Throne of Secrets (Prince of Sin #2)

Nine Prince Gluttony

Y OU LIED. ” E NVY’S dagger pierced the flesh at my throat. Heedless of the blade, I jerked my chin at Lust, signaling for him to stand at the end of the alley, blocking us from any witnesses.

Lust gritted his teeth but followed my silent order, knowing Envy was putting us at risk. This part of town was rife with spies, making the dark alleyway a perfect place for them to lurk.

Ice soaked through my cloak, soothing my own rage as Envy leaned into his weapon and pressed me harder into the wall. He was beginning to test my patience.

“I should decapitate you now.”

“You can try.” I bared my teeth as a trickle of golden ichor leaked from the wound, dripping onto my collar.

Violence simmered in the air between us, primed and ready to ignite.

Part of me wanted to give in to the growing urge to fight, fuel my sin by the thrill of it.

Tempting as it was, we were in public. I inhaled deeply, then exhaled, my breath streaming out in a cloud against the frigid air.

We hadn’t made it out of the night district, and aside from spies and informants prowling the streets, anyone could stumble down the alley and find two princes brawling. It would be the sort of gossip they’d happily sell to scandal sheets for a heavy coin purse.

If any rumor-hungry columnists found out, they’d start digging into possible reasons for the fight, and everything I’d been doing to hide the attack on our hunting party would be destroyed.

I could dispatch my brothers from my circle easily enough, but sending them back to their territory would only delay obtaining the information I wanted to get from them.

Hence why I’d allowed them to visit the Seven Sins in the first place tonight. Aside from patrons engaging in trysts and debauchery, it was a place where secrets could be won in games of chance. Lust had done just that—won a card game that paid in information.

After his win, I sent Val after the informant who’d given my brothers the intel and would see to him personally later. My coffers were practically limitless—I’d pay twice as much for his silence from here on out. I’d pay him triple to find out who Adriana Saint Lucent dealt with.

Overall, things had gone well this evening.

To avoid gutting Envy with my House dagger in the middle of this alley, I focused on the unexpectedly pleasant night I’d had while waiting for them to finish their game.

It had been years since I’d actually wanted someone in my bed.

Even with Envy’s dagger gouging my flesh, and the threat of a spy coming upon our little trio, I couldn’t stop my mind from flashing to the heated encounter.

That kiss… It awakened something in me, something long dormant.

I ought to kill my brothers for interrupting what promised to be a thrilling evening. I’d thought I’d been cursed to never take another lover, but tonight proved that theory false.

I’d been close to making Lady Frost mine, right there on the damned roof.

Maybe I should stab my brother, then return to the club, consequences be damned.

If I had another more pleasurable way to feed my sin, then I didn’t need to worry about missing the next hunt and not fueling my hunger for adventure.

Lady F had been a welcome surprise for multiple reasons. I liked her. Immensely.

Envy’s blade pressed harder, drawing my attention back to the here and now. His eyes flashed with barely leashed anger. If he didn’t get himself under control, my leash would snap.

Lust whistled low, a signal someone was coming.

I knocked Envy’s blade away. “Take this to my throne room. Now.”

I didn’t give him a chance to respond. I magicked myself to my castle, stripped my suit jacket off, and tossed it across my throne as I waited for my brothers to transport there next.

The silver dragons carved into my seat of power seemed to crave blood as much as I did right now, the sapphire gemstones in their eyes catching the light of the fire that raged in the oversized fireplace across the room.

I longed to collapse into the plush cobalt velvet cushion and kick my feet up.

Instead, I faced the carved double doors, hand on the hilt of my dagger, waiting.

If Envy wanted a fight, I’d give him one.

In seconds my brothers appeared in the throne room, stalking forward, their weapons hidden. That they waited until we’d reached my House of Sin before they’d struck spoke to the severity of our issue. If secrecy wasn’t needed for the good of the realm, they would have attacked in the streets, the brawl drawing all sorts of unwanted attention.

We Princes of Hell weren’t known for our restraint.

Envy stopped before me, his chest nearly brushing mine. I smiled at him; there were no witnesses to worry about now.

I held his stare, the tension growing palpable. I could have my dagger lodged in his chest in seconds. My hand grazed the hilt. Diplomacy wasn’t my strong suit and the thrill of the attack made my blood sing with my power.

I pulled my blade just as Lust stepped up behind Envy and tugged our brother back a few paces, trying to defuse the situation.

