Kingdom of the Cursed (Kingdom of the Wicked Book 2)

Wrath removed all influence over me at once.

I stared at the blade sticking out of the demon’s chest, my whole body violently trembling in the aftermath. Nausea coursed through me in place of the rage I’d just felt. I let go of the weapon and jerked back, unable to look away. There was so much blood. Wrath’s blood.

It bloomed obscenely across his white shirt like a flower of death. And if it had been anyone else, they would be dead. I would have killed them. I dragged in breath after breath, the weight of what could have been, of what I did, nearly crushing me.

Wrath wrenched the dagger from his chest and tossed it away. I flinched as it clattered against the far wall, the only sound in the chamber now aside from my ragged breaths. He’d made me stab him. In the heart. I… I couldn’t stop looking at the place I’d shoved the dagger in. Couldn’t stop hearing the sickening crunch of bone as I pierced his chest. I fought to keep my hands at my sides, to not cover my ears and scream until that wretched sound ceased in my head.

The wound was already healed, but his shirt was damp with blood. Memories of another chest, another heart, flooded my senses. My twin. All I could envision was her brutalized body. How easily it could have been her under my blade. Fighting back had been useless.

I turned my hands over, sticky, bloodstained palms up, and cried, “How dare you? How dare you subject me to that depravity?”

“Yes, how dare I teach my wife to protect herself against her enemies.”

“I am not your wife yet. And if this is your idea of proving why we ought to marry, you’re mad. You are the most despicable creature I’ve ever had the misfortune to know.”

“If that were true, I would have left you as Lust had when I released you from my thrall.”

The demon thrust a dressing gown at me. I hadn’t seen him holding it before, but I hadn’t noticed much of anything aside from the sins he’d wanted me to experience.

I was seeing plenty now.

His expression was the closest thing to murder I’d ever witnessed. As if his little power display infuriated him more than it had me. As if that were even possible.

I’d pierced his heart with a dagger. I’d never been so upset in my life. And I’d felt a lot of angry emotions since my twin’s murder.

I snatched the dressing robe and shoved my arms through it, hating him for knowing I would need it. I also understood with vivid clarity why he wore white. His preparation for the training made me seethe all the more. It indicated he knew exactly what sins he’d use, what he’d influence me to do, and he’d thought ahead to what I’d need after his little power display.

I was tempted to stride back to my bedroom suite in my underwear, or strip down to nothing. Let his court see me in all my glory.

“Be my guest.” He no doubt discerned my thoughts from my body language. He swung an arm out. “If you’d prefer to walk around without the robe, I certainly won’t object.”

“You really should quit speaking now.”

“Make me.”

“Don’t tempt me, demon.”

“Do it.” He moved until he towered over me. “Use your power. Fight back.”

Childish taunt. I dipped into my source of magic, trying to wrench a bit of power up to knock him on his smart ass. A wall of nothing greeted me again. I was so frustrated, I wanted to scream. Wrath’s eyes narrowed, missing nothing.

“We will train every day until the Feast of the Wolf. You will learn to protect yourself from my brothers. Or you will suffer greater indignities than the ones I have demonstrated today. Be thankful, fiancée, that I do not wish to harm your person. Only your ego and pride. Both, if I am not mistaken, can be repaired.”

“You made me stab you.”

“I heal fast.”

Too bad the emotional impact of today’s little lesson wouldn’t heal as quickly. I cinched the belt at my waist. “I despise you.”

“I can live with your hate.” A muscle in his jaw flickered. “Far better to use it to your advantage, rather than adore me and succumb to the depravity of this world.”

“Why violence?” My voice was quiet. “You did not need to unleash my wrath that way.”

“I offered you an outlet. Vengeance is poison, a slow death of self. Seek justice. Seek truth. But if you choose revenge over all else, you will lose more than your soul.”

“You cannot seriously be claiming to care about my soul.”

“Your grief cannot be extinguished through hatred. Tell me, do you feel as you imagined? Did spilling my blood heal your wounds? Have those scales of justice finally tipped into balance, or did you slip a little further into something you don’t recognize?”

I set my jaw and glared. We both knew I did not feel better. If anything, I felt worse.

“I didn’t think so.” He turned on his heel and strode toward the door. “I will meet you here tomorrow evening.”

“I never agreed to multiple training sessions.”

“Nor did you set parameters during our bargain. I suggest you come prepared to do battle, or you will find yourself once again in your underthings, on your hands and knees before me, begging. Or stabbing. Or both.”

I reined in my emotions. Wrath was currently a giant ass, but he was never impulsive. “Does the timing of this first lesson have to do with my visiting House Envy?”

