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Chapter no 31

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

HOUSEย SLOTH WASย unlike anything Camilla had ever experienced in even the most upper-crust homes of Waverly Green. She doubted even the king or queen of the realm could boast such wealth. Sheโ€™d never seen their castle; they lived in Sundry, a city far north of Waverly Green that served as Ironwood Kingdomโ€™s capital.

And not simply wealth of objects, but of knowledge.

Inside, they entered a circular foyer.

Multiple corridors were accessible from the entryway, the rambling castle spanning beyond sight in all directions.

For all intents and purposes, it appeared to be an enormous library.

Every hallway she could see was lined with dark wooden shelves filled with leather-bound books. Brass sconces burned quietly along tasteful paneling, and plush handwoven rugs lined the hardwood floors.

โ€œThis is breathtaking.โ€ Camilla slowly spun to take it all in. โ€œIโ€™ve never seen anything quite like it.โ€

Below their feet, a compass rose was inlaid in gold.

Sloth gave her a bashful look, so unlike his brotherโ€™s arrogance.ย Andย unlike the dagger-wielding demon prince whoโ€™d just stabbed Envy through the chest.

โ€œCome,โ€ he said, โ€œIโ€™ll give you a tour while we wait for my brother to arrive. If youโ€™d like,โ€ he added. โ€œIf youโ€™d prefer to go straight to your guest chambers, that can be arranged.โ€

Camilla smiled tentatively. Sheโ€™d rather learn what she could, right now.

โ€œIf itโ€™s no trouble, I would love a tour.โ€ Sloth inclined his head.

โ€œI am curious, though,โ€ she said quickly, โ€œabout the column out front.

The carvings were so beautiful. What do they mean?โ€ Sloth seemed pleased sheโ€™d noticed.

โ€œItโ€™s our interpretation of the Twin Pillars, although unfortunately not an exact replica.โ€

โ€œI havenโ€™t heard of them,โ€ Camilla admitted.

โ€œIt was an ancient site dedicated to the stars and night sky, though some argue it signified the Seelie and Unseelie courts. The pillars attract lightning, and when it strikes them, they glow, and the constellations carved onto them are meant to project into the amphitheater where they sit. One pillar is said to be good, and to reflect harmony and prosperity, gifts from the old gods. The other is rumored to be evil, and to depict cataclysmic destruction, offering a warning in a sense. Or so some of the more plausible theories go. No one is really sure, of course. What we do know is that they offered the Fae a direct pathway to the mortal lands.โ€

โ€œI would love to see the real ones someday, then.โ€ Camilla could only imagine what a sight that would be. How magical it must feel to see the heavens greet the Underworld, a union that shouldnโ€™t exist.

โ€œUnfortunately, theyโ€™re now hidden below my brotherโ€™s circle, bound there by magic.โ€

โ€œWhy?โ€ Camillaโ€™s heart sank at the thought of the ancient site being defaced.

โ€œThe Unseelie Kingโ€™s obsession with mortals grew in such a way that it endangered them and the boundaries of our world. Lennox was warned to stop his antics, but he didnโ€™t take kindly to being commanded by a demon, no matter that my brother rules over all Underworld realms. Lennox felt that as the Unseelie King of his own island to the west, he, and his court, should not be held to the same rules. So we had to limit his access, for the good of all.โ€

โ€œOne person ruined it for everyone.โ€

โ€œNot a person,โ€ Sloth said gently. โ€œItโ€™s imperative to remember that no beings you meet in the Underworld or any of the shadow realms are human. No matter how human they appear.โ€

โ€œRight, of course.โ€

He gave her a tight smile, then motioned ahead.

โ€œInside, House Sloth comprises two hundred and thirty thousand feet of shelving.โ€

Camilla was still considering the Pillars, but Sloth drew her attention back to him.

โ€œLast count, there were one hundred eighty-seven thousand books, sixty-four thousand specimens, twenty thousand pieces of artโ€”including sculpturesโ€”and nineteen hundred weapons. Each artifact is housed in the reading chamber best suited to its subject.โ€

Camilla struggled to grasp those staggering figures, but it was clear he wasnโ€™t exaggerating. The ceilings soared at least thirty feet in every direction, with shelves and ladders filling the entire space.

House Sloth was breathtaking, yet it managed to feel warm and inviting despite its size and grandeur. Perhaps it was the overstuffed chairs nestled in cozy alcoves or the large oak beams, weathered by time, that adorned the vaulted ceilings. A part of her longed to curl up with a book and lose herself for hours.

