’t shift. He still wore the cold, mocking smile Envy wished to punch off his face, his gold eyes glittering.
“Spoken like a demon in love.”
He turned then, his muscular frame taking up the entire doorway.
“Pride wagered invitations will be sent out by year’s end,” Wrath said. “After today, I’m calling three months.”
Envy knew he was being goaded.
“Invitations for what?”
“Your wedding.”
Something ancient and restless reared itself inside his chest. Envy would sooner drink from the Fatal Chalice before he married anyone, even Camilla. True, he might enjoy her company, might desire her physically, but it would never go beyond that.
He wouldn’t allow it.
“I look forward to collecting my fortune, then.”
Wrath chuckled darkly, broad shoulders shaking.
“Don’t bet against yourself. Or Greed’s coffers will finally be larger than yours.”
Before Envy’s sin could snap out, someone knocked on the door.
Fear had his breath lodged in his throat before Alexei stepped in.
Envy’s attention shot to his second’s hand, to the note he’d been waiting for from House Sloth.
He tore the wax seal open and read. Fucking finally. He’d been granted permission to enter Sloth’s domain.
He glanced up, annoyed that Wrath was still standing there. “Don’t you have a wife to tie up? Why are you still here?”
Envy sensed it a moment before it happened.
Wrath’s dagger flashed, striking into an invisible foe. An Umbra demon formed, slumped and dying at the demon of war’s feet.
“Keep your spies away from Emilia.”
He crouched to wipe his blade on the dead spy’s tunic, then stepped over its body. Before Wrath could leave on his own and stumble across anything he shouldn’t, Alexei escorted him back to the front doors.
Envy folded his arms across his chest. “Report.”
The second Umbra demon materialized, partially.
“The human—Vexley—disappeared shortly after you left that realm. No one has been able to scent a trail.”
Envy gritted his teeth. “And? What about the artist’s mother?”
“No family in Waverly Green. No blood or hair in the house.”
Which meant there was no way to know if she was a shifter.
He supposed he could cut a lock of Camilla’s hair, have it tested by spell. Find out one way or another what she was, if anything. But if that jeopardized the game, counted as interference…
Envy sighed.
“Keep searching.”
THIRTY-THREE
APPARENTLY HOURS AFTER he’d arrived at House Sloth, Camilla finally received word that Envy was on the premises. She felt immediately annoyed that he hadn’t bothered to check on her. After bathing quickly, she’d wandered around for the entire day, doing her best to hunt down their next clue. Alone.
Not to mention that the last time she’d seen him, he’d had a dagger sticking out of his chest. Instead of letting her know he was indeed all right, he’d gone straight to a chamber on Fae history.
If Camilla harbored any misconceptions about where his priorities lay, they were dashed now. Clearly his one and only focus was on the mysterious game.
“Despite our introduction, Lo seems very personable. And he is rather handsome,” Camilla said by way of greeting, curious to press Envy’s sin to see how much of a rise she could get.
Envy snorted but didn’t lift his head from the book he was flipping through. His sin had not been invoked. Maybe he didn’t feel for her. The thought rankled.
“You clearly disagree. Why?”
Envy flicked his emerald gaze to her.
“After stabbing me, did my lovely brother happen to explain why he goes by that name?”
She slowly shook her head and his devious grin emerged, alluring dimples and all.
“Because he delights in laying his enemies low. Sloth is as wicked as they come. I’d advise never falling for his personable veneer.”
“Although one ought to be thankful I at least make an effort, right, brother?”
Lo leaned casually against the doorframe, a pair of spectacles hanging from a chain around his neck. He’d discarded his tailcoat and rolled his shirtsleeves up, exposing toned arms and what appeared to be a tattoo of some phrase peeking out.
“My court is searching through every chamber as we speak. If there’s anything out of place, they’ll find it.”
He glanced between them, his expression difficult to read.
“It’s getting late, so I’ve instructed my cook to send food up to your suites. Since we’ll be working around the clock to locate the clue, we don’t have time for a formal dinner. I hope that will suffice, Miss Antonius.”
Envy clapped once.
“Well done. You skirted the truth beautifully.”
At Camilla’s inquisitive look, he added, “Sloth prefers to snack in his chambers while reading. Whenever he can avoid a large dinner gathering, he will. His House motto is Libri Ante Vir. Books before man. He probably has it permanently inked on his ass.”
Lo didn’t deny the charge.
“Should you need anything, Miss Antonius, please don’t hesitate to ask. My cook is more than happy to make whatever you’d like.”
“Have some of my preferred cocktails sent up. And some demonberry wine for Miss Antonius to try.”
Envy leaned back in his chair, kicking his feet up onto the table, the picture of arrogance. He’d just ordered another prince around, in a circle that did not belong to him. Even Camilla understood that that was deeply insulting.
Lo pressed his lips into a line. He was probably debating whether to strike Envy again. This time Camilla imagined he’d stab deeper.
“Don’t forget the muddled blackberries and brown sugar,” Envy added. “It’s going to be a long night.”
Camilla smiled as Lo rolled his eyes and exited the chamber. Envy would be lucky if she didn’t stab him next.
“What, exactly, are you hoping to find in this section?”
Envy cut a look her way, then held up the book he’d been immersed in.
It was a history of the Unseelie King.
“Lennox thinks himself a god, but he must have a weakness. Once I find it, I’ll exploit it.”