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Gentlemen of vice are especially nice, since their filthy tales contain an abundance of spice.
As mortal poets and playwrights have said: all is fair in love and war. May the old gods have mercy on the Prince of Gluttony. A storm named Adriana is coming and she is merciless. At least where he is concerned.
Since my circle’s sin was gluttony, most outside the Underworld believed that meant overindulging in food and drink. We did that too, along with fucking and fighting, but most of my sinners took after me—preferring to overindulge in adventure and danger.
It was Silvanus, a dragon I’d sparred with for nearly a century and one I’d hand-raised from a hatchling. That bond meant little on the battlefield, though.
Silvanus had the temperament of an ornery house cat. Which meant he was similar to my brother Sloth; he only sparred when the mood struck and couldn’t be bothered otherwise.
My brother shot me a furious look, his expression telling me all I needed to know as the light slowly faded from his eyes. I nodded at him, signaling I understood. I was ready. I gripped my dagger, waiting. The second my brother fell, chaos erupted. As if some invisible tether snapped, the dragons all turned on us as one. And attacked.
Interesting
Be agreeable, pleasant, and beautiful, even if it drains the life from you.
If someone didn’t try to seduce my brain, they didn’t make it to my bedchamber.
“Nothing that will help tear down Axton or prove the ice dragons are a threat.” “It’s Axton today, is it?” Ryleigh said playfully. “Prince Gluttony would be flattered you’re finally using that moniker.” Gabriel blasted Axton, Prince of Sin.
If I closed my eyes, I could easily fall back into my dream. Nightmare, I reminded myself. It was clearly a nightmare. One that started the moment I walked in and saw her at the ball, her gaze locking onto me like I was the scourge of the realm and she wanted nothing more than to rid our world of me.
I grabbed my shirt from the chair I’d tossed it on, stepped into my boots, then flashed Cassie/Callie a wicked grin. “A pleasure, as always.” There was only a slight furrow between her brows. One I doubted even Val picked up on. I swept from the room before she could reveal one of my most closely guarded secrets. I had a reputation to uphold, and if she blurted out the truth, everything I’d cultivated over the last few years would be ruined.
I knew it!!!!!!
“What happens in Merciless Reach is supposed to remain there,” I said, voice pitched low. “How did that topic come about?” “I can’t recall.” Crimson spread across his face. “But I do remember her bottom is firm.” Maybe he wasn’t as astute as I thought. “You groped her?” He swallowed audibly. “We were dancing…” “And? She suddenly asked you to grab her right there in the ballroom?” “Not exactly, Your Highness.”
“Need I remind you that the royal hunting guild is a direct reflection of me? Never touch Miss Saint Lucent or any assignment again. As a matter of fact, never touch anyone without their permission again. Or I will be the one talking about steaming innards. And I promise I will do much more than simply talk about them, initiate hunter. Understood?” “It won’t happen again, Your Highness.”
Prince Gluttony had divested me of any daydreams I might have secretly had nearly ten years prior, when I was just nineteen and only partly cynical. Not that he knew or cared. His prospects were unending, his immortal life charmed.
Gabriel Axton didn’t even have the decency to recall the role he’d played in my fall from grace all those years ago. But I would never forget.
“You’re clearly jealous, Miss Saint Lucent. If you’d like to visit my bed, say the word. I’d hate to leave you in such a distressed state when I can indulge your obvious desire.”
YOU’RE EITHER GOING to have the most intense hate sex in the history of the realm,” the Prince of Lust drawled from the seat across from me, “or—” “She’s going to castrate him,” Prince Envy said, swirling his signature cocktail, a Dark and Sinful, his expression one of mock contemplation as he sipped his blackberries and bourbon.
When I arrived at the Ox & Raven tonight, Envy and Lust were already waiting. I could have declared war on their circles since they’d showed up in my territory unannounced and it was technically an act of war, but I hadn’t seen them since Envy’s betrothal ball last month, and I enjoyed their banter. The lovable pricks.
