Throne of the Fallen (Prince of Sin, #1)

by Kerri Maniscalco

When the time came, Envy would play the game. He’d reclaim what was his, restore his court, and he’d never endanger his circle by becoming intrigued by a mortal again.

Camilla innately sensed that she was in the presence of a jaguar—a sleek apex predator one couldn’t help but be fascinated by even as it drew close enough to bite.

Prince Envy!!

“Aren’t you supposed to be searching for clues to Lucia’s whereabouts?” he asked instead. “Perhaps you aren’t as heartbroken as you’d like everyone to believe.”

“You just need to find yourself a virile man with questionable morals and bed him whenever the mood strikes you.”

Camilla internally cursed Lord Ashford Synton and his seductive, arrogant mouth for distracting her all over again. It was entirely infuriating to at once dislike a man and be attracted to him.

Lmao.

Yet, when Camilla was a child, Fleur had been the one to start telling stories almost too fantastical to be real. She’d speak of shadow realms filled with curious creatures. Goddesses, demons, vampires, and shape-shifters. Seven demon princes, each wickeder than the last.

Whether due to hubris or ego, man was the only creature who often ignored what no other prey did: trust your instincts or suffer the consequences.

“Do you always lay claim to things that don’t belong to you, Vexley?” Camilla’s lips parted in shock. Did Synton sound… jealous?

LMAO.

“Death isn’t in my plan, pet.” A beat of silence passed. “Do not call me pet.” “Noted, kitten.”

No matter the reason, in that final decade, doors, portals, entryways, and passages all became Pierre’s greatest source of inspiration. He’d painted them, sculpted them, and made this whole house as an ode to whatever world it was he desperately wished to find.

The clues are right there...

I’d sooner make a deal with the king of demons himself. Like hell she would. Camilla was his until the game ended, and he was not known to share.

LMAOOO.

If Vexley believed he was acting like a gentleman, then she might as well declare herself the Seelie Queen of Faerie.

!!!!!!

She looked like a moon goddess, ethereal, tempting, and completely out of any mortal’s reach.

Foreshadowing???

When she created, it was as if she made new realms, fantastical and beautiful and exactly where she wished she could escape to. With her art, somehow she was connected to the universe far beyond her small gallery.

Fae liked to take mortal women, lure them into Faerie.

Please take me.

One night and then he’d finally be satisfied. “Careful, brother.” Lust sidled up beside him, a tumbler of Dark and Sinful dangling from his fingertips. “Some might confuse that expression for longing.”

Lmao

“Why aren’t you out there dancing?” she asked. “Plenty of ladies keep stealing glances.” “I much prefer to stir up trouble from the sidelines.”

Of course he does....

The fact that she’d just mortally stabbed someone on his estate, and he’d assisted in covering it up, was certainly something they’d need to discuss. But he’d protected her. Held her when she started to fall apart.

If he was playing a game with her, he would regret it. Camilla decided right then that instead of showing him how angry she was, she, too, could play. She’d adopt his mask of indifference. Let him be humbled too.

Lmaooo let him know, sis!!!!

“Do not dismiss me in my own home, Miss Antonius. If it happens again, I’ll be forced to remind you who serves whom.” Amusement ghosted across her features. He had the distinct impression she knew exactly who’d served whom last night. Gods-damn it all. None of his shots were landing.

LMAO.

Wrath had barely seen his court since his queen’s coronation. They’d been too busy playing with chains and knives, stoking each other’s fury like deviants. If they kept this up, there would be a hellish lot of nieces and nephews soon.

<3 <3

Her father used to say talent like hers was a long-ago gift, perhaps bestowed on her family by some powerful Fae, and that when Camilla delved into its power, she shifted into the time of Faerie or the shadow realms.

“Think twice before you threaten to bite him again, pet. Alexei is a vampire, and I promise he’ll bite back much harder. Although his venom can give you untold pleasure. You’d come as you died and beg for more with your last breath.”

I need a side story on Alexei...

He would solve the riddles, claim his prize, and make this right. No matter the cost to him. No matter who he had to deceive, kill, or toy with in the process. Envy would win. Or his circle would be no more.

“You can trust me with your life, Camilla. That is something precious. Something I’d never play with. No matter what game is happening.

“You never should have attacked my brother, or abused your own people,” Envy said quietly. “Taking Camilla was your worst move yet. Never touch what’s mine.”

“Add two generous pinches of this mixture to your bath and soak for twenty minutes. It won’t improve your attitude, but your wounds should heal nicely.”

Her father had told her repeatedly that fear was the one force that drove all darkness in the world. Love, on the other hand, was the greatest source of power.

“Welcome to the new Wild Court.” Wolf sipped his drink, attention straying to a nearby fairy whose wings had been set on fire. “Home to the female you refuse to claim.”

LMAOOOOO.

Miss Camilla Elise Antonius, lover, betrayer, Unseelie princess, drove him absolutely fucking mad, even here, realms away from Faerie.

“If there’s anything of sentimental value, grab it now.” If he listened quietly, he was almost certain he could hear her heart pounding. He pivoted and stood before her, holding out his hand. She looked at it like it was a snake ready to strike. “What are you doing?” she asked. “Grabbing what has sentimental value to me.”

“Fuck the rules,” he growled. “You’re mine.”

PERIOD!!!!