There was no trace of pride or ego in Slothโ€™s tone as he recounted his collection; he spoke matter-of-factly, as if sharing simple truths.

โ€œI canโ€™t begin to fathom how many years it took to curate such an extensive collection,โ€ she finally said.

โ€œToo many, Iโ€™m sure, but thatโ€™s the burden of my sin.โ€

He gestured toward the wing ahead of them, where a carved plaque read SCIENTIA.

โ€œEach wing of the estate is divided into sections like this one. Every book in this wing pertains to science; different rooms are dedicated to various subfields: flora, fauna, anatomy, astronomy, archaeology, and so on. Then thereโ€™s history, geography, artโ€”within the art wing, youโ€™ll find sections for illustrations, oils, time periods, and artists, as well as some more playful categories like โ€˜the art of seduction,โ€™ โ€˜flirtation,โ€™ or โ€˜culinary arts.โ€™ And of course, poetry, plays, fiction, and tomes sorted by species: fae, vampire, werewolf, demon, witch, goddess, mortals, halflings, changelings, shape-shifters, and more. There are even birth records for supernatural royalty throughout the ages and sections devoted to the occult: spells, curses, hexes, enchantments, alchemy, riddles, puzzlesโ€ฆโ€

games.โ€

Camillaโ€™s heart felt as if it were about to sprout wings and take flight.

โ€œHow on earth are you able to obtain so many birth records?โ€ She shook her head, the answer swiftly coming to her on its own. โ€œSpies.โ€

โ€œUmbra demonsโ€”the most unique of the lesser demonsโ€”are mercurial creatures at best, but being incorporeal lends them a certain finesse. You simply need to ensure that youโ€™re paying them the highest amount. They are loyal only to themselves. And my brother Pride, mostly.โ€

โ€œYour collection is all quite impressive, Prince Sloth.โ€

He pursed his lips, and Camilla wondered what sheโ€™d said that had displeased him.

โ€œPardon me, Your Highness. If Iโ€™ve oversteppedโ€”โ€

โ€œYou havenโ€™t, Miss Antonius.โ€ He gave her a warm smile. โ€œI go by Lo. Please do away with any formalities. Only my brothers call me Sloth, and itโ€™s typically to get a rise out of me.โ€

Lo guided her down a long, winding corridor that was easily twice the size of her town house. He paused before the next hallway, glancing up at the plaque.

HABENTIS MALEFICIA.

Witchcraft.

โ€œSome wings are moreโ€ฆ sentient. They often rearrange themselvesโ€” nothing too disconcerting. Windows and doors switch places, furniture changes. One hour you might find a settee, the next a barstool. Sometimes spells we investigate go awry. Witchcraft doesnโ€™t come easily to demons.โ€

โ€œDo you do much investigating?โ€ Camilla asked. Lo lifted a shoulder, shrugging noncommittally.

โ€œMy court dabbles in a little of this and a little of that. We enjoy being well-rounded.โ€

Which was demon evasion for yes, she thought wryly. Maybe he hadnโ€™t written her off as a threat quite yet.

โ€œWould you be able to find something out of its place?โ€ she asked, thinking of the game.

โ€œOf course; we keep strict records of each and every chamber.โ€

Records were wonderful, but theyโ€™d still need to search through each room. And that could take a lifetime, she was realizing.

They continued into the next corridor, each one more impressive than the last.

Instead of hardwood, this floor was made of what appeared to be black marble with deep crimson specks.

Lo caught her curious stare.

โ€œHeliotrope. More commonly known as bloodstone. Itโ€™s mined from just outside Malice Isle. The seat of the royal vampire court.โ€

He didnโ€™t elaborate and Camilla didnโ€™t press. Sheโ€™d heard whispers in the dark market of the vampire princeโ€”it was said he always heard his true name when it was spoken aloud, no matter where or whenโ€”and she did not wish to draw his attention if those rumors were true.

โ€œMost ladders are enchanted,โ€ Lo said. โ€œSimply call for one and direct it where youโ€™d like to go.โ€ At her surprised look, he added, โ€œWe are quite capable of physically moving ladders, of course, but why not enchant if one can? We may prefer mind over brawn, but donโ€™t forget, we are demons. House Sloth will battle just as ruthlessly as any other House of Sin.โ€

Heโ€™d said it so casually one could almost miss the underlying threat. โ€œDuly noted, Lo. I have always believed that the mind is more fearsome

than the sharpest blade. It alone can devise many ways to cut an enemy down.โ€

Camilla had not fallen into the trap of believing he was simply a harmless book aficionado, but she could understand how others would. Easily.