“No.” Wrath did not turn back, but he paused before opening the door. “Votes to choose the guest of honor for the Feast of the Wolf were cast yesterday.”

And there it was. He must have hoped someone more interesting would have emerged to take my place. “You still believe I’ll be chosen.”

“Of that I have little doubt.”

“Your plan tonight was to what? Show me how heartless you truly are, how powerful?”

“My brothers will be more than happy to show you how sinful they can be in front of a large, eager audience.” He took a deep breath. “If you thought Makaden was bad, his behavior is nothing compared to a gathering hosted by my family. They will take until they’re bored. Then they’ll discard the broken pieces. And,” he added quietly, “if you are so appalled by what just happened here, in front of only me, you truly have no idea what you’re in for.”

“You should have warned me we’d begin training tonight.”

“My brothers will not ask. Nor will they give any warning.”

“I am not betrothed to your brothers. If you want an equal, I suggest treating me like one. We may have made a bargain, but that does not mean I couldn’t be forewarned.”

“The point of this lesson was to show how vulnerable you are, not shame you.”

I stared at the tense lines of his back. The white-knuckled grip he had on the door handle.

“I am not a hero, Emilia. Nor am I a villain. You ought to know that by now.”

“Leave me. I’ve heard enough excuses tonight.”

He didn’t move for a beat, and I braced myself for whatever he seemed to be struggling with saying. Without another word, he slipped from the room, the door quietly shutting behind him. I stared at the door for a few moments, gathering myself.

I imagined this training was as much for his benefit as it was for mine. If anyone succeeded in having me half-naked and writhing during the feast—or worse—the general of war might remind his family how he’d come by that military honor. And I didn’t think the path to that particular title had been cleared without a good deal of bloodshed on Wrath’s part.

I glanced at the dagger I’d used to stab him, the blade coated in his drying blood. I couldn’t quite identify the exact emotion raging through me in place of the fear, but I no longer felt nauseated. I felt like I could breathe fire. And with my ability to summon it, I might be able to do just that with a bit of practice. Goddess help the demon princes now.

I stormed into my bedroom suite and slammed the door with enough force to shake the large painting hanging near the bathing chamber. Of all the arrogant, spiteful, nasty tricks to pull. Yes, I’d agreed to the cursed bargain, but I hadn’t known it was a binding contract.

My cheeks flared with fury. Losing my sense of control rattled me more than any of his demonic tricks. When he walked into that training room, he had a plan and executed it flawlessly. And I’d been at his mercy. That. That was the core of my anger.

“‘You will address me as master from now on.’” I mocked, using my best impression of his voice. “Hateful monster.”

I charged into my bathing chamber and began scrubbing the blood from my hands, all the while seething at Wrath. Even though he didn’t appear particularly pleased or smug by his efforts, it did not change the fact he’d unleashed himself on me.

I dried myself off and marched in an angry circle around my room. I was mad with him for proving his point, but even more upset that I’d been rendered nearly helpless.

Taking all that aside, I had to admit it was far better to be subjected to Wrath’s influence, wretched though it may be, because at least I knew he wouldn’t carry things too far. He might make me strip and beg, or take a blade to his heart, but he’d never take true advantage or cause me to hurt anyone else.

I stared down at my now-clean hands. A troubling thought entered my mind. If a demon prince willed it, I would murder someone at their command. Wrath proved that tonight. Part of me wanted to stab him, but I never would’ve crossed that line on my own.

I thought of Antonio, how he’d been clearly under some influence. If Wrath could wield other sins with ease and strength, it stood to reason that his brothers also possessed the talent.

Which meant any one of them could have been manipulating Antonio into killing the witches. His hatred was already there because of how his beloved mother died. It would not have taken much for that emotion to be drawn out, used against him.

Shoving thoughts and worries from my mind about my sister’s murderer and the Feast of the Wolf vote, I went to my wardrobe and donned a simple black dress.

I glanced down as a flash of off-white peeked out from the darkness. One of the enchanted skulls had slipped from its covering when I’d removed my dress.

I expelled a breath. I still needed to sort through the skull puzzle and figure out if Envy had been the one who’d sent them. Doubt crept in regarding his involvement. It made little sense for him to secretly send the skulls only to openly share information with me.

I bent to replace the scarf when the outer door creaked open.

“Emilia, I wanted to—” Wrath’s attention fell on the enchanted skull. Whatever he’d been about to say was immediately forgotten as he crossed the room in a whirl of black, gold, and fury. He wrenched the skull from my wardrobe and spun around, staring as if he hardly knew me. “What the—”

“Unless you wish to be slapped with an unpleasant spell, I suggest you rethink your tone. We are no longer in your training ring. I won’t tolerate rudeness outside of our lessons.”