“Both of you, stop. ”

Lust glared at each of us, waiting until he was sure we’d gotten ourselves under control before turning his own anger on me.

“This is bigger than normal inter-House secrets,” he said. “A broken treaty doesn’t just impact your gods-damned court. Were you and Wrath going to tell us?”

I locked my jaw. Which was a good enough answer for my brother.

“Bloody hell, Gabriel,” he muttered, going for the liquor I kept on a bar cart near my throne. “What were you and Wrath thinking? If word spreads of this to citizens in the other courts—”

“It won’t.” I cut him off. “I’ve handled it.”

Envy shook his head. “You didn’t bury it deep enough, or else our spies wouldn’t have had anything to report. How, exactly, did you and Wrath manage to keep his injury quiet?”

“Are we sharing House secrets now?” I asked. “Would you care to explain the true reason behind your game with the Unseelie King? I’m sure that had nothing to do with your court and all the gossip circulating on why you’d warded it from the whole damned realm. Find any hexed objects lately, brother? You know, since that technically impacts all of us?”

Envy’s mouth pressed into a hard line.

“Didn’t think so.” I grabbed a bottle of demonberry wine. “The attack on Wrath was unfortunate but won’t be repeated. As you know, the alpha addressed the dragon who attacked, and no true harm was done to anyone.”

“There shouldn’t be any ice dragon attacks, even on us immortals,” Lust said. “The pact forbids it. You are supposed to ensure the agreement stands. It doesn’t matter if it was a onetime event.”

It was jarring to learn this for the first time, so I allowed my brothers a moment for their worry. The last ice dragon massacre had killed hundreds of demons from each circle, along with an equally staggering number of dragons.

Under the direction of their alphas, each one of the seven different dragon packs had flown in and chosen a House of Sin to try to claim as an extension of their territory.

For the first time in their long lives, each dragon alpha had put their own differences aside and plotted together. It had been the single largest dragon attack in our history.

After the failed attempt to take the land south of Merciless Reach, I hardly ever heard from or saw the other six dragon packs. Partly because the pack I suspected was led by Silvanus claimed the land closest to my House of Sin and they were among the most ferocious dragons; they had no qualms about fighting their own to establish dominance. And partly because the dragons had suffered such a great loss they didn’t wish to tempt fate.

The massacre was something no one wanted repeated, dragons and demons alike.

“It won’t happen again.”

“You can’t guarantee that,” Envy said. “What if another dragon gets infected with the same blight that caused the first attack?”

“Nothing is ever guaranteed.” Because of the clause that granted them a meeting of their choice, I had to share some information. “My hunters are watching the pack. If there’s any hint of a change, I’ll know.”

Lust paced. “I don’t like it. What the hell infected them to begin with? That’s never happened before, right?”

I shook my head. “I have a select team of experts looking into the matter now.”

“Reporters will be all over this story,” Envy said, “working the entire realm up into chaos.”

“Gods’ blood.” Lust’s expression darkened. “Tell me that journalist doesn’t know.”

“Keep up. Miss Saint Lucent is an advice columnist now,” I reminded them as I poured a goblet of wine. “Hence my earlier victory.”

“Wonderful.” Lust walked away, pacing. “She knows.”

“She suspects, ” I corrected. “And regardless of her suspicions, she’s now writing advice about love, which should occupy her well enough.”

My brothers were quiet a minute. Unfortunately, I didn’t think it was due to being so wildly impressed that I’d rendered them speechless.

“Let’s lay this out there,” Envy said. “You’ve been engaged in a very public war with a columnist who loathes you. Somehow, she has information on the dragon attack—the first in more than a century—and as a solution, you forced her into writing an advice column on a subject she despises.”

When he put it like that, I might see some merit in his worry. But I knew Adriana valued her job too much to risk being fired. A fact I’d concluded after seeing her fight so passionately to keep her column before she knew I’d entered the office.

“And you believe, by some wild stretch of the imagination,” he went on, “she’ll simply let the dragon story go in favor of listening to you, the male she hates, now more than ever?”

I adopted that arrogant mask we all preferred to wear, shrugging as if bored by their worry. “What else would you have me do? Host a tournament royale between the seven Houses of Sin to divert attention away from the dragons?”

“Yes.” Lust stopped pacing and spun around. “Give the people what they want, Gabriel.”

Envy chuckled, catching on right away. “Brilliant.”

“No,” I said, irritated by what I suspected they were getting at. “Don’t even suggest it.”

