best counter
Search
Report & Feedback

Chapter no 6

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

THEย PRINCE OFย Envy watched Camilla slowly place her hand in the crook of Vexleyโ€™s arm.

The very arm Envy had just fantasized about bodily removing. The splatter of blood would look rather arresting against the pale wallpaper, but he tamped his more violent instincts down.

Vexley was walking Camilla around like a prize. One heโ€™d stolen, not won.

Envy was firmly of the thinking in the Seven Circles: when it came to the game of courtship, each person shouldย wantย to play.

Vexley hadnโ€™t given Camilla a choiceโ€”and from what Envy knew of the mortal customs, if she denied him, it would cause a scene.

And Miss Antonius didnโ€™t appear to want to draw anyoneโ€™s eye for long tonight, for some reason. Though the deep hunter green of her silk gown matched Envyโ€™s cravat and that kept holdingย hisย attention. Amid the sea of pastel-colored dresses skirting his peripheral vision, Camilla was a bold splash of darkness, intense and rich.

Despite his best effort not to notice, Camilla was beautiful.

Her silver hair had been curled delicately and clipped back from her face, showing off her pointed chin, her slender neck, and the simple yet stunning silver locket she wore that matched her eyes.

There was an elegance in the way she carried herselfโ€”her body made of the sort of delicate angles and swooping curves that begged to be captured on canvas. The way she moved now indicated that she wished to be as far

from their host as possible.

Player or notโ€”Envy still hadnโ€™t decidedโ€”Vexley was making himself a complication in more ways than one. And Envy had no time to waste on fools.

Every day, his court weakened, a fault that was his alone.

Which was why heโ€™d decided to go the more trusted route for this second attempt and seduce Camilla. It was purely a practical decision: it had nothing to do with how the candlelight was reflecting off her silver curls up ahead.

Envy offered his arm to the nearest womanโ€”a vibrant redhead he briefly recalled had arrived with Camillaโ€”and followed the procession down the corridor to the dining room.

โ€œYouโ€™re the mysterious Lord Synton, I presume?โ€ the redhead immediately asked.

โ€œIs that what people are saying about me, Ladyโ€ฆ?โ€ โ€œLady Katherine Edwards.โ€

He felt her gaze on him but kept his own locked on the procession of lords and ladies parading slowly toward the dining room. Envy fantasized about jabbing magical pokers at their asses to prod them along. Dinner hadnโ€™t even started, and he was ready to leave.

โ€œYouโ€™ve certainly made an impression,โ€ she continued.

Envy glanced sidelong at Lady Edwards. โ€œI do have that effect.โ€

She laughed, full and deep, drawing the attention of a dark-haired woman in front of them. The woman glanced back, surprising Envy with the open lust shining in her eyes.

Her focus shifted to Lady Edwards, and the dark-haired womanโ€™s jealousy flared. He flashed a smile meant to intimidate and she averted her gaze.

โ€œI see what my friend meant. You are trouble.โ€

His attention went to Camillaโ€™s silver head at the front of the line. Lady Edwards was baiting him. And having entirely too much fun doing it.

But perhaps befriending her would put Camilla at ease. He allowed himself to don the mask of a charming but aloof noble.

โ€œTonight, Iโ€™d say Iโ€™m only slightly wicked, Lady Edwards.โ€ Envy was rather put off when he realized it was the truth.

Heโ€™d kept his flirting to a minimum, had only asked pointed questions

that could help him with the game. And once Camilla had stepped into the room, heโ€™d given her all his attention. Not wanting to appear too forward, heโ€™d admired the most intriguing painting in the room, giving her five minutes before seeking her out.ย A perfect fucking gentleman,ย he thought with annoyance.

And yet sheโ€™d been completely, infuriatingly, unimpressed that heโ€™d swooped in to catch her cup and save her from ruining her gown. No matter that heโ€™d been the one to cause her unsteadiness in the first place. Prince Gluttony had claimed that that move always worked to woo a mortal. According to his brother, mortal women loved a dark hero. As if heroics were determined by an unsullied cup of punch.

But, as usual, Envy was discovering that Gluttony was a moron when it came to courtship. Camillaโ€™s tongue had been as silver as her hair, lashing him with her quick dismissal.

If he was going to try seduction as his second attempt at securing her help, heโ€™d have to tease out what aroused her. Surely she had some fantasy he could toy with.

The parade finally entered the dining chamber, and Envy schooled his features to hide his distaste.

The long cloth-covered table had been dressed in candelabras and an ungodly number of crystal vases. Wisteriaโ€”that must have come from a hot house and cost a small fortuneโ€”was the flower of choice, and he knew from the way Camillaโ€™s eyes squeezed shut for a moment that the detail hadnโ€™t been lost on her, either, and it didnโ€™t please her.

Intriguing.

โ€œWhere is your family from, Lord Synton?โ€ Lady Edwards asked, her voice cordial as she brought Envyโ€™s attention to her. โ€œIs Synton a western surname?โ€

โ€œSouthern,โ€ he said evasively.

