Kingdom of the Wicked (Kingdom of the Wicked, #1)

by Kerri Maniscalco

Sleeveless bodice or not, I didn’t appreciate the liberty he’d taken with touching my skin.

Antonio reached over and tucked a loose wave behind my ear, his fingers lingering a moment too long.

Antonio stepped back, looking a bit dazed as he dropped his

I went to admonish him when a member of the brotherhood walked by the stall and touched his forehead, heart, and each shoulder in the sign of the cross.

“Iucundissima somnia.” Sweetest dreams.

sarde a beccafico

Il Malo—“the bad one”—

“You’re bloodthirsty demons. You’ve got red flecks in your eyes, your skin is like ice, you’re beautiful, and your kisses are addictive enough to make someone sell their soul for another.”

“Though I can’t promise my kisses wouldn’t be sinfully good.”

stared at him, ignoring the whole “moving in together”

“My associate has been watching him since late last night, and witnessed him passing information this morning to someone wearing a hood. I believe whoever he spoke to is our murderer.”

grabbing your things.

Wrath knew where I lived.

“Lying and saying your sister felt no pain serves no purpose to you.

“I crave power more than money, or blood, or lust. And there’s no greater power than choice. I’d lie for it. Steal, cheat, maim, and murder. If I could, I’d sell my soul again for it, witch.”

“Let’s test that out, mortal. Who do you work for?” “God.” The man spit

“The real messenger is waiting for us there.”

A strange tug I’d felt before took control of my senses, drawing me down a second side street.

“Personal feelings about witches aside, finish the marriage bond with Emilia and secure your own House before war comes. You’ll need your powers at their fullest. Whoever is organizing this must have killed Pride’s wife.”

“The one you started when you bound the prince to you.”

“Your protection charm wasn’t a bond of protection like a guardian to their ward. The translation of aevitas ligati means ‘bound forever’ as in holy matrimony. It wasn’t needed for the summoning to be successful.”

No wonder he’d looked so horrified that night. I’d basically ripped him from Hell, and forced him into a betrothal. Forever. “When were you going to tell me?” His voice came out soft. “This doesn’t change anything…”

Knowing that he was fully aware of my error while I’d thought I was in control… it was humiliating.

I was going over a mental list of tasks to accomplish when the seat across from me was pulled out. Wrath dropped into it, eyeing me warily.

It seemed like my almost-husband was giving me time to collect myself.

“In order for the curse to be fully broken, a consort needs to sit on the throne and help rule House Pride.”

“Pride didn’t steal anything. He didn’t have to. Her daughter willingly chose to wed him. They fell in love, despite who they were.”

“Several human years ago, something fractured the gates of Hell. We’d been told it was part of a prophecy.

There is no greater threat to a witch than a demon who craves her blood.

I turned and ran as fast as I could, and bounced off a body that was ice cold to the touch.

I wondered about those nights I thought I’d felt someone watching as I drifted into sleep.

The love notes were missing, along with her diary.

Whispers followed me, taunted me, just out of earshot. The goddess cried out in warning. Caught up in my thoughts, I hadn’t been listening to the signs.

invisible dance partner, and my skirts and hair flew around.

invisible dancing people,

He was coming for me. My king. My damnation. I don’t know how I knew, but I did.

A tiny voice screamed in warning, this was all terribly wrong, but was silenced as music and movement swept around me, through me. Whispers grew louder, more frantic. I shoved them aside.

people I couldn’t see. Those invisible hands from earlier became bold explorers,

“Remember.”

“Inferus sicut superus.”

Something piercing in my arm, cold and sharp, jolted me from my trance. My eyes flew open. Fear reached icy tendrils out to me again,

Then I saw him.

“There are many reasons. One of which is because you’re under my brother’s influence.”

“Lust.”

Stop,

Giving someone ultimate pleasure, only to rip it from them before they fully grasp it. Done

“Valeas.”

“It will again soon.”

Hell. I barely slept. When I did, I kept hearing a strange voice. When I awoke, the urgent message was forgotten.

I saw him camped out in a chair beside my bed. His hair and clothing both rumpled. Once, I thought he held my hand.