“Seeing Miss Saint Lucent on her knees, with all that hate glittering in her eyes as she begs…” I sighed. “Nothing will feel quite as good, I promise you that.” “Except if she was on her knees under much different circumstances and you were the one begging,” Lust joked. “Contrary to your misplaced belief that ‘hate sex is best,’ dear brother, I wouldn’t let her near my cock.” “She’d definitely bite it off.”
Hehehe
“I’m only reasonable during the day so I can indulge in the proper amount of debauchery at night. Just as you should do.”
“But what if I fall? What if I stumble?” “Start asking better questions, my dove. What if you soar? What if you race the stars themselves?”
Failure just means you’re trying and there’s no shame in that. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are. Believe in yourself. It’s your life and you’ve got to live how you see fit. To hells with everything else.
Miss Saint Lucent hadn’t arrived. A fact that wasn’t surprising, considering she no longer reported on gossip. Still, my attention seemed to wander to the door more than I cared for.
A second lover, Rosaline sank to her knees, running her nails up the front of my legs. It felt good but I remained unaroused. If I closed my eyes, though, if I allowed my mind to drift to forbidden thoughts and desires, I could remedy
“Forgive me, sir. But if your tongue is this bland during a simple conversation, I can only imagine other areas where it would be equally disappointing.” His mouth dropped open.
I could flirt when pressed to. Or maybe I simply liked flirting with this stranger who had a deep, alluring laugh.
“Perhaps that would be true if two patrons didn’t just accost me downstairs. I assure you, it wasn’t love that fueled them to pursue me.” He froze. “You were harmed?” “Not at all.” I waved off his concern. But when he didn’t seem content to let it go, I added, “It really was nothing. Just two males who didn’t have decent manners. That’s all. I’d rather not think about them now.” He was quiet for a moment. “I would hate to leave you alone on the roof, but eviscerating anyone breaking the club rules would be a worthy task. How do you feel about blood?” I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “How
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I couldn’t tell for certain because of the glamour, but I’d swear he seemed utterly shocked by his response.
“I’m no highborn lady, though.” “Perhaps not in title. But tonight, you’re mine.”
The masked stranger took a step back. And part of me regretted breaking our kiss early. It felt like I’d lost something special before I’d realized its value.
He hesitated, then came forward again, pressing something cold into my palm. I glanced down at a key in the shape of a seven, my pulse fluttering madly. “Come back tomorrow at midnight,” he said. “I’ll be waiting for you here. Just to talk, if that’s all you desire. And if you’d prefer to just escape and find someone else, that’s fine too.”
That kiss… It awakened something in me, something long dormant.
I thought she was the most beautiful, wickedly smart demon I’d ever had the good fortune to meet. I’d started dreaming up ways to impress her, to make her crave me the way I’d suddenly craved none but her. Then she’d opened her cursed mouth to let me know exactly what she thought of me, and whatever fantasy I’d had of her was promptly slain.
Color rose in her cheeks, the blush pleasant against her pale skin. My traitorous cock took notice, unperturbed by her hatred. An image of her tied to my bedposts, flushed from more interesting activities as she writhed against my silken sheets, crossed my mind. I needed an ice bath and a mental examination. Immediately.
“I didn’t think you’d come.” “A proper gentleman ensures a lady always comes first.” My lips curved. Clever, ridiculous male. “That line is old and tired.” “Thankfully I am not.”
“Tonight, I’d like to be in total control. Do you take issue with that?” Under any other circumstance, I’d take great issue with it. But his thumb slowly stroked along my pulse point, his touch as far from sin as it could be, yet I already desired more. I shook my head. “No, I don’t take issue with that.” He leaned close, brushing his lips across mine. A bolt of heat traveled through me at the brief contact, my eyes fluttering shut. It was so light, teasing. I immediately wanted more. He moved that tempting mouth to my ear, his voice a low whisper filled with sinful intent. “Bend over the
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The glamour made it impossible to tell from her voice or physical appearance, but I needed to know who she was—the only one in years who’d reminded me my sin hungered for more than adventure. A small suspicion crept in, but I kept dismissing it.
