It wasn’t a question, so Camilla didn’t answer.
Sympathy entered Lo’s expression.
“Envy 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.”
Envy hadn’t told her that part outright, but thinking back on that night in Kitty’s house… he’d told her it was only that evening.
“Because his heart was broken before?”
“Because his sin will not allow him to be satisfied with what he has,” Lo said gently. “Envy 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. He’ll pursue you, become wildly territorial until he successfully captures you, then toss you aside. He isn’t cruel. He’s simply ruled