“Here’s a little lesson since you seem to be woefully uneducated, witch. Summoning does not equal owning. Containment isn’t forever.”

He moved near enough that I either had to remain and feel the heat of his body, or shift away to hold his gaze. It took a moment for me to yield a step, but I finally did.

I couldn’t believe he wanted to argue over clothing while I was reeling over my personal ghost from Hell. If it was even real and not some sinister creation my mind conjured to haunt me.

“I can and will deny you whenever I choose,” he said, his voice now dangerously low. “Do not ever make the mistake of thinking you wield any power over me other than the spell that contains me here. And even that won’t last.”

He took a deep breath, like he was enjoying the anger emanating from me. I thought about punching him again, but refrained. “You can’t break the spell without me, demon.”

“Maybe not. But containment spells—like summoning spells—last three days. After that, I’m free to leave this circle and do as I please.” He finally stepped back and leaned against the cavern wall, watching me digest the information. “Have you come to verbally spar all night, or have you changed your mind about the blood bond?”

“Neither. I’ve come to interrogate you about witch hunters.” His sudden laughter startled me. I recovered quickly and crossed my arms. “Why is that funny?”

“Information is currency where I’m from. No one expects to get something for free. If you walked into any of the royal houses and demanded information, they’d skin you alive.”

I hoped he couldn’t hear the pounding of my heart as I let that visual take shape.

“Agreeing to a blood trade doesn’t count as payment?” I asked. He straightened up and immediately lost the grin. That got his princely attention. “I believe in making informed decisions. Therefore, I request an exchange of some basic information. Surely that won’t be too much for you to agree to.”

He inspected me the way someone might look at a cat if it suddenly started ordering the servants around. “Very well. I will indulge you by answering some questions. Choose wisely.”

“Have you heard of any humans who have banded together to hunt witches?”

He shook his head. “Not at this time. Though history has shown them to be active, so I’m sure they exist.”

“Which of your brothers bargained with my sister?”

“Pride.”

I closed my mouth. In human religion the devil was often associated with that particular sin. Last night Wrath only told me my sister had made a deal with his brother; he hadn’t mentioned the actual devil. Which meant . . .

A memory sprang to the forefront of my mind. The night before Vittoria was murdered, I’d demanded to know what she’d been doing at the monastery.