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April 29 - May 3, 2025
“Should I take off the amulet now?” She looked to Wrath, one silver brow raised. I didn’t swing around in time to see his reaction,
“No. The charm won’t trouble you anymore.”
You ought to be mindful, your highness. Others are watching. And they take particular interest in your court.”
Regardless, it’s irresponsible to not tell her.”
Perhaps he was angry with himself. Whatever game or scheme he’d been planning was clearly over. And hadn’t played out the way he’d hoped it would.
“Earlier this evening, you asked why I Marked you. I’m not sure you fully understand what it does. Why it is something given so rarely.”
And that, as long as he draws breath, the demon prince must always answer the summoning. Except, of course, when I tried to summon you and you didn’t
He stepped back, his focus quickly roving over me in quiet calculation.
“Because it is a magical bond that can never be broken.”
“Not this bond. Not even in death.” “But you are immortal.” “Imagine then, how long that bond lasts.”
couldn’t fathom how that worked. Our souls would forever be linked.
it. I swore my betrothal tattoo started tingling, reminding me it was there. As if I’d forgotten.
“The magic I used that you’d mistaken for a rebirth spell? It was the Mark. It tethered us, flesh to flesh, in a way that allowed my powers to heal you. You only walked away from that attack because I took the venom into my body through that magical bond.”
Wrath bonded himself to a sworn enemy just so I would live.
“The Mark was more than a way to summon me, or save you. Because of another magical bond we share, it was also part acceptance.
“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.”
You are mine.
asked you to grant me permission to help that night. There was your choice. You betrothed us. I accepted.”
It was also an ancient need to claim my husband. To secure our marriage. Goddess above. Wrath was my intended.
“No matter how tempting, I would not have consummated our marriage tonight. There are plenty of ways to give and receive pleasure that would not jeopardize your free will.”
Wrath stepped back and took my hand in his, carefully turning it over. He lifted my palm to his lips, pressed a chaste kiss to it, then closed my fingers around it. Heat shot up my arm, warmed my blood, and my body hummed with need.
“My home is your home, Emilia. You do not need an invitation. When you decide to return, I will send an escort.”
“If we decide to consummate our marriage, it will not be in my brother’s home, for mere moments. You deserve better than that.”
did not believe true love was ever supposed to steal from a person’s life, only enhance it.
“Coming here to make my brother jealous does nothing for me.”
“Using someone is rude by any standards.”
His tone was frosty, but he wasn’t quick enough to hide the flash of hurt in his eyes.
“Let us break bread tonight, not bones, Shadow Witch.”
“No. Why in the seven hells would I do such a thing?” “Eight. And I ask because you can spell the wine to give you truth. Just as you would
A phoenix rises from the ashes for a reason. Your world must be destroyed for you to rise anew. And rise you shall. Just as they always feared you would.”
“But what I said is true. There are things I cannot say, no matter the spell used on our wine, because there are greater powers involved still. I know your grandmother. Though I know many other interesting secrets.”
“I had a strange sense of déjà vu.”
But I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling of how I’d seen the flash of it all those months ago.
“Not all stories end happily, Emilia.”
We all had bones, if not full skeletons of heartache, in our closets.
“The Fallen.” Envy’s tone was quiet, reverent. “Another fine piece.”
The witch from earlier Who made the tincture mentioned the Fallen
“Is it meant to symbolize Wrath or Lucifer?” “It’s my interpretation of my cursed brother.”
“Right before the devil lost his precious wings. And we all followed suit shortly after.”
noticed the bookstands. I drifted over, drawn to one in particular. A strange, familiar humming started in my center.
sycophant?”
“What you call the first book of spells is not a complete manuscript. It’s one third of a grander, more elaborate text.”
“The Mother and the Crone are in my possession; the Maiden has gone missing. Goddesses are tricky beings with even trickier magic. And to cross one…”
I stared after her, wondering why she’d been so cold and if I’d done something to offend her.
Jealous former lover
Listening for any sign of his return. Surely it had nothing to do with missing him. Or growing suspicions of where he’d gone, and who he might be with.
featuring the phases of the moon on one side, a smattering of stars on the other, and a serpent swallowing its tail in a circular shape—inlaid
ouroboros
this snake’s body coiled into an intricate knot.
signore,
“He seemed uneasy about my choosing to visit House Envy. I would have thought he’d wish to see me when I returned.”
“All hail the queen of changing topics.” He offered a dramatic bow.