“ You just proposed the idea, dear brother. And you’re going to do exactly what the realm wants,” Envy said. “You’re going to host a competition to find your match.”

“It was sarcasm,” I deadpanned. “I know these are trying times, but do keep your wits about you.”

“No. It’s brilliant. You’re going to invite Miss Saint whatever to be the official reporter, the only one permitted to write about it,” Lust added.

“Make her move in while the competition is going on,” Envy said. “You’ll keep her close and distracted. She’ll have no time to hunt down dragon rumors if you’re keeping her occupied.”

“Have you both gone mad? The last thing I need is to worry about having anyone live in the castle while I’m trying to keep the dragon incident from the public and research ways to avoid anything like it in the future. Most especially the reporter who wants nothing more than to destroy me for some saints-forsaken reason.”

“I’m sure it has nothing to do with what happened at that ball,” Envy said.

My brows drew together. “Which ball?”

“The All-Sinners Ball. From what I remember, things went poorly between you two after that.”

“You’re mistaken,” I said. “There has never been any warmth between us, before or after that event.”

“I left early, but Lust attended.” Envy turned to our other brother, his gaze calculating. “What do you remember?”

“About the All-Sinners Ball?” Lust lifted a shoulder. “Not much. I do remember the spectacle of the viscount finding him with the viscountess, though.”

Envy was silent for a moment.

“Miss Saint Lucent—”

“We could argue the point all night.” I cut him off. “That was a decade ago and no longer matters. End of discussion.”

Envy’s gaze narrowed. I could practically see the gears turning in his mind.

He must have been wildly drunk that night to believe Adriana Saint Lucent, the silver-tongued, blue-haired hellion that haunted my nightmares, had felt anything except disdain for me from the very start.

The All-Sinners Ball had been the talk of the realm ten years prior—it was a chance for commoners and nobility to all mingle, regardless of station, in hopes of finding a match. All sinners from every House of Sin of marriageable age were invited, Miss Saint Lucent included.

It was the first time I’d ever met her, and the image remained damnably burned into my memory. She’d been positively stunning in her shimmering silver gown, earning attention from everyone in attendance, including myself.

I thought she was the most beautiful, wickedly smart demon I’d ever had the good fortune to meet. I’d started dreaming up ways to impress her, to make her crave me the way I’d suddenly craved none but her.

Then she’d opened her cursed mouth to let me know exactly what she thought of me, and whatever fantasy I’d had of her was promptly slain.

“Back to the issue at hand. I’d be willing to host a tournament to keep the scandal sheets occupied,” I said. “Each House of Sin could challenge—”

“It won’t be as impactful as a competition with higher stakes,” Envy interrupted. “Each Prince of Sin will choose one participant to compete for your throne.”

“Except I’m not interested in finding a consort.”

“Perhaps not, but you’ll adhere to the rules of the pact and do what’s best for the realm,” Envy said.

He had me there.

“Strike a bargain with one of the participants if you must,” he said, reading my resolve to play whatever role I needed to in order to keep my circle safe. “Give them enough coin to break off the engagement after the stories die down in the press. Find someone who cares more about fame than true love.”

“Exactly. The relationship doesn’t have to last,” Lust added, “but a competition for your heart will create the kind of realm-wide distraction we need to figure out if the ice dragon attack truly was one of its kind or if there’s a bigger threat at stake.”

He didn’t elaborate, but I suspected he was worried the witches—our greatest enemies—might be responsible. Which would mean war was brewing.

Without scouring my library for other causes of the attack, I couldn’t rule out the possibility of the witches casting a spell or hexing the dragons.

Unaware of my silent worry, Envy nodded. “Involving Miss Saint Lucent will ensure she reports on what we want her to.”

“I don’t like this,” I said, pacing away, already knowing it was the right move. I couldn’t guarantee that the dragon threat was over. And I needed to ensure that if something else happened, the realm would be fixated elsewhere. “Too much can go wrong.”

“Things already went wrong,” Envy said. “It’s time to set them right before things get worse for us all.” He strode forward, clapping a hand across my chest. “Do what you must. But keep the reporter close until the competition ends.”

Any good leader knew the first rule of battle was to keep your enemy closest.

I supposed it was time to treat this as the most important skirmish between me and Miss Saint Lucent to date. Personal feelings aside, I’d even court her if I had to.

Anything to keep her where I could watch her closely.

“Miss Saint Lucent is here, Your Highness.”

