Chapters (58)
- About the Author
- Title Page
- Imprint Page
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Map
- Contents
- Prologue
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Acknowledgments
- Endmatter page 1
My heart pounded. “I haven’t received a crown yet.”
“Oh, but you will.” From thin air, he yanked out a dagger with a roaring lion’s head and aimed it at his/Antonio’s heart. “I’ve heard of the vengeance you seek. Accept this human sacrifice as a gift from House Pride, your highness.”
“No!”
The singular word came out in a strange multi-tonal voice that was at once mine, and completely foreign. The blade hovered against Antonio’s skin, but didn’t pierce it.
I drew in a shaky breath. “I will meet you, or your representative, in an hour in the cavern where I first summoned Wrath. I have something I need to do before I give my final answer.”
The devil’s focus shifted to mine. “Done.”
“Somnus,” I whispered, putting Antonio’s body in an enchanted sleep. If anyone exacted revenge on him, it would be my hand that dealt his punishment.
Heart hammering, I glanced toward the first book of spells. I’d wanted a few minutes to read over it, and glean any last-minute magic before hiding it from the Wicked, but it was gone.
No matter. I’d make do in other ways. Without a backward glance, I left the chamber wearing the devil’s horns and my sinister new dress, feeling my pulse quicken with each step. Before the night was through, I’d strike a deal with Pride that would hopefully be his realm’s undoing.
I silently vowed to my sister I wouldn’t rest until all those responsible for her death met their end.
Forty-Eight
Forty-Eight
The devil didn’t arrive on the back of a fire-breathing steed, or in the midst of a violent storm. In fact, it wasn’t the king of demons who came for me at all.
Wrath stepped into the flickering light, looking ice-cold and dangerous. I unconsciously moved toward him, then froze. A low growl swept through the cave. It didn’t come from him, but some animal hidden deep within the shadows. A warning from a goddess, no doubt.
Something was very wrong . . .
I inspected Wrath from a safe distance. There wasn’t anything familiar about this demon. This creature left little doubt as to where he ruled. He was the most wicked of the Malvagi.
A traitorous part of me was relieved he was alive. Even though I knew he was immortal, I hadn’t fully believed he’d lived through Envy’s brutal attack. Another, wiser part of me reeled with denial that he was the one who’d come to collect my soul. Betrayal burned inside me.
I don’t know why I expected anything else from a despicable prince of Hell.