He inhaled deeply. Then exhaled. He repeated both actions. Twice. With each inhalation and exhalation, I swore the atmosphere grew charged. Storm clouds were gathering.

“If you would be so kind, my lady, to please explain how this came to be in your possession, I’d very much like to know.”

I noticed a vein in his throat throbbing. After what he made me do to him, it gave me a perverse sense of glee to see him so mad. “Why are you here?”

“To apologize. Answer me. Please.”

“Someone left it. Along with a second skull.”

“Second skull?” He spoke through his teeth, as if forcing polite manners against the incredulity playing out across his features. “Where, pray tell, is it now?”

“My wardrobe. Behind that ridiculous gown with the big skirts.”

Without uttering another word, Wrath calmly ducked inside my wardrobe and retrieved the object in question. It appeared to take Herculean effort on his part to remain calm. “Might I ask when the first skull arrived?”

“The night Anir brought food and wine.”

“The first night you were here?” His volume went up a notch. I nodded, which seemed to set his teeth on edge. “You didn’t think this information was worth sharing because…”

My smile was anything but sweet. “I was unaware that I needed to report to you, master. Would you have answered any of my questions?”

“Emilia—”

“Which brother possesses this sort of magic? Who would want to taunt me? Someone must hate me an awful lot. They enchanted the skulls with my sister’s voice. Another lovely dagger to my heart. Do you have any ideas to offer?”

I raised my brows, knowing he wouldn’t say a word. His lips pressed into a firm line and I couldn’t help the dark laughter that bubbled up from deep within.

“I suspected as much. Though I can promise you this, it will not be the last time I decide to keep my own counsel until I’ve thoroughly investigated on my own.” I pointed to the door. “Please leave. I’ve had quite enough of you tonight.”

His eyes narrowed at the dismissal. I doubted anyone ever spoke to him in such a way. It was high time he got used to it. “Regarding the training earlier—”

“I am fully capable of understanding the value in the lesson, no matter how appalling your methods. Regardless of our bargain, in the future, you will ask if I want to train.” I schooled my face into indifference. “If you’re not planning on sharing information with me, this interrogation ends now. Put the skulls back and get out.”

“The skulls will be locked somewhere safe.”

“Vagueness will not work for me. Be specific. If I permit you to take the skulls, where will they be?”

“My private suite.”

“I will see them when I wish. And you will share any information you learn.”

He glowered at me. “If we’re making demands, then, so long as you agree to dine with me tomorrow, I will grant your request.”

“I cannot give you an answer tonight.”

“And if I insist?”

“Then my answer is no, your highness.”

“You may beg off conversation tonight. Refuse to dine with me. But we will speak about everything. Soon.”

“No, Wrath. We will speak about this when we’re both ready to.” I watched him absorb the statement. “I will consent to the training, and your influence, only in that room. Everywhere else, you will respect my wishes.”

“Or else?”

I shook my head sadly. “I understand your realm is different, and your brothers are diabolical and conniving, but not every statement is a threat. At least not between us. Know this: from here on out, if you do not respect my wishes, I will not stay here. It’s not to punish you, but to protect myself. I will forgive your lapse in decorum, judgment, and basic decency if you vow to learn from this mistake. You will, however, share all information you glean about the skulls, whether or not I decide to dine with you. Do we have a bargain?”

He looked me over, really looked, and finally nodded. “I accept your terms.”

Wrath collected both skulls and paused, his attention landing on my nightstand. And the journal on House Pride. “How were you planning on reading it? Let me guess.” His voice turned suspiciously low. “You were going to strike a bargain with a demon? Offer a piece of your soul.”

“I considered it.”

“Allow me to save you the trouble. It’s not written in a demonic language. And no bargain you strike with anyone—save me—will give you the answers you seek with any of those journals. All you had to do was ask and I would have given it to you.”

“Perhaps. But would you have given me a way to read it?”

“I don’t know.”

He strode from the room, and I didn’t move until I heard the click of the outer door closing. Then I slumped against the wall.

I counted off my breaths, waiting until I was sure he would not return, and then I allowed the tears to come hard and fast. I doubled over, sobs wracking my body, consuming me. In the matter of an hour I’d been subjected to multiple sins and had stabbed my potential future husband. Tonight could certainly be classified as an evening from Hell.

I abruptly stood, chest heaving with the effort to rein in my emotions.

I brushed the wetness from my cheeks and vowed once again to best my enemies. Even the ones who no longer felt like adversaries.