I’d cleared my throne room of any members of my court still sprawled across various pillows and tables from the riotous party I’d thrown last night, not wanting an audience for what promised to be a battle of wills.

“Might as well send her in, Jarvis. Let’s get this over with.”

My butler inclined his head, then disappeared to fetch my esteemed guest.

I glanced at the freshly stocked bottles of demonberry wine lined up on a table near my throne. Once I was through with this charming task, I was going to reward myself with an entire case of wine and even more lovers.

If I was to be accused of the role anyway, I might as well enjoy some raking and ravishing, now that my appetites seemed to be returning in that area. Unless my newfound desires were solely for one mysterious lady…

The doors swung open, revealing the female of the hour.

And she was in a wonderful mood.

She lifted her chin as she strode to the dais, her gaze sharp as daggers as she pinned it to me, holding my stare like she could murder me with it if she concentrated hard enough.

Gods’ blood. The woman had an impressive glare.

I should have assigned her to the royal guard instead of the advice column. Miss Saint Lucent would certainly make a formidable opponent on the battlefield.

Or perhaps she’d scare the ice dragons into submission.

If all else failed, I might enlist her in the royal hunting guild.

She came to a stop before the throne, dropping an abysmal curtsy, then returned those icy blue eyes to mine. They glinted dangerously, her cunning mind likely thinking up a thousand silent hexes.

A prickle of… something not entirely unpleasant rolled down my spine. Her defiance made the monster in me sit up and take notice. I inhaled deeply, then exhaled.

Once I was in control again, I gave her a bland smile.

“Miss Saint Lucent,” I said, mindful of my tone. Best not to poke the viper. Yet. “Always interesting to see you.”

“If only that were true.”

I raised a brow; it was true or else I wouldn’t have been able to say it. Those were semantics for another day. Now I wanted to get this over with and jump off a mountain to clear my thoughts of my mystery lover.

“I’ve asked you here today—”

She snorted.

I waited, silent and watchful. She didn’t utter another word or sound. Not out of respect, but to spite me, if the look on her face was any indication.

I cocked my head to one side, eyes narrowed.

“Is there a problem, Miss Saint Lucent?”

“Demanding my attendance ‘at once’ is hardly asking, Your Highness.”

“Must you always be so disagreeable?”

“No, I suppose I ought to feed your ego like everyone else.”

This female would be the end of my sanity.

I leaned back in my throne, steepling my fingers, gaze sweeping over her, calculating. And perhaps it was to provoke her too. I didn’t have to use my supernatural ability to read emotions to know she positively hated when I looked her over.

Which sent a thrill through me akin to the thrill I felt when hunting dragons. No one ever mentally sparred with me like the hellcat standing before me. I found myself intrigued by whatever delightful nightmare she’d unleash from her mouth next.

“You clearly have something to say. So, go on,” I said. “Aside from breathing, what grave offense have I brought to you now?”

“I was in the middle of work when your summons came. Now I may lose my position since I’m not currently writing the advice column you so graciously put me in charge of. Only for you to call me disagreeable when I’m not simpering before you. This whim of yours—whatever it may be—will likely cause my family to be homeless. So please do forgive me if I am a little disagreeable over the abuse of your power, Your Highness.”

I looked her over carefully, this time without the intent to irk. She had no idea of my whims, and she ought to be thankful for that. She might have a silver tongue, but I had a dark hunger. One that she could never handle, no matter how bold she appeared.

“You no longer need that job.”

She arched one brow impressively. “Oh? Has a secret benefactor come forward with an inheritance? Have they appointed you with the honor of sharing that information with me?”

Such a smart mouth.

My attention fell to her cursed lips, lingering a moment too long. Lust’s taunt from the night before came back, unbidden. Along with the memory of my masked beauty from the Seven Sins. A prickle of awareness hit me.

I wrenched my gaze back up.

Her hand drifted inside her cloak. It looked like she was checking to see if she had something. Hopefully it wasn’t a dagger she planned on throwing at my face.

She caught my curious look and dropped her hand, scowling again.

“I’m offering you a position as my official royal reporter. You and your family will move into House Gluttony at once.”

Silence stretched between us. Normally, I could sit here all day, waiting for her to break it first, if only to drive her mad. But today wasn’t a regular day; there was much to do and little time to accomplish it all before nightfall. I fought the urge to glance at the clock.

When she still didn’t respond after another moment, I pressed on.

“My staff will pack your belongings and transport your family via carriage. You won’t have to worry about anything. To make up for any inconvenience, I’ll pay your landlord to hold your residence for the next several months as a bonus.”

