Kingdom of the Cursed (Kingdom of the Wicked, #2)

by Kerri Maniscalco

“I come To take you to the other shore across, Into eternal darkness, there to dwell In fierce heat and in ice.” —Dante Alighieri, Inferno

“You seem to be mistaken,” he all but growled. “There is nothing I hold dear.

“Maybe the rumors are true, after all. You have no heart in that armored chest of yours.”

“From this day forward, a curse will sweep through this land. You will forget all but your hate. Love, kindness, every good thing in your world will cease. One day that will change. When you know true happiness, I vow to take whatever you love, too.”

“The devil may be nasty, but he doesn’t perform tricks.” His smile was temptation incarnate. “He bargains.”

This was the kingdom of the Wicked, and he ruled them all. “Care to strike a deal?”

Despite my earlier confidence in my plot to infiltrate this world and avenge my sister’s murder, I felt completely unprepared now that I was standing here.

She annoys me to no end

“It’s the place stars fear to enter,” he whispered near my ear, his warm breath a severe contrast against the frosty air. I shuddered. “But never the devil. Darkness is seduced by him. As is fear.”

“Your pride didn’t appear in that bone circle the night you spilled blood and summoned me. It was your wrath. Your fury.”

“Therefore, I chose the devil, not you. How does that feel? Knowing I’d prefer to bed a monster for eternity rather than subject myself to you again, Prince Wrath.”

if you’re so certain about the devil, swear a blood oath. If pride truly is your sin of choice, I imagine you won’t say no.”

“Be cautious when making blood bargains with a prince of Hell. And under no circumstances should you ever make one involving the devil. What’s his is his. Only a fool would fight or challenge him.”

In this hatred we were united.

desperately tried not to think about how much I wanted to trace his tattoos, first with my fingertips and then with my mouth. Tasting, exploring.

should scoot away. And not just for propriety’s sake. Being this close to him was like playing with fire and I’d already felt his burn, but I didn’t want to move. I liked his arm on my body, the weight and feel and scent of him curled around me like a python.

I wanted him to claim me, almost as much as I wanted him to be mine.

I hardly recognized this openly desirous version of myself. Back home, women were taught that those wants were evil, wrong. Men could indulge in their baser needs and no one called them ungodly. They were rakes, rogues—scandalous but not ostracized for their behavior.

I nestled against Wrath again, my choice made. He slowly trailed a hand down the front of my shirt, toying with the buttons. I bit my lip to keep from gasping.

wanted to be the one he took to his bed. I wanted him to desire me in that way. And only me. It was a primal, ancient feeling.

“Tell me,” he whispered, his voice sliding like silk over my flushed skin. “What?” My own voice came out breathless. “I am your favorite sin.”

We might be in Hell, but he felt like Heaven.

“That wasn’t real… any of it?” “One thing I can promise,” his voice was deep and sensual in the dark, “is you won’t ever doubt it’s real when I touch you.”

“Let me clear up any confusion. You’re very enjoyable to look at. And on some occasions where logic fails I may desire you, but I’ll never love you. Enjoy last night’s illusion—a fantasy is all it was and all it will ever be.”

“Oh, I believe you’d enjoy every second of descending to my level. Every slip and plunge of your fall will make your pulse pound and your knees quake. Care to know why?”

“Love and hate are both rooted in passion.”

“Have I ever told you your anger is like my own personal aphrodisiac?”

Wrath stood a few paces away, his powerful arms crossed and an annoying smirk on his face. No assistance, no offer of help. Only mockery at a situation that could have turned ugly very rapidly. Typical demon.

He literally just saved your life

“That was the size of a small horse!” “Refrain from saddling it up like one. Unlike my brothers, they don’t enjoy being ridden.”

“If you are interested in sex but fear passion or intimacy, you may experience a higher rate of sexual desire until you work through your personal issues regarding it. Which one intimidates you?”

If hatred could be captured with one look, he’d mastered it. “There are clothes for you in the wardrobe. Wear whatever you like. Do whatever you like. Go wherever you like in this castle. If you decide to leave House Wrath, good luck. I’ll return when Pride sends a summons. Until then, good evening, my lady.”

“Why is it whenever a man throws a tantrum a woman is blamed for his poor behavior? If Wrath acted like an idiot, he accomplished that all on his own. I don’t see why his temper is so shocking. He is the living embodiment of wrath. I’m sure you’ve seen him angry.”

“We do wear wolf masks, but there will be no panting from me. Unless you ask nicely.”

“Then tell me you hate me, that I am your worst enemy. Better yet, tell me you don’t want to kiss me.”

“You may destroy me yet.”

“Sooner rather than later if you don’t stop talking and kiss me again.” “Demanding, angelic creature.”

He’d asked if I could bed someone I hated, and while my mind still churned with anger over his betrayal, my body responded to his touch.

You forget what sin I rule over. I am rather fond of a bit of knife-play.”

“I’ve been cautioned against speaking of your tongue, my lady, so I won’t comment on its sharpness. However, since you’ve brought mouths up, I can’t help but wonder. You seem to be enjoying the meat well enough, but has that perfect little mouth of yours ever tasted cock?”

Helloooo?????

On the place set before the vile lord sat a severed, impaled tongue. I stared down at my dinner knife, unblinking, unsure if I’d attacked him. Then I noticed Wrath’s House dagger. It still vibrated from the force he’d used to shove it through the plate and then that far into the table. I let out a quiet breath, unable to look away. The lavender gemstones in the snake’s eyes glowed in fury. Or maybe bloodlust. I’d forgotten how the dagger gloried in its offerings. “Dinner is over,” the demon prince declared, his voice dangerously low. He yanked his bloodied blade free. “Get out.”

If my anger was an aphrodisiac to him, his court’s anger likely nourished and fed his power in droves. Wrath thrived on fury in every sense of the word.

“He chose to insinuate you should taste his cock. In front of my court.”

Here lay a choice. Wrath, temptation incarnate, waited, as if he knew where my thoughts had drifted. I swore there was something about the forbidden that made it sweeter to taste.

Never, in all my life, had I reacted to someone in such a carnal way. I’d had crushes, dreams of kisses and more, but this was no small infatuation. This was desire in its purest form.

slowly. I needed pleasure. And I wanted him to give it to me as much as I would give in return.

He’d promised I would not mistake reality with an illusion when he touched me. He hadn’t been lying. The Sin Corridor, this realm, nothing could compare to the magic of him.

“You are not his intended, Emilia.” The world beneath me tilted. Wrath’s gaze was steady enough to keep both my knees and the realm from quaking. “You are mine.”

This was so dramatic for no reason lmaooooo

Ours would be an unholy union of fury.

“Brother. I see you’ve brought your shadow witch.” His expression was once again bored, though I swore his lips twitched slightly at the edges as Wrath tensed beside me. “I didn’t think you’d wish to share. But you’ve certainly dressed her in the most appealing way. All that skin begs to be worshipped. It’s about time I found religion, wouldn’t you say?”

“In case you haven’t already noticed, I’m not nice. Nor do I pretend to be. And, even if I were afflicted with a conscience, I would have hated to ruin all the fun.”

“Turning your blade on yourself would have been the ultimate favor.”