There had only been one other time I’d been initially consumed by a potential lover. Her crystal blue eyes had been bottomless pools I’d wanted to dive into. They’d turned to ice when she’d noticed my attention, and I realized then and there I’d never survive the plunge. That realization hadn’t stopped me from dreaming, though.
It took a moment to spot the scar carving a swath along his chest. Silvanus. My breath lodged in my throat. Whatever looked out from Sil’s eyes wasn’t familiar. Hatred and madness burned bright. His gaze narrowed on me, nostrils flaring. No hint of recognition flickered in his eyes. Only a ravenous fury, aimed directly at me. I mourned my old friend, the little hatchling who growled even when nudging his head against me, quietly asking to be petted.
Envy wiped his dagger across his trousers, then sheathed it. “How, exactly, are we going to sneak an injured thirteen-thousand-pound ice dragon through your circle?” “Clean him up, put a party hat on him, and tell anyone who asks that he downed a field of demonberries?” Lust offered. Wrath shot him an annoyed look.
Unconditional love made warriors of us all. It gave you strength to carry on, to show up for the one you lost. It set your own emotions aside.
Dearest, insufferable Miss Saint Lucent, Consider the gown a gift to those who’d otherwise suffer your stench with the spilled oil. It’s most certainly not an apology for ruining your parchment. Or your day. His most charming royal highness, unrepentant rake and rogue, who I assure you has no issue with staying scandalous, Gabriel Axton, Prince Gluttony
I’d never fallen victim to my brother’s sin of choice before, but in that moment, I envied her fingers.
Although, there was one more avenue I could explore sooner: the Seven Sins club. It certainly had everything to do with unearthing any new leads on the rumored dragon attacks, and nothing at all to do with the stranger who haunted my dreams. A troubling suspicion was taking shape, one I needed to resolve soon.
I opened the next letter. Someone wanted to know if hate sex was as wondrous as others often claimed and would I mind terribly sharing what I knew of Prince Gluttony’s wicked tongue.
“There is nothing that male could ever do to change my opinion of him. He is still the same selfish, spoiled rake he’s always been. I cannot wait for him to find a wife to torment. Hopefully she’ll be as disloyal and petty as he is, and they’ll live a long, wretched life of misery together with incredibly dull and boring sex.” I regretted the harshness of my words the second they left my lips. Ryleigh swallowed hard, her attention fixed to some point behind me. I inwardly groaned. I must be cursed by some wicked fan of Axton’s. Magic had to be involved with his uncanny ability to sneak up on
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“Someone ought to place a damned bell on you.”
“You wrote that asinine column about us, correct?” Ryleigh’s eyes widened as she nodded. Axton scoffed, his attention once again landing on me. “Such loyal, unselfish friends you have, Miss Saint Lucent. Using you for their own gain.” I flinched. His barb landed because it had felt like that. “She didn’t—” “She did, actually.”
As a Prince of Sin, Axton could sense desire. And he’d certainly noticed, given the sudden intensity of his expression. He dragged his attention over me, his eyes blazing with some emotion I couldn’t quite identify. For a moment, it felt like he’d burned away every layer of my defenses and saw every secret desire I’d ever had. In the next instant, his expression shuttered. “Are you fevered?” he demanded. “No.” “Chilled?” “No. Why?” “You clearly must be ill if you’re—” He abruptly shut his mouth, adopting that roguish grin he wore so well. “I don’t wish to catch whatever malady you’re suffering
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“The only female in the entire realm who’d be miserable as my wife is you. Isn’t it fortuitous that you and I will never happen?” I flinched. If he’d stabbed me with his House dagger it might have hurt less. Once upon a time, I’d thought he would be perfect for me. Because he’d made me believe in his brand of fairy tale, right before I discovered he was the villain the stories warned us about.
