Throne of Secrets (Prince of Sin, #2)

by Kerri Maniscalco

“You got hurt because you’re not operating at full power when you’re too far away from her.” I set my jaw. There had been some… discomfort. I’d expected to feel some slight pain but was surprised when it was much stronger than anticipated.

In some strange twist of magic, I was in his head, seeing through his eyes. His mind. Red tinged everything and as I stared at myself through his eyes, feeling off-kilter and disoriented, I was suddenly in a memory. At first all I saw was a shadowy figure. Then the color blue.

I was about to wrench myself out of his head when the shadowy face finally came into focus. Everything in me stilled. Adriana. Silvanus was fixated on her as if under some primal command to seek and destroy. Suddenly, he ducked his head and charged, ripping me from his mind.

“Well,” I said to it. “Your name is Vexus. You little vexing troublemaker.” He bleated excitedly from his grand adventure, the heathen. He belonged to House Gluttony through and through.

He had no right to look the way he did—like the universe’s most tempting mistake. He was all harsh lines and hard angles except for his cursed mouth; that was all curved, soft wickedness. And he certainly knew how to use it.

The look you gave me—it was like I’d drowned your pet.” His voice turned soft, quiet. “You hated me then, before I even had a chance to win you over. So yes, Adriana, I think we need to discuss that night.

This version of Axton was truly dangerous. He was the sort of prince people dreamed of. Dark, charming, completely infatuated. Someone worth falling for.

I froze. It was nothing more than a low whisper, but I recognized that voice immediately.

what if Gluttony's curse is that there are two of him??

A pattern started to emerge. Seven items. Some of which I knew represented hexed objects. I read the list over, mind churning.

as I believe mine. Either we both forgot, or one of us is lying. You didn’t detect deception from me, and unless you’ve figured out how to lie, you cannot tell me something that isn’t true.”

The Hexed Quill

“Another indication the quill was used,” Envy said. “It seems like your relationship might have been the target.”

I think it is the stepmother!

“I have hungered for you in ways you cannot comprehend. I’ve craved you. More than my sin. You haunt me, Adriana.” I nearly shook from the confession. “My dreams are the only time I get to worship you. Do you have any idea how many careful lies of omission I’ve told over the years? The role I’ve played this last decade. All to hide the truth of how deeply, wholly lost I am to you?

“The truth is, sweet nemesis”—I lowered my mouth to her ear—“I have not fucked a soul since the All-Sinners Ball. But I have made love to you a thousand times in my dreams. And I have never once yearned for anyone else to visit my bed.”

Traitorous knees. They clearly couldn’t be bothered by our years of friction with the prince.

She’d worn a ridiculous feather in her hair that night. A feather I’d recently seen with my father’s ledger. Ryleigh had tucked it back into the little book the day she was in our home collecting recipes.

“Eden. What have you done?”

okay I didn't see that coming

Heroes were gods-damned idiots. But I felt strangely at peace.

I loved you when I didn’t like you. I loved you when you bested me. And when I bested you.

You’re finally using that upper head; the pack wasn’t sure it worked.