Color rose in her cheeks, the blush pleasant against her pale skin.

My traitorous cock took notice, unperturbed by her hatred.

An image of her tied to my bedposts, flushed from more interesting activities as she writhed against my silken sheets, crossed my mind.

I needed an ice bath and a mental examination. Immediately.

Clearly my subconscious had a deviant streak worthy of ballads if it took my favorite fantasy and imprinted her face on my secret lover. Though maybe it was further proof that my appetites were back with a vengeance.

As if she’d plucked that lusty nightmare from my mind, she leveled me with a glacial look, reminding me she would never submit.

“Well?” I drawled. “Have I rendered you speechless with my generosity?”

“Hardly. I’m simply stunned you believe I’d accept your offer. I am wholly uninterested in leaving the Wicked Daily and I certainly don’t wish to live here.”

I ran a hand through my hair. It was already done. Surely she could see the merit and advantage of what I was offering. Ultimately, we’d both win something.

“I’ve been careful to not have any rumors spread,” I said, “so you’ll get the honor of breaking the story first, but I’m hosting a realm-wide competition to find a potential wife.”

Her expression shuttered.

Not quite the reaction I’d expected. I tamped any curiosity down.

“Since you’re the only columnist allowed to write about each event, you’ll be courted by every major publication once it’s all said and done. You’ve been granted exclusive access to each potential match. Interviews with them, me. Anything you need to craft exciting stories. I want this to be the talk of the Seven Circles for the duration of the competition.”

“You speak as if this deal has been finalized.”

Her tone mixed with her expression indicated she’d already figured out what I’d done.

If she expected me to feel guilty, she was sorely mistaken.

Outwardly I was the most affable of the Princes of Sin, but we all had our demons to contend with.

It didn’t matter if she felt like I’d trapped her—for the good of the realm, I’d do worse. And it wasn’t as if she wasn’t going to benefit handsomely in the end.

“Your rent has already been paid.” I leaned forward, narrowing my gaze. “Your salary will be one million coins. Per article. Are you sure you want to turn down this opportunity, Miss Saint Lucent?”

She looked me over, her eyes glittering with annoyance. It was truly remarkable how unimpressed she was with me, considering my reputation. I understood that look, though—I’d seen it in the ice dragons. Miss Saint Lucent didn’t enjoy being trapped or reined in.

And I’d done both.

I fought a smile.

For better or worse, my rival was now bound to me for the next several weeks.

“Yes. I believe I am turning it down.”

She dropped a slight curtsy, and it was only her abysmal attempt at propriety that allowed me a moment to school my shocked expression into indifference before she rose.

I hadn’t expected her to be grateful, but I didn’t think she’d turn the offer down.

To say the salary had been excessive was an understatement. Some of the wealthiest nobles didn’t earn that much coin in their long histories. I’d estimated a minimum of seven articles, but it would likely be much more before the contest ended.

I couldn’t tell if the odd emotion I felt was admiration or annoyance. Or some perverse mixture of both. Adriana Saint Lucent despised me enough to turn down what would have been the deal of a lifetime. She wasn’t foolish, which meant there had to be a personal reason.

And that was the most dangerous kind.

We held each other’s stare for an intense moment. That level of hatred was an issue I needed to investigate. I knew she disliked me, but it seemed a bit excessive, even for a sinner with an affinity for gluttony.

Envy and Val were both right to worry. I needed to keep a better watch on Adriana. That much intense emotion was highly motivating. And the last thing I needed was a reporter who’d stop at nothing to uncover my darkest secrets to use against me.

This went deeper than a petty rivalry. And I intended to find out when it had started.

She finally withdrew her gaze from mine and started to walk away, pausing only to say quietly, “I’ll have the landlord return your payment.”

“Keep it.”

She looked ready to argue but thought better of it as she swiftly fled.

I watched her go, granting her a reprieve for now, already strategizing my next move. She’d temporarily won this round, but I was no honorable hero who’d graciously accept defeat. I’d use any means necessary to claim ultimate victory.

I lived for the hunt, and she’d just made herself the most appealing target to take down.

When I sparred with Adriana Saint Lucent again, she’d be tied to me one way or another. Even if that meant I had to chain her to my bloody side.

A dark thrill rolled through me as I stood from my throne, intent on stalking my prey. It might not be an ice dragon hunt, but the thrill of taking her down was possibly greater.