Throne of Secrets (Prince of Sin #2)

Twenty-Seven Prince Gluttony

M Y PULSE THRASHED aggressively as victory came within reach.

I kept my posture casual, unwilling to spook my quarry into bolting.

Anything could go wrong in these last moments. I needed to proceed with extreme caution like I would when battling the best apex predators.

Adriana was clever, her look guarded as she weighed her options, signaling that she suspected a trap and was testing to see where it lay.

Adriana.

It had taken every ounce of my willpower to keep any surprise from showing when I realized I had been correct: my rival was my paramour.

I couldn’t say I was disappointed by the discovery.

The moment she stepped onto the roof wearing the cloak I’d had made specifically for her, an odd sense of warmth spread through me. It hadn’t dissipated yet. If anything, it grew stronger. I shouldn’t feel relief, but I’d be lying if I claimed otherwise.

Adriana had gotten under my skin for years; it seemed only right that she’d finally burrowed deep inside and made me feel desire so strongly again. Hate and love were so closely bound—we were fools to think we could ignore whatever this was forever.

It was clear that she didn’t trust me. And she shouldn’t. I was up to very wicked things.

“It will also break the club’s glamour for us,” I added, sensing she was just as curious about my identity. “No more hiding behind magic or masks. If we enter into the bond, we won’t have any secrets from each other.”

Her brows rose fractionally. “No secrets? I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

“Secrets only in the sense of who we are. I won’t suddenly be privy to your darkest desires. Unless you’d like to share them…”

Her smile was back in force, lighting up her whole face.

She liked when I flirted shamelessly. How ironic since that was the one quality that she took me to task for in the papers.

My rival was full of delicious surprises.

I could only hope she liked them just as much as I did; she was certainly about to have quite a shocking discovery.

“All right,” she said at last. “Let’s swear a blood oath.”

“You’re certain?” I asked, watching for any hint or sign that she was opposed to the arrangement and not admitting to it. She nodded, but I couldn’t read if there was a lie based on physical motion. “I’d prefer if you consented aloud.”

“A true gentleman,” she teased. “I consent to the blood oath.”

Thank the wicked gods for that.

I pulled a pin from inside my suit, and Adriana raised her brows, clearly wondering at my preparation for the evening. I pricked my finger before handing her the pin to do the same.

She punctured the tip of her finger then held it to mine.

“By blood and by choice, I bind thee to me, for six weeks hence. My wants are your wants, my desires, your desires. I will not act against your best interests, and you won’t act against mine. In this, we are united. Bound by honor, or death do us part.”

She repeated the words, and when she finished, I felt the magic sizzle between us as the binding snapped into place, tethering us.

Adriana swore and staggered back a step, one hand pressed against her chest as if she’d physically felt the blow.

I reached out to steady her, fingers brushing against her bare skin.

A spark ignited between us in a blaze, setting off a chain of emotions that had me gasping for breath.

And then, all the tension, all the temptation, detonated as if it had been held back for years instead of days and had finally been set free.

I took one look at her, at the ravenous hunger in her gaze as she dragged it over me and came completely undone.