She gave him a once-over as she unfolded her napkin in her lap. He had the distinct impression that she was mentally flaying him, in search of his deepest secrets.

โ€œI saw you speaking with my friend earlier. How do you know Miss Antonius?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m an art collector and her gallery came highly recommended.โ€ โ€œMm.โ€

Lady Katherine sipped her water.

Envy didnโ€™t need to use his supernatural ability to sense emotions to know she was skeptical of him.

โ€œMany gentlemen find themselves very intrigued by herโ€ฆ art.โ€ His sin ignited before he smothered the sensation.

Lady Katherine turned those shrewd eyes on Camilla and Vexley, who were now seated directly across from them. A man named Harrington took his seat on Camillaโ€™s other side, causing her to stiffen ever so slightly. Envy made a mental note to look into him, too.

โ€œSheโ€™s quite talented, and much more modest than her father.โ€

Envy tore his gaze away from the artist in question. โ€œHer father also painted?โ€

Of course, he knew Pierre had painted, but acting as if he didnโ€™t would garner much more information.

โ€œPierre Antonius became famous forย The Seduction of Evelyn Gray,ย among many others. Surely youโ€™ve heard of it, even in the southern region? Itโ€™s his most famous portrait. The woman who posed was nude, except for a veil, hiding her identity. Of course, she also had great, raven-like wings. Pierreโ€™s work often depicted the fantastical, especially what he called halflings.โ€

โ€œHumans who have unique parentage,โ€ Envy supplied.

โ€œYou could say that.โ€ Lady Katherine smiled demurely. โ€œWomen with wings, men with horns or devilish tails. Others certainly seemed to share his obsession. Through his art, society could indulge in their own fantasies, display pieces that would otherwise be considered unholy.โ€

Envy listened to Lady Katherineโ€™s unsolicited but much-appreciated art history lesson as the wine was poured. His spies hadnโ€™t found much on the man, aside from the fact that Pierre had opened the gallery two decades prior, and died two years back, leaving Camilla alone in the world. She had no maternal or paternal grandparents that heโ€™d found, no aunts or uncles or cousins.

Strange, he thought, given how humans bred like rabbits. โ€œWhat of his family?โ€ Envy asked, sipping his wine.

โ€œPierre? He had a tragic origin. His mother and father were killed in a carriage accident when he was a boy, and heโ€™d been brought up by a family friend. Both of his parents had been only children and their parents had also

met violent ends.โ€

โ€œSome might say their family is cursed.โ€ Lady Katherine gave him a sharp look.

โ€œSome have said that, and they are quite obviously fools.โ€

He smiled faintly. Sheโ€™d very delicately suggested he might be one too. โ€œWhat of her motherโ€™s family?โ€

Lady Katherineโ€™s expression shuttered. โ€œThatโ€™s a sensitive subject Iโ€™d rather avoid.โ€

Envy smiled pleasantly, though inside he churned with curiosity. โ€œNo need to sharpen your claws, Lady Edwards. I meant no harm. What else intrigues Waverly Greenโ€™s finest?โ€

Lady Katherine went on to tell him about Pierreโ€™s fondness for riddles and mysteries. If he hadnโ€™t been dead, Envy would have thought he was a player in the game too. But it was clear that this fondness was shared by many in Waverly Green.ย How dull the games of humans,ย he thought while nodding along.

The butler appeared again, solemnly chiming a bell to announce that dinner was to be served. It was presentedย a la franรงaise,ย so guests began serving themselves from the wide array of entrรฉes and side dishes a barrage of servants had placed along the table.

Platters of roasted beef tenderloin with a rosemaryย jus;ย whipped potatoes topped with chives and dotted with pads of melting butter; glazed carrots; stuffed whole fish with dull eyes; steamed asparagus; oversized prawns with their tails still attached; and tenderized chicken breasts with a rich lemon cream sauce made their way around the table.

Envy could have done without the accusing stare of the fish, or the manual labor involved in cleaning the prawns, but kept his thoughts from his face. The food was otherwise decent and the company of Lady Edwards surprisingly tolerable.

Once theyโ€™d all sampled the first round, the second was brought out. Dishes inspired by the southern region of a nearby realm took center stage.

A salad made of oranges, diced onion, and pine nuts tossed with a tangy dressing made of salt, pepper, oregano, and oil and vinegar.

A second fish course came out, bringing a genuine smile to his face. It reminded him of his sister-in-lawโ€™s family restaurant and a dish served there. But in no other way did this feast compare to the luxury of dinner

parties back home. Though he didnโ€™t like to admit it, Envyโ€™s brother Gluttony had recently impressed him, fashioning candles from bacon lard that, once theyโ€™d been lit and melted, created a rich, decadent sauce for the shaved Brussels sprouts.