She wondered if that made him even more dangerous.

How many others had foolishly underestimated the Prince of Sloth? Had mistaken his penchant for reading all day for laziness instead of what it truly wasโ€”honing the best weapon in his arsenal: his mind.

If knowledge was power in this circle, then the prince standing before her, hands tucked carefully into his pockets, dripped with it.

He gazed back at her with the precision of a scientist, and Camilla knew there was no detail he missed, no subtlety or nuance overlooked or cast aside.

Lo was not a lazy, slothful male by any means.

He was infinitely patient. Calculating. Wickedly intelligent. Lo took his time, studying until he was satisfied with all potential outcomes.

If he was currently without a partner and sought one out, God help the

person he fell for. Camilla knew heโ€™d leave no stone unturned as he investigated them to the fullest degree, plotting and planning his seduction so well they wouldnโ€™t stand a chance.

Not that anyone would want to. Underneath that unassuming appearance lurked a warrior just as deadly and ferocious as his brothers.

โ€œYour guest suite is just down the next corridor.โ€ His expression had returned to indifference as he continued at a leisurely pace. โ€œPlease make yourself at home. My brother will likely turn up within the next hour or two.โ€

Camilla bit her lip, stalling.

โ€œMight I be permitted to look around more?โ€

Lo drew up short, eyeing her closely. โ€œWhat subject are you interested in?โ€

She wondered if he knew about the game, how much she should reveal. โ€œHonestly, Iโ€™m looking for a clue. Itโ€™s forโ€”โ€

โ€œEnvyโ€™s newest game, of course.โ€ Lo sighed. โ€œIโ€™m not sure how youโ€™ve gotten involved with it, but you seem like a good person. Donโ€™t let Envyโ€™s obsession with winning just to boast about it destroy you. These games are seldom worth the price.โ€

That didnโ€™t feel true, from what Camilla had seen. Envy was driven, focused, yesโ€”but his intensity didnโ€™t seem like something frivolous. He hadnโ€™t told her otherwise, but sheโ€™d begun to suspect the game meant more than Envy was letting on. To anyone.

Instead of drawing suspicion to that, she asked the question that had become the most nagging and persistent. Which she immediately wished she could take back.

โ€œIs your brotherโ€ฆ attached?โ€

โ€œAside from what he calls his curiosities, my brother doesnโ€™t form attachments.โ€

โ€œEver?โ€

Lo cocked his head to one side, considering. โ€œEnvy hasnโ€™t told you of his rule.โ€

It wasnโ€™t a question, so Camilla didnโ€™t answer. Sympathy entered Loโ€™s expression.

โ€œEnvy spends only one night with a lover. No matter what you feel, or what you think he might feel, that will not change, Miss Antonius. My

brother is incapable of change.โ€

Envy hadnโ€™t told her that part outright, but thinking back on that night in Kittyโ€™s houseโ€ฆ heโ€™d told her it was only that evening.ย Their secret.ย The fact that they hadnโ€™t slept together meant their one night technically wasnโ€™t over. Which made her mind spin with possibilities.

โ€œBecause his heart was broken before?โ€

โ€œBecause his sin will not allow him to be satisfied with what he has,โ€ Lo said gently. โ€œEnvy will always desire something new. Until he gets it. Then he is envious of the next item he covets, the next person claimed by someone else. Heโ€™ll pursue you, become wildly territorial until he successfully captures you, then toss you aside. He isnโ€™t cruel. Heโ€™s simply ruled by his sin like we all are.โ€

Camilla wanted to cast the warning aside but thought of Vexley. Of how quickly Envy had despised him. Sheโ€™d thought it was about defending her.

But if Lo was to be believedโ€ฆ

โ€œYouโ€™re saying there was never any heartbreak?โ€

โ€œI never said that.โ€ Loโ€™s smile was a slow twist of his lips. โ€œIf you want my advice, guard your heart and forget my brother. He is content with his games and riddles and plots.โ€

It was a warning meant to dissuade her, but it had the opposite effect. Camilla liked those things too. Each day, lately, she liked them more and more.

A servant made his way toward them, a bookish demon wearing spectacles. His pace was unhurried.

He handed a note to the prince, then bowed.

Lo read it over, then tucked the paper into his waistcoat.

โ€œBathe. Eat. Rest. My brother is already requesting reentry.โ€ Lo smiled again, although this smile didnโ€™t quite reach his eyes. โ€œIโ€™ll make him wait a bit more just to remind him who rules House Sloth.โ€

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