Throne of Secrets (Prince of Sin #2)

Twenty-Two Adriana

O UR RENTED CARRIAGE clattered over the cobbled streets, the coach jostling so hard my teeth clicked together and my backside bounced several inches off the bench seat.

My stepmother sat as primly as a queen, pretending the carriage was as fine as anything, even as her heeled shoe stuck out noticeably from her gown, planted firmly to keep her from catapulting across the coach.

After she’d laid into me for the better part of an hour for comparing the prince to intestinal issues in my latest column, she’d been doing her best to ignore me.

My sister had been more amused, biting her lip to stifle her laughter. At least someone appreciated my hard work. If one looked past the references to troubled orifices and royal commodes, it was sound romantic advice.

Eden fussed with her new gloves, tugging the lace gently at the wrists. “What do you think the competition will be like?”

Her attention shifted to me, her expression torn between hopefulness and worry.

I lifted a shoulder. “I really haven’t heard any rumors. I imagine it will be extravagant and excessive, given the prince’s sin.”

It was the nicest thing I could say and hopefully it would be enough to quiet her unease.

Eden nodded, seeming only partly mollified. “I wonder what the other suitors are like.”

Sophie waved her hand dismissively. “Don’t expend your energy on them. Focus on how to please the prince.”

My attention shifted to the window. The tall fence surrounding the edge of House Gluttony came into view; soon we’d arrive at our destination.

A large shadow passed over our carriage, drawing my attention upward. “Did you see that?”

Sophie and Eden shook their heads.

“What did you see?” Eden asked. “A dragon?”

She sounded far too excited by the prospect of that. As if they weren’t meant to be feared.

“Why on earth would you think it was a dragon?” I asked instead, wondering if gossip had spread beyond the shadow network and I’d somehow missed it.

Eden gave me a look that indicated I was rather dull. “Because the prince adores them? It would be quite a thrill to see one flying over his castle as we arrive.”

My sister had me there. It would be keeping in line with Gluttony’s flare for the dramatic.

I pressed myself against the window, trying to peer up. There was a slight overhang above the window, blocking my view of the sky.

“It was probably just a cloud,” Sophie said, rolling her eyes. “You always were too fanciful. Stop finding mysteries that don’t exist.”

I hadn’t been the one to suggest it was an ice dragon. Instead of arguing, I spent the remainder of the ride watching for another sign that something was amiss in the sky, but the shadow never returned. And we’d ground to a sudden halt.

We had arrived at House Gluttony.

“Remember,” Sophie said sternly, glancing between me and Eden, “there’s a throne at stake. Behave accordingly. Both of you.”

A footman dressed in House Gluttony’s blue-and-silver livery helped us down, then set about retrieving our trunks. The modiste had worked overtime and finished all our new clothes; it was incredible what the prince could achieve when he tossed enough coins someone’s way.

Eden and I fell into line behind Sophie as she made her way up the castle’s wide stone stairs, head thrown back in a show of high-born arrogance I’d never wish to emulate.

“Good afternoon, Miss Everhart. Mrs. Everhart and Miss—” The butler’s eyes widened a fraction. I’d attended events here for years, so we were well acquainted. “Miss Saint Lucent. What a surprise.”

If Jarvis wished to ask about my connection to one of the suitors, he was too well trained to do so. His smile never faltered as he ushered us into the foyer.

“Your private chambers are located in the south wing. If you’ll follow me this way, I’ll take you there now.”

My attention swept across the foyer, noting immediately that a table Axton typically stationed there—where guests feasted on one another and engaged in all manner of sinful tableaus—was now gone, replaced by a giant crystal vase filled with flowers.

I’d been distracted by the prim setting and cursed when I noticed my sister and stepmother were already ascending the gilded stairs at the far edge of the chamber.

Not wanting to cause a scene already, I grabbed my skirts and hurried along, hoping to catch up to them without anyone realizing I’d been gone.

What I didn’t expect was the door to my right to open so suddenly, or for the prince to come striding out so fast. We collided in the most catastrophic manner.

I bounced off his hard chest, falling backward, and the damned prince tumbled with me, hoisting me up at the last moment so my fall was broken by his body.

I lay there for a second, trying to recall if I’d pissed off any of the old gods in my articles to receive this level of punishment. Alas, it was simply poor luck and terrible timing.

I shoved myself to a sitting position, my palms unintentionally sliding along the defined ridges of his abdomen, and I couldn’t help but notice the muscles flexing under my touch.

I wondered if it was possible for the earth to open and swallow me whole. Anything would be better than facing Axton in such an undignified manner. I’d practically petted him.

I went to stand, but his hands shot up and gripped my hips, forcing me to remain where I was.

I glared down at him.

“I beg your pardon, Your Highness. You’re causing a scene.”

Challenge entered his expression. “I can think of more efficient ways to cause a scandal.”

Before I could ask what sort of illicit substance he’d been sniffing, he subtly ground his hips upward, his grip on me unyielding. If he’d been trying to stun me into silence, it worked.

