Throne of Secrets (Prince of Sin #2)

Eighteen Adriana

E DEN CLUTCHED HER cloak tightly in her fist, her knuckles bone white. Her normally golden skin looked pale as she glanced around at the other hopeful suitors filing into the area marked for entrants. I couldn’t tell if it was the crowd or her nerves, or both.

She’d never enjoyed being trapped in large gatherings. Even at the mere thought of a crowded ballroom she’d break into hives.

I stood with her near the entrance of the circular drive, sinking deeper into my cloak as the next blast of arctic wind howled down from the mountains.

It was cold enough to make me think ice dragons were circling high above, their wings producing an extra chill meant to subdue their prey before they attacked.

I glanced up, shivering at the thought. For once, I hoped the rumors were false.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” I murmured low enough for my stepmother to not hear.

“It’s not that at all. I want to be picked.” Eden’s gaze cut to me and lingered. I made sure to keep my expression carefully blank. “There’s just so many people.”

“As long as you’re certain.”

“I am. Very much so.” Eden swept her attention around, dropping her voice to avoid anyone overhearing. “It wouldn’t be the worst fate to marry a prince, Ad. Especially someone as charming and generous as Prince Gluttony.”

I scoffed, earning a look of admonishment from my little sister.

“I don’t know why you dislike him so much,” she said. “I hope you give him a chance.”

“I didn’t enter my name into the drawing.” Thank the old gods for that. “But if you get chosen, I’ll mind my tongue.”

She gave my hand a little squeeze, then made her way into the waiting area.

Sophie and I lingered with the rest of the families just outside the castle’s entry, waiting for the prince to emerge and choose someone’s fate.

I quietly mulled over my exchange with my sister. I hadn’t realized that she might be nervous about not being chosen. And it was rather foolish of me. Axton was a handsome prince.

Powerful in more than one way. Of course I knew she’d been smitten.

Ever since he’d bestowed our household with gifts, Eden had been speaking of him almost nonstop. Her dreamy tone suggested she felt as if the sun rose and fell based on his whims. Every morning this week she’d rushed out to get the royal report and read it to me, determined to make me see why he’d be the perfect match.

A knot of unease twisted deep inside me.

My sister was too young to know what had transpired between me and Axton at the All-Sinners Ball, and I’d certainly never divulged anything of our history to her.

If Eden was chosen, then I’d be forever linked to the prince. And I’d be happy for her since she seemed to want it desperately. Wouldn’t I?

A flash of sitting around the table with Axton while he showered my sister with affection crossed my mind. Would it be sincere or a way to forever needle me?

It was such a wildly unpleasant thought, I jolted when fire erupted from several low containers set at even intervals around the driveway and the castle’s exterior, warming the air.

It was dramatic but practical. A flare for gaining attention that Gluttony excelled at, much as I’d claimed otherwise in my articles. I closed my eyes, wishing I had stayed at the Wicked Daily and missed this event. Knowing the prince, his next move was about to happen.

A cannon shot fired, right on schedule, followed by heart-shaped blue and silver petals raining down over the crowd. It was romantic and made more than one lady fan themselves.

Several columnists jotted notes, Ryleigh, drooling Julian, and pompous Anders included.

It was odd not being one of them, huddled together on the stairs of the castle, waiting for the prince to make his grand entrance, quills held at the ready.

Truth be told, I’d rather be hidden among the crowd for this particular event.

Finally, Prince Gluttony emerged from the castle, striding down the steps until he reached the low stage that had been set up. His grin was wolfish, the gleam in his eyes positively wicked. His crown sat askew on his head, further playing into his role of proud rake.

He looked like he’d just rolled from bed, and the crowd couldn’t get enough. They screamed and stomped their feet, shouting his name in a chant that made my teeth clench.

“Gentle demons of the realm, welcome!” His voice boomed above the clamor, silencing the excited cheers. “It’s with great honor that I stand before you, humbled by the overwhelming enthusiasm for my search to find a consort.”

Another loud cheer went up, forcing the prince to pause his speech.

“Without further delay, let’s see who our suitor is, shall we?”

My mouth was suddenly dry as I rolled onto my tiptoes, trying to spot Eden’s blond head in the crowd of hopefuls. There were thousands of entries. Her chance of being picked at random was slim. Yet my heart was pounding hard, and my palms were damp within my gloves.

