Previous clues had left Envy feeling certain of what he was after. None of these clicked into place as soundly, felt as right.
Envy swirled his liquor again, the darkness spinning wildly around a giant cube of ice. The rattle soothed him. As did the liquor itself. He was stalling.
The truth was, he didn’t want to see his court. The last time had been horrific. Children… they were the line that should never be crossed. And it was all his fault.
What he’d find now, after more of his court succumbed…
His next clue had to be from that conversation. He had to move forward.
Envy shifted to when the Fae had been speaking to Camilla. In the moment, he’d allowed his sin to take over, cloud his judgment. Imagine all the ways the male would—or had—pleasured Camilla.
It was a mistake.
Envy was starting to wonder whether Lennox wanted Camilla with him for the final part of the game to distract him. If it had been the Fae’s plan, it was working. Even being aware of that fact, Envy couldn’t stop himself from succumbing to it. She interested him on too many levels.
Her parentage, her talent for painting reality, her clever mind, and that magical little lightning show. She was a puzzle he’d not yet been able to solve. And he wasn’t the only one intrigued by her. Wolf made it seem like there was another secret he either knew or suspected.
I’ll be seeing you, fair winter lady.
Envy set his drink aside and used a tiny bit of magic to summon his journal. Moments later he was scribbling down as many clues as he could form.
Fair winter lady.
Fear it inwardly.
Fire at inwardly.
Finality redraw.
Radiant wiry elf.
Envy cursed. The clue had to be there. The more he grasped at it, the more it seemed to slip through his fingers.
I friendly at war.
Fairway tendril.
He focused solely on winter lady.
Envy was suddenly aware of Camilla’s scent. She’d entered the room on silent feet, and her presence now burned like a candle behind him. Or a strike of lightning, he thought wryly.
He straightened, glancing over his shoulder. She wore a hunter-green velvet gown—his signature color—that made the silver of her hair and eyes glimmer like the moon. She looked ethereal, otherworldly.
Entirely forbidden.
He followed her silhouette with his gaze, struck silent by how regal she appeared, how elegant. How different from the tousled woman he’d pictured moaning in the bath, the one who’d had him cursing as he found his own release.
“You look…” like a personal disaster. His face tightened. “I suppose that will do.”
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t call him on the lie. She nodded at the several sheets of paper he’d torn out, crumpled all over the floor.
“Cause for concern?”
“Deciphering riddles.” He motioned to the ground. “Poorly.”
She strode over, careful not to touch him as she leaned in, tracing the letters he’d scribbled in his journal.
He’d sensed her shift in emotions earlier, how she’d wished for something he refused to give. Camilla wanted a fairy tale. And he’d been serious when he’d said he’d never be the hero.
Envy did not believe in happily-ever-afters, only stretches of time that could be more enjoyable than others. He liked Camilla’s company, thrilled at their push-and-pull flirtation, but he didn’t want friendship. And she needed to get back to her world, her gallery, her life.
“Dearly twin?” she tried.
His blood iced. As did the chamber.
Camilla instantly shivered beside him, drawing back to rub her arms.
He knew of twins. And he despised one of them. The one who’d just removed his blackened heart once again.
Gods-damned Lennox.
“It was only a guess…，” Camilla said quietly.
He yanked his anger under control, offering her a quick smile.
It did little to comfort her.
“An excellent guess. I believe you solved it, Miss Antonius. I just don’t like what comes next.”
He strode past her to the door, pausing to look back.
“I won’t be able to be at dinner. But please feel free to dine without me.” He snapped his fingers and a servant appeared. “The cottage also has a studio stocked with paints and canvases. And a library. You are welcome to explore and use whatever you’d like.”
“Where are you going?”
“House Envy.”
“Am I not coming with you?”
Envy hadn’t imagined the subtle edge to her question, the hint of disbelief. They’d never played the game apart like this. At least not intentionally.
“No. You’ll remain here.”
He made a show of straightening his suit, pulling at his cuffs, as if he wished to look his best. He allowed innuendo to drip from his tone.
“I have a private matter to tend to. I’ll be gone for hours, so don’t wait up, Miss Antonius.”
He’d told her once before that if he took a lover to his bed, he’d need hours.
She hadn’t forgotten.
Camilla flinched.
Envy had never felt more like a villain.
But he left her standing there alone, looking like he’d broken her heart, then cut her with its sharp pieces.
To save his court and also keep Camilla safe, especially if Vittoria was still involved, he’d do much worse.
FORTY-NINE
CAMILLA STARED AT the door long after the prince had left.
He’d lied to her. Pretended he was seeking a lover when his expression looked as pained as hers. Had the idiot even realized he’d glanced away, his throat tight at that most crucial moment?
“What an ass.”
He was an even bigger ass if he believed she’d simply stay put. As far as Camilla knew, she was a guest in his circle and as such she could travel wherever she pleased.
Before deciding where she’d like to visit first, she plucked up a few discarded pages, scanning more of the clues he’d tossed away. Interesting. He believed Wolf was the messenger.
Camilla had a slightly different suspicion.
She called for a cloak and thick wool gloves, which took far longer than she’d expected. The maid who’d arrived was flushed, her eyes bright, almost feverish.
“Apologies for the delay, miss. Staff is short…” She trailed off, glancing back down the corridor. “Were you needing anything else?”
Camilla followed her gaze. No one emerged from what she presumed were the kitchens below. Typically, a cottage of this size was considered a country estate. Envy should have a full staff—butler, footmen, maids, and cook.
“Are you alone?” she asked the young demon.
The maid nibbled on her lower lip. “Just me and one footman left.”
Camilla’s brows knitted. Something in the way the demon had said they were the only ones left caused unease. Before Camilla could ask her to expound, the maid dropped a polite curtsy, then darted back down the hall.
Camilla stared after her for a few more moments, but Envy’s choice to keep the cottage barely staffed wasn’t really a great mystery. Maybe he didn’t use it often. Maybe the others were preparing for Camilla’s arrival at his House. Or the supposed guest he was expecting tonight.
Either way, she had bigger things to focus on.
Camilla donned her cloak, pulled on her gloves, then stole into the snow-covered night. Excitement thrummed through her as she inhaled the cold, spruce-scented air. The Seven Circles were under a constant cover of snow and ice, the realm a winter wonderland.