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“Some is Onyx’s,” Envy said. “The rest is from his guards.”
Her gaze sharpened on him. “My brother?”
“Yes.”
“You killed him? Are you mad?” she hissed. She looked around, as if searching for any spies. “You probably just started a war.”
He gave her an amused look that seemed to rankle her more.
“Whose side will you choose, pet?”
She glared at him, notching her chin up.
Envy wasn’t sure how he’d ever mistaken her for anything but royal.
“My own.”
Devil, grant me sin. That tone, that haughty, defiant look.
He was inconveniently aroused.
“Your brother isn’t dead. He’s… caged.”
Envy’s smile was all teeth as he thought of Onyx. He’d thrown the scheming Unseelie Prince into the birdcage Le
Onyx would have a good long while to reflect on his sins.
“I spelled the bars, trapping him for eternity. Unless of course your other brother decides to grant him a pardon. Though I wouldn’t count on that. Ayden will make a fine king. He seemed to have everything under control. Your doing, I imagine.”
“I helped, yes.” A tiny crease formed between her brows. “Why did you strike at Onyx?”
Without thinking, he reached over to smooth the crease away.
She flinched, and he dropped his hand.
“He plotted to kill you. My spies reported back.”
If she was surprised by this revelation, she didn’t appear so. If anything, she seemed to exhale relief. She’d known it was only a matter of time before her older brother or sister made a move.
“My mother will hear of this and fight—”
“Your mother hasn’t been seen at court since she left you.” Envy hesitated. “My spies have been looking for her for years. No one knows where she went.”
Several emotions flickered across Camilla’s face before she schooled her features into forced indifference. He understood how complicated their relationship must be. Understood that it wasn’t easy to walk away from the ones who’d hurt us the most.
“She’s been traveling. But she will eventually hear of this and return. This court means everything to her.”
Envy wouldn’t mind if the queen burned in the deepest, hottest pit of sorrow he could find, but he hated the worry in Camilla’s voice.
“Don’t,” he warned quietly. “Don’t romanticize her. For all we know, she is playing another game and couldn’t be bothered.”
He glanced around the suite. He could feel more and more of his court being restored and needed to get back.
“Do you want to take anything from here?”
“What?”
He knew she’d heard him. He also knew she was trying to figure out his plan.
Envy kept his smile to himself, walking around the room. He fingered some of the clothing. It was pretty. His tailors were better.
“If there’s anything of sentimental value, grab it now.”
If he listened quietly, he was almost certain he could hear her heart pounding.
He pivoted and stood before her, holding out his hand. She looked at it like it was a snake ready to strike.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Grabbing what has sentimental value to me.”
He took her hand, braided their fingers together.
She didn’t remove it.
“We’re leaving. Unless you wish to stay here.”
Her thumb stroked his, hesitating.
His heart raced.
A small eternity passed.
“Your rule…”
“Fuck the rules,” he growled. “You’re mine.”
Her excitement hit him a second before her desire did.
Thank fuck. In all the stories, the damsel didn’t get aroused by the villain threatening to steal her away.
But this was their twisted fairy tale.
“You can come back, of course, as you need,” he said more softly.
Camilla gave a small nod. “This has never been my true home anyway. But wait—I can’t leave without Kitty and Bu
A few moments later, after being ushered back in, Kitty promised to travel to House Envy on her own. She had family in the Wild Court she hadn’t seen in years. Wolf gave Envy a hard look but hugged Camilla close. Promising he’d also visit soon.
Bu
Envy dragged Camilla and her lion closer, wrapped his other arm around her waist, then magicked them all to his House of Sin.
SIXTY-NINE
WHAT DID I tell you?” Gluttony gri
“You don’t know that for a fact,” Lust shot back sourly.
“The invitations said, and I quote, ‘We would be honored to celebrate our betrothal with you,’” Gluttony said in falsetto. “Facts are facts, brother. You lost. Again.”
Envy ignored the petty argument, his attention straying to the silver-haired beauty holding court with the Queen of the Wicked Emilia, her friend Lady Fauna, Lady Katherine, and—much to his constant a
Though Envy supposed it was beneficial to his court to have him around; Camilla gently but playfully provoked his sin just to get a rise out of him.
And rise he did. Camilla’s passion ignited his constantly.
They’d barely slept since they returned to his House of Sin. Once the last of his court had drunk from the chalice, chasing off the madness of no new memories, they’d focused on one another. Healing old hurts, forging a bond stronger than steel.
He was relieved to show her how spectacular his demons were. And spectacular they were tonight. They wore their best gowns and suits, their finest jewels. Their eyes as clear and cu
Envy had never been happier, seeing his court as it should be.
And Camilla… she was worth facing his fears.
Envy had never imagined the strength he’d feel the moment he became vulnerable.
His Unseelie princess had been a tireless lover, demanding he make love to her in every room, every floor of his sprawling House of Sin.
Harder, faster, gentler, deeper. Camilla loved ordering him around.
And Envy must be mad, because it made him hard as steel every time.
But he could only take orders for so long.
He’d push her down, spread her thighs wide, devouring her in the kitchens, on the dining room table, in their bedchamber, in the gallery. She’d arch up from the table, shouting his name, cursing him, praising him, bucking as he suckled every bit of her arousal, then flipped her over and fucked her until she came again. And again.
His court would hurry by, averting their gazes, though he knew they secretly adored Envy’s infatuation. They wanted their prince as happy as possible, wanted him to enjoy all he’d fought for. And Camilla enjoyed stoking envy in everyone who knew she was the one to make him break his rule.
They’d made love on the throne every night: fingers, tongue, cock. And he wanted more. Forever. And since she wasn’t human, they had all that time and more.
For the first time in his long existence, he wanted to experience everything with another.
More laughter, more quiet moments, more midnight snacks, strawberries dipped in chocolate, the two of them sprawled in front of the fire, talking of art.
More games and bringing out each other’s human aspects that hadn’t existed before.
More walking the hallways of House Envy, rearranging paintings and sculptures based on what she preferred. When they could manage not to tear each other’s clothes off, they moved some of her art from Waverly Green, combining their collections.