I couldn’t tell if I’d be happy or horrified if she was chosen.

“For the House Gluttony suitor…” Axton thrust his arm into the urn containing the names, making a grand show of fishing around. “Nobles, hardworking sinners, which will be granted a chance at their own fairy-tale ending?”

I kept my eye roll internal. How very arrogant to declare himself a storybook prince.

The crowd was wild now; the idea of a commoner finding their happily-ever-after with the handsome, devilish prince was the stuff dreams were made of.

My stomach twisted into knots.

He wasn’t going to choose Eden.

I knew it.

With near certainty.

Yet my ragged pulse suggested otherwise.

I suddenly became aware of several sets of eyes turning my way, the columnists all stealing glances in my direction. I commanded myself to breathe. To look as bored as possible, to appear completely unaffected by all the pomp and circumstance taking place on the stage.

An impossible feat when I realized why everyone’s attention had shifted to begin with.

Axton had spotted me in the crowd, his expression thunderous. For one horrifying moment, I thought he’d come storming over and put me over his knee like he’d threatened.

Honestly, given the narrowing of his gaze, he looked like he was contemplating doing just that. An unwelcome heat spread through me. Perhaps I was coming down with a fever.

Instead of slinking away, I offered him a slight incline of my head, refusing to be cowed by his displeasure.

Despite his high-handed banishment earlier, I never would have left my sister to face this crowd alone.

My stepmother shot a look of disapproval my way, her mouth pursed so hard it looked like she’d sucked on a salt-encrusted lemon.

The prince finally wrenched his attention back to the matter at hand, and I loosed the breath I’d been holding. A few more moments and we could all go home.

I kept my attention locked on the stage, watching as he repeated the same dramatic gesture, finally fishing a single piece of paper out of the mass of hopefuls, then raising it up. His expression was impossible to decipher.

He started speaking, but a strange ringing in my ears drowned out his words.

My stepmother pinched my elbow, hard, and everything came rushing back.

“Congratulations, Miss Regina Trombley!”

I sagged with relief. Eden flashed a look over her shoulder, her expression laced with disappointment. She started to make her way toward us, shoulders hunched in defeat.

Sophie practically fumed beside me, but it was of little consequence. I hated that my sister looked so miserable. Eden reached us and took my hand, squeezing it gently. She’d had enough of the crowd. And her dreams had been dashed. Despite my own tumultuous feelings for the prince, I hated that she was deflated.

“Is Miss Trombley here?” Axton asked, his voice carrying across the chatter.

Someone nearby pushed their way to the front, but I couldn’t quite see who it was with so many people packed so tightly together. “Your Highness?”

The crowd began tittering as it parted, granting me a good look at the newcomer.

The person who’d stopped before the stage was no simpering young miss; she was a spinster by choice.

A cold dread swept through me.

“Yes?” Axton asked, all charm.

“Miss Trombley is no longer in the running. She ran off with her beau to the Shifting Isles just last night.”

If he was disappointed, it didn’t show. Axton didn’t miss a beat. “Well, who am I to stand in the way of true love? Congratulations are still in order to Miss Trombley and her chosen one.”

Sophie shoved Eden back toward the area where suitors were supposed to wait. I flashed her a scathing look. Couldn’t she see that her daughter was miserable in such confined quarters?

I was so aggravated I missed the drawing.

“And the suitor is… Miss Eden Everhart!”

The world came crashing to a halt. My sister’s last name was the same as mine: Saint Lucent, not Sophie’s maiden name.

I shot my stepmother a horrified look. “What game are you playing at?”

Sophie simply smiled back. “It’s no secret that the prince despises you. If you’d been able to charm him, we wouldn’t be here now. So why should your sister suffer for your failings? I told you she deserves to be a princess, and now she is one step closer.”

I looked at my stepmother, really took her in. Her confident smile. Her calm demeanor. Eden’s name being chosen wasn’t at all a surprise to her. A dark suspicion took shape.

I leaned in, dropping my voice so no one would overhear. “What did you do?”

“What any other parent would do for their child.” Her tone was injected with venom.

“A spell?”

Sophie’s attention darted around, indicating I was correct.

She’d used magic to secure Eden’s win.

“Smile, darling. The realm will be watching us all. If you ruin this for our family, I vow to make you regret it for the rest of your days.”