“With all due respect, your highness, someone made it past her private defenses and overtook her. If she could be so easily harmed, then who’s to say the same couldn’t happen to you?” I glanced around the room, but no one—except Wrath—met my stare.
“My brother already determined that the most likely creature to break our wards and enter her rooms undetected was a shifter.” Greed motioned toward Sloth, who inclined his head. “Your abysmal sister has taken one such creature as her lover. She clearly wishes to incite an internal war. Why else would she go to the trouble of forming an alliance she had no intention of honoring? You need to come to terms with the truth and stop putting the innocent on trial. Vesta is dead. Your sister is responsible. That’s the end of it. Your mortal sentimentality is clearly clouding your ability to see the obvious.”
My sister might be guilty of horrible things, but she was my blood. I would fight for her until I knew the full truth. And that was something that ought to be done for anyone accused of such a serious crime. The fact that Greed was content with leading what could only be described as a witch hunt, without any true proof of guilt, was appalling. How his brothers could stand here, entertaining it, was maddening. I felt my betrothed’s attention on me and turned to him.
Wrath’s gaze was penetrating as it held mine. And wholly unreadable. Something like dread crept into my belly the longer he held my stare. This wasn’t my future husband staring deeply into my eyes; it was the demon fearsome enough to rule them all.
Greed moved around his desk, planting his hands on either side of the dagger he’d just retrieved after flinging it at Lust. “What’s your decision, brother? Do you declare war on House Greed or the monstrosity your intended calls a sister?”
A flicker of something cold and calculating in Wrath’s expression made me want to drop to my knees and beg for mercy, but I forced myself to maintain eye contact with him, keeping my own emotions locked away. He seemed on the verge of making his decision, so I spoke for my twin once more. “A general and a king must make the tough decisions, even when unpopular. Judgment, in order to be fair, must be based on facts. Not emotions.”
A muscle in his jaw clenched.
Wrath didn’t look at any of his brothers when he said, “By attacking a member of House Greed, causing severe bodily harm and death, Vittoria Nicoletta di Carlo has openly declared war on the Seven Circles, and as such, she is now considered an enemy of the realm. If she is seen anywhere in any circle, each prince of Hell may act as he deems fit to ensure the safety of his people. House Wrath hereby accepts House Greed’s request for blood retribution. If any official member of the seven Houses of Sin is found harboring the condemned without notifying me of her capture, they, too, shall be executed.”
I stared at Wrath. I knew I heard him correctly, but I couldn’t believe it. I could barely think past the sudden ringing in my ears. My betrothed, the demon I’d been about to complete an eternal marriage bond with, just sentenced my twin to death. His brothers murmured their approval, and I glared at them all as rage simmered. They had no facts. No evidence, no proof of guilt.
“I’ll have the blood oath written up.” Greed nodded to someone I didn’t care to look at. “It may take a while since we’ll need to use language acceptable to Houses Lust, Sloth, Greed, and Wrath. For now, please accept a guest suite to rest in or enjoy one of our many gaming halls.”
Wrath nodded and finally turned to me. His expression wasn’t one of sorrow or forgiveness. It looked like duty and cold justice. It looked like triumph.
Fury had my vision going nearly red as I dove into Source—a dozen roses burst into flames around the room. Lust and Sloth moved back, a flash of fear crossing their features. Heat from the raging flames had sweat breaking out across their brows.
It was the first time my magic actually produced fire with the ability to cause damage. And it was fitting, because I wanted to watch them burn. Fire crackled and popped, needing a place to go, to destroy.
I glanced at the painting Lust had been standing by, and my magic responded at once, each rosebud crashing into the canvas, setting it ablaze.
Greed shouted a command, and a demon stepped forward, grabbing a pitcher of water from the sideboard. He needn’t bother. I silently bid the flames to retreat, meeting each of their wide gazes as the scent of charred canvas permeated the air. Perhaps my sister had been right. Maybe it was time for the demons to fear us for a change.
“Apologies, my temper got the best of me.”
I gripped my skirts and spun on my heels, following the trembling attendant out of the room. I had just gotten my sister back, and it would be the coldest day Hell had ever known before I allowed any harm to befall her. Deceitful, conniving wretch that she was, she was my blood, and I’d protect her with each drop of mine whether she deserved my loyalty or not.
FIVE
“I won’t ask you to not scheme,” Wrath said once we were tucked into our guest chamber and he’d thrown a ward up to keep our conversation private. “Only to use caution.”
“How could you—what?”
I immediately stopped pacing and spun around, staring. I could hardly believe he was telling me to disregard his royal command. He looked at me intently, and it was then I knew; he’d been scheming himself. I thought back to his careful wording: If any official member of the seven Houses of Sin is found harboring the condemned without notifying me of her capture, they, too, shall be executed. Wrath was well aware that, without our marriage completed, I was not yet officially a member of any House of Sin, and his royal decree didn’t apply to me at all.
My eyes burned with unshed tears. For better or worse, he was my partner and had been guarding my interests. Except this decree did complicate one aspect: he’d not be able to directly assist in my investigation himself, or he’d break his oath. All my ire drained away.
“Your brothers will want your head if they discover your treacherous negotiation.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.” His smile was predatory. “Nor will it be the last. You forget, their anger will only fuel my power more. I welcome their attempts at war.”
I strode over and hugged him tight. His arms automatically went around me, embracing me back, and I sighed happily. “You are one cunning, magnificent demon. And I’m pleased you’re mine. Even if I did just wish to strangle you.”
“Or incinerate me?” Wrath sounded pleased instead of worried by my show of power.
“I’m sorry if that lapse of control will cause a complication for you.”
“It won’t. And even if it did, I rather like your anger.”
Now that my fury was under control, I focused on what we’d just learned about the murder. Pieces of the story didn’t sit well with me, but I couldn’t quite determine why. “Do you know anything of Vesta’s background?”
“Only that Greed had been searching for her specifically for a few years before she came to his House. We don’t often share secrets regarding our closest counsel, so I don’t know much else.”
“Does Envy?”
Wrath expelled a slow breath, considering. “He might with his spies. But I have my own spies, and they have never uncovered why Greed wanted Vesta to command his armies.”
“That’s odd, isn’t it?”
“Depending on any hidden talents or magic she possessed, it would make sense that he’d covet that. His sin pushes him to acquire things that inspire greed, demons included.”
And yet Sloth had mentioned there were a couple of different types of blood.
“Was she a demon?”
“I have no reason to believe otherwise.” Wrath rested his chin against my head before pressing a kiss to it. “What are you thinking?”
“That perhaps she was something other than a full demon. Why else wouldn’t Greed expand on why she was so special and couldn’t be replaced? And why was there so much werewolf blood?”
“During a fight that brutal, blood would have been left by the assailants as well as the victim.”
“I understand that. But Vesta was ripped to shreds. Even if she harmed a wolf severely, she would have lost the most blood—demon blood…”