I realized at once what the issue was. He wasn’t keeping me there to make a scene; he held me there to avoid one. My mouth snapped shut.

We were in a precarious position for more than one reason, but the only one that concerned me was how my sister would feel if she knew the prince she spoke so highly of was hard as granite beneath me. I knew he couldn’t change his rakish ways overnight.

Instead of drawing attention to his situation, I held his stare, giving him a silent vow that I’d keep this between us, a temporary truce in our war. But it would cost him.

A tense moment passed before he spoke.

“Why in the seven hells are you here, Miss Saint Lucent?”

I gave him a prim look. “If you’ll unhand me, I’ll happily tell you.”

A dark gleam entered his gaze. “I find you’re much more agreeable like this.”

By this point, we’d drawn the attention of my stepmother, my sister, the butler, and at least one other courtier who’d been coming down the stairs.

They all stood frozen, as if a spell had been cast and they couldn’t move. I understood why. I was straddling the prince in the middle of his foyer, his hands bunched in my skirts.

From their vantage point it probably appeared as if we were in the throes of passion.

But up close, the tightness of his jaw indicated he was furious. He was likely holding on to give his hands something to do aside from strangle me.

As far as entrances went, this was a disaster for my sister. At least the stiffness in his trousers had diminished. Gods only knew what that had been about. He certainly didn’t harbor any affection for me. Perhaps he’d been locked in an office, stroking himself to his one act of cleverness like I’d imagined weeks before. The thought almost made me smile.

“My sister is Eden Everhart. One of your suitors. Now let me up, you heathen.”

He released me as if he’d been burned.

I’d just managed to get to my feet, smoothing down my skirts, when his large hand wrapped around my arm.

He flashed a boyish grin at our audience, earning blushes from almost everyone.

“If you’ll excuse us for one moment. Jarvis, please see Miss Everhart and her mother to their suite. Miss Saint Lucent will be there shortly.”

The prince didn’t give anyone an opportunity to respond.

I shot Eden an apologetic look and caught her hiding a grin behind a gloved hand before I was whisked in the opposite direction. In mere seconds Axton had us in his private study, the door slamming shut to drive home that this wasn’t to be a pleasant chat.

I kept my jaw locked, unwilling to say a word. It would only make this much worse.

He jerked his chin toward a high-backed chair. “Sit.”

“Shall I heel next?”

I clapped a hand over my mouth. But it was too late. I’d unleashed the demon. Axton advanced on me, his expression impossible to read as he raked his gaze over me.

“ Don’t tempt me. I would do unspeakable things for you to obey my every command.”

As a Prince of Sin, he had the ability to influence someone’s behavior if he wanted to. I’d never known him to use that power, but the intensity flashing in his face made me reconsider how serious he was.

I backed up quickly, dropping into the aforementioned seat.

He followed me down, planting his arms on either side of the chair. He was close enough now for me to see the ring of green in his golden-brown eyes.

I wet my lips, my mouth suddenly bone-dry.

His pupils dilated as he tracked the action, a hunter forever stalking his prey. He leaned in, and for a horrifying moment, I thought he was going to kiss me.

I swallowed thickly, forcing my breathing to remain steady, commanding my pulse not to race.

Axton was too skilled to not read the traitorous signals. His attention swept over me, cataloguing every action, his face inching closer as if he craved a taste of my lips, even knowing the price of that particular indulgence. He moved until his breath mingled with mine.

“What part of stay clear of me is difficult to understand, Miss Saint Lucent?”

Whatever madness had fallen over me vanished.

I set my jaw, remembering that he was the bane of my existence. Whatever had happened in that foyer was the result of the tumble temporarily knocking our common sense away.

“I would love nothing more than to do just that.” I glared right back at him. “Since you chose my sister, I find my options limited.”

“Who put her cursed name into the drawing?”

He’d stoked my ire with that.

I poked him hard in the chest, hiding my wince. I might as well have struck an iron statue. He grinned down at me.

“Do not speak of my family in such a manner.”

“I’m trying to sort out if this is some devious plan hatched on your part to infiltrate the castle and spy. I assure you I have nothing but the utmost sympathy for your family.”

The devious plan to infiltrate his castle and spy had happened after she was chosen. That was exactly the sort of incriminating information he’d love for me to share.

I glanced down, noting his favorite bits were in the perfect location should my knee suddenly jerk upward. Muscles did spasm on occasion. I had just cause, surely, to get away with it if mine happened to jolt into him.

He leaned closer, his gaze full of challenge.

“Do it and I promise you’ll be over my knee, Miss Saint Lucent. Though that didn’t feel like such a deterrent to you yesterday, did it?”

I balled my hands into fists, ignoring that taunt and the ember of heat that sparked low in my belly. “Do not punish my sister for wanting me here to support her.”

At the reminder of his hunt to find a wife, he finally straightened, but he didn’t step back.

“If you cause any trouble for me, I’ll disqualify your sister from the competition. Have I made myself perfectly clear?”

I nodded. “I don’t plan on being here much during the day, nor at night if I can help it. I have work to do.”

“Good.” He stepped back. “The less I see you, the better.”