Of course, his brother was highly motivated to have the best, most talked-about partiesโ€”he was locked in a feud with a reporter whose dismissals of him proved quite inspiring.

On and on the dishes came, and so did the wine. Blessedly.

He downed one glass and called for another, earning no admonishments.

In fact, several other guests did the same.

Apparently, Waverly Greenโ€™s high society grew bored with their pompous, holier-than-thou ways too. Given the fact that Vexley was supposed to be a scoundrel, this dinner party was boring as sin. Envyโ€™s masquerade next week would certainly stir things up nicely.

Across the table, the dark-haired woman from earlier, a widow named Janelle, kept trying to catch his eye. She pressed her breasts against the table as she leaned over, fully aware that the position combined with her low-cut bodice offered a tantalizing view.

Envy kept his attention on her face, where her lips were pouting ever so slightly.

โ€œFine wine, my lady, am I right?โ€

Her focus slid to his hand. Heโ€™d been absently stroking the stem of his wineglass, thinking of how to engage Camilla in conversation and draw her away from Vexley.

โ€œDo you sculpt, Lord Synton?โ€ she asked. โ€œWhy do you ask, Lady Janelle?โ€

A pleasant flush rose in her cheeks.

โ€œYou have the hands of an artist, my lord. I canโ€™t help but picture them molding objects to perfection. If you ever need a model, Iโ€™d be happy to pose.โ€

A flicker of annoyance surprised him, beckoning from Camillaโ€™s side. But when he stole a glance at her, she wasnโ€™t looking at him at all. Instead, she was fixated on Vexley, who was leaning toward her, eyes glassy from the fifth glass of wine heโ€™d finished.

โ€œLord Synton?โ€ Lady Janelle ventured, her breasts near to spilling out as she leaned farther forward.

Envy was saved from having to respond when the man to her left finally pulled his head out of his rear end to take an interest in the woman. And her generous cleavage.

Luckily, Janelle seemed very pleased by this turn of events as if that had been her goal all along. Games within games.

Vexleyโ€™s dinner party had quickly departed from the polite as harder spirits began to circulate alongside the wine, ensuring that the guestsโ€”both the ladies and the gentlemenโ€”were getting as intoxicated as they desired.

โ€œSweet manna from heaven,โ€ Envy whispered, swiping a whiskey cocktail from a tray, for the first time in his life regretting that his demon blood kept him from getting as soused on mortal liquor as all the rest.

Hours later, after the last dessert was brought out and cleared away, the host snatched a chalice from the table and lifted it high, spilling half its contents down his coat sleeve and splattering the remaining red liquor onto the table linen, as if re-creating a murder scene.

Envy kept his face impassive, though annoyance raged within. He despised messy displays. It showed a lack of control.

Surely this inebriated fool couldnโ€™t be his competition.

โ€œLadies, please see yourselves to the drawing room while the gentlemen smoke our cigars. We shall all take a few moments to gather ourselves before I show off my newest treasure. Afterward, how about we all play someโ€ฆ games? If you dare.โ€

Without looking in her direction, Envy tapped into Camillaโ€™s emotions, noticing a drastic spike in her nerves. All the while Vexley spoke, her discomfort wound around Envyโ€™s insides, as if her growing anxiety were his own.

Miss Camilla Antonius was either up to something nefarious or was nervous about what Vexley had in store for everyone. Or perhaps she was excited by the prospect of his games.

Envy recalled what Goodfellow had said. He fought the urge to look at her.

It was entirely possible that Envy had read Camillaโ€™s emotions wrong earlierโ€”perhaps sheโ€™d only been upset with Vexley for his public display and not his unwelcome touch.

Anticipation and nervousness were nearly identical at their core, so it was impossible to discern which emotion the artist was currently

experiencing. It was rare that his supernatural senses couldnโ€™t aid him, and Envy didnโ€™t care much for this uncertainty.

But perhaps it was another opportunity. If he could determine what Camilla was up to tonight, then he could devise a way to make himself indispensable to her, thus ensuring that sheโ€™d help him in return. No seduction required.

โ€œAll right, then,โ€ Vexley said finally. โ€œLetโ€™s be on our way.โ€

Out of the corner of his eye, Envy watched Camilla bolt for the door. Without drawing attention to himself, Envy quickly stood, but just as he pushed back his chair, he was stopped by Lady Katherine.

โ€œDo be a dear and escort me to the drawing room, my lord,โ€ she said, blocking his path.

He glanced from the meddlesome woman to the door, debating whether using his magic now would in any way count against him. It was small as far as risks went, but Envy couldnโ€™t chance breaking any rules of conduct.

โ€œIt will be but a moment,โ€ she added.

A moment was all Camilla had needed to slip away, a fact that her friend either seemed to know or had surmised just as he had.

Outmaneuvered by propriety, of all cursed things, Envy pasted on a pleasant smile and offered his arm.

โ€œOf course, Lady Katherine. Lead the way.โ€

You'll Also Like