Throne of the Fallen

ENVY HELD CAMILLA tightly to his chest, hoping she was too distracted to notice his lack of a pounding heart. He didn’t want his confrontation with the Goddess of Death known.

Zarus would use the information to his benefit.

Yet, even in his weakened state, Envy’s sin chilled the whole cursed dining room. Frost coated the chamber in thin sheets, the vampires hissing like the reptiles they secretly were as the temperature plummeted. His arms shook with the exertion of using his power, but he kept on.

He’d almost been too late. If the vampire had turned Camilla…

Zarus recovered almost instantly, flashing his fangs as he brushed imaginary lint from his suit. He plucked up the dagger Envy had thrown, sneering at it.

“You always know how to make an entrance.” His gaze was hard. “Though I’m a bit insulted you used this blade instead of your House dagger.”

That blade was mortal steel washed in holy water. It didn’t kill a vampire, but it stung like hell. Next time he’d coat his blade with rosary peas, which would do a lot more than sting.

Though, if all went as planned, there wouldn’t be a next time.

“Apologies, Zarus. I hate to stab and dash off, but you rudely interrupted us earlier. I’d like to get her back to my bed.”

Zarus arched a brow. Arrogant twat.

“The woman said my name, which makes her mine.”

The room chilled further. Envy had little power to spare but didn’t bother trying to hide his darkening mood. Camilla was his.

Zarus grinned. “Unless of course you’d like to offer up a challenge.”

Envy kept the smile from his lips. That was precisely what he’d come to do.

Camilla stared up at him as if she’d seen a ghost, her gold skin pale.

She hadn’t thought he would come for her.

It was a wise deduction. One that should please him. He’d told her the game was his only focus. She wasn’t entirely wrong. He was here because of it.

A twinge of something twisted deep inside him, though. Something not at all pleasant.

He would have come for her sooner if he hadn’t run into trouble. But to admit that…

He flicked his attention around the room. Envy would prefer to have Camilla tucked safely into the guest cottage on his estate while he tended to this situation on his own.

There were at least twenty vampires, three of which were royal.

Zarus warded the castle using blood magic, so Envy couldn’t just magic Camilla away to his House of Sin. Even not fully recovered, Envy could almost take down the vampires on his own, but Camilla complicated matters. He couldn’t guard her and fight them all, at least not without posing a great risk to her. If he’d been uninjured, it would still have been too risky.

“Then I offer a challenge.” Envy’s voice was laced with boredom. “Your life for hers.”

They were sent back to what must have been Camilla’s chambers while preparations for the challenge were made. The entire journey down the hall, she’d clutched onto Envy’s hand so hard his bones ground together. If he’d been mortal, it would have bruised him or dislocated something.

Once in the room, she whirled.

“You cannot fight him,” she said.

Not Hello, wonderful to see you, thank you for stabbing my enemy.

“If he kills you…”

“Your confidence in my abilities is overwhelming, pet. Zarus may be strong, but he’s not more powerful than me.”

Camilla scrutinized him.

“Is that hubris speaking or truth?”

“Did anyone harm you?”

She pursed her lips at his blatant change of subject and refusal to answer her question. Aggravation was good. It meant she was scared but otherwise all right.

“No. Blade guarded me. For a while.”

Envy cocked his head, listening.

“Speaking of the crimson-eyed bastard.”

The vampire slipped into the room, eyeing Envy as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against a far wall. Blade was wise to keep space between them.

With the image of Camilla sitting on Zarus’s lap, his tongue on her skin, fangs just shy of penetrating her, Envy wasn’t feeling very charitable.

His sin was still raging, searching for an outlet.

Blade knew that.

“You owe me,” the vampire said, voice low.

Blade kept his attention fixed to Envy.

“Not if you get everything you want out of the deal,” Envy said. “You spoke with Alexei about the details, I assume.”

“Yes. I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to. You’ve seen what he’s been like. What he did with Wrath. He tried to steal Wrath’s wife Emilia. A move that no sane creature would make. Is he still really fit to lead your court?”

Camilla glanced between them, a slow realization dawning.

“You’re one of his spies?”

“Associate, darling,” Envy said. “No one likes the term spy.”

“Mutual associate,” Blade added.

They were reluctant allies when circumstances forced them to be. Other than that, neither he nor the vampire had much use for the other.

If it hadn’t been for Alexei, Blade wouldn’t have dealt with Envy at all. The vampires were brothers in a sense, each turned by the same sire. For some reason Blade’s eyes were crimson instead of blue, but he was still royal. Not many knew of the connection between Envy’s court and Blade.

