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Back Kingdom of the Wicked
Chapters (58)
  1. About the Author
  2. Title Page
  3. Imprint Page
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraph
  6. Map
  7. Contents
  8. Prologue
  9. One
  10. Two
  11. Three
  12. Four
  13. Five
  14. Six
  15. Seven
  16. Eight
  17. Nine
  18. Ten
  19. Eleven
  20. Twelve
  21. Thirteen
  22. Fourteen
  23. Fifteen
  24. Sixteen
  25. Seventeen
  26. Eighteen
  27. Nineteen
  28. Twenty
  29. Twenty-One
  30. Twenty-Two
  31. Twenty-Three
  32. Twenty-Four
  33. Twenty-Five
  34. Twenty-Six
  35. Twenty-Seven
  36. Twenty-Eight
  37. Twenty-Nine
  38. Thirty
  39. Thirty-One
  40. Thirty-Two
  41. Thirty-Three
  42. Thirty-Four
  43. Thirty-Five
  44. Thirty-Six
  45. Thirty-Seven
  46. Thirty-Eight
  47. Thirty-Nine
  48. Forty
  49. Forty-One
  50. Forty-Two
  51. Forty-Three
  52. Forty-Four
  53. Forty-Five
  54. Forty-Six
  55. Forty-Seven
  56. Forty-Eight
  57. Acknowledgments
  58. Endmatter page 1

Wrath no longer looked amused. “Practice reading people, especially when their expressions seem cold or remote. Look for their mouth tightening, their eyes darting away. Any wince or minute sign of their true feelings when you’re asking uncomfortable questions.”

“Any other tips, adaptable one?”

“You live in a realm of free will—accept that and you’ve already defeated your foes. You always have the power of choice, even when those choices seem limited. Never forget that.”

“Oh, really? Always?” My anger flamed. “Did my sister have a choice to live or die? Because I’m pretty sure someone else decided that for her.”

“There are worse fates, witch.”

“Such as?”

“Living in my world.” He turned and headed for the door. “I’ll be back in a little while. If you get bored, check the dresser by your bed.” He paused in the corridor and glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t suggest leaving the palace tonight.”

“Why not?” I called after him.

He didn’t bother answering, he was already gone. I wondered about his clothing, about the way he’d combed his hair. He looked like he wanted to make an impression.

I got up and paced around the room, peered out the window, then plopped back onto the bed. I absently twisted a lock of my hair, thinking about everything he’d said about victors and victims. Then I started thinking about free will and choices. And then I started to get annoyed that he was being a hypocrite by infringing on mine.

I sat for twenty minutes, contemplating why, if I had free will, I was listening to him. I had important things to do and had wasted enough time. I dressed in a simple dark gray sleeveless gown he must have recently acquired, and stole into the quickly falling night.

Thirty-Seven

Thirty-Seven

Candles of Darkness should only be used under the direst of circumstances. Light a navy or deep purple candle, sprinkle a handful of niter powder around its base, and call forth evil from the farthest reaches of the north and south.

—Notes from the di Carlo grimoire

Moonlight spilled like silver blood across the rooftops, and dribbled onto the streets. It was still early enough that quite a few people were out. Some carried packages from the market, others hurried along, looking tired and worn from a hard day’s work.

Thanks to the recharging nature of the elemental bath I wasn’t tired or drained anymore, but the last several weeks had taken their toll. When I’d stuck orange blossoms in my hair before leaving, I noticed the sharpness of my gaze, and the gleam of suspicion that hadn’t been present before. I was still the same Emilia, just a bit more cautious and on edge. I thought back to my sister’s final weeks and wondered how, if she’d encountered any of the princes of Hell, she’d hidden it from us.