And Envy kept it that way.

Camilla stalked over and slapped Envy’s face. She knew it wouldn’t harm him, so it was more a show of temper than anything else.

He raised his brows.

“To what do I owe that honor?”

“You work together?” she asked.

“Occasionally. I fail to see the issue.”

“Did you have me kidnapped?”

His eyes narrowed.

“When, exactly, would I have had time to arrange a kidnapping? Before you shoved that memory into my mind, or while we were rolling around like fiends in the dirt? Surely I would have chosen a much more convenient time to have you abducted.”

“You deserved the slap. If only for that memory you shoved into my mind first.”

She turned those flashing silver eyes on Blade. He didn’t hide his grin. The scourge of Malice Isle was amused. Blade liked her.

“You could have mentioned this association instead of saying he wasn’t coming,” Camilla said. “Or were you hoping to bite me?”

Blade’s smile turned as sharp as the weapon he was named for.

“I’d even bite him, foul-tasting demon blood and all, if it suited my interests, lamb.”

“If we’re through with the pet names,” Envy drawled, growing more annoyed as his sin ignited, “what information do you have?”

Blade’s attention zeroed in on him, a knowing look flaring in his eyes as he glanced between Camilla and Envy. The vampire would be wise to keep his observations to himself.

“The challenge will begin an hour or so before sunrise in the arena. Gladiator-style in front of the entire court. Zarus wants to stir as much drama as possible. With a ticking clock, the tension thickens. He plans to use poison.”

As if that would kill Envy. Though weakened as he was, it wouldn’t be pleasant.

He kept his face a mask of nonchalance. No one could guess there was a chance he’d lose. He couldn’t even think it himself.

“And?”

“The poison will act only to slow you, dull your senses and power. Much like his venom does. Once it takes effect, he’ll remove your head and limbs and burn the pieces on a pyre.”

Envy rolled his eyes.

“Pyres are so dull. Leave it to your prince to be so uninspired. Though I suppose he is still stuck in the Middle Ages.”

Camilla looked stricken.

“Can’t we escape through that cave?”

“We could.” Envy reached over, tucking a silver lock behind her ear. “But that doesn’t solve the problem. Zarus would just send someone else to collect you. And next time he’d strengthen his borders. Best to end this now.”

Blade pushed himself off the wall and headed for the door.

“I’ll return if there’s any news.”

Envy nodded, turning his attention back to Camilla. He waited until the vampire could no longer be heard in the corridor before speaking.

“Should anything go awry, Alexei will take you to House Wrath. Don’t fight him. My brother will see to your safety, and his presence will make Zarus think twice before attacking.”

“You just said you are more powerful.”

He hesitated for a beat.

“Winning is not always about power. It’s about who wants it more. Zarus will not fight fairly or lay down his sword easily. He will make me earn that victory.”

“It would be easier if you just left me here.”

“You know I’d never do that.”

Envy’s hand curled around her chin, his touch gentle as he tipped her face up. She’d romanticized him again. Giving him a golden halo while ignoring the fact that his had broken long ago.

Because he’d shattered it.

“But you haven’t asked the all-important question, my darling Camilla.”

She scanned his face, knowing he was leading her into a trap, unable to see where it lay.

“Why?”

“You are much more than you seem, aren’t you, Miss Antonius? Not human. But what? I have a feeling that if I knew that, I’d know why you’re part of the game. Care to enlighten me?”

She held his gaze, offering a slight negation as her answer.

Whether she was admitting to not being human, or answering his question about enlightening him, it didn’t matter.

“Why wouldn’t I ever leave you here?” he asked again, bringing his mouth close to hers.

She’d wanted to taste the seam of his lips, and he wished to taste her lies. He brushed his lips against hers, the kiss barely anything at all.

Camilla’s breath hitched.

He drew back.

“It appears you’ve forgotten the game, Miss Antonius. You are a requirement for me to win. Were you listening to the Fear Collector? I am exactly where I need to be.”

Camilla winced, tried to jerk away, but he held on, forcing her gaze to remain locked on his, even as it turned hateful. He thought of the book she’d been reading at Sloth’s. Knew there was more to the choice in her fairy-tale romance than she’d let on.

Better for her to despise him now.

Envy wasn’t incapable of change. He simply didn’t wish to change.

“I will never be your Prince Charming, Camilla. For now, you hold immense value to me. When your value runs out…”

He stroked her jaw, watching her eyes turn hard as steel.

She wanted to hurt him. It was written all over her pretty face.

“Best hope that doesn’t happen until the game ends, pet. Or else you might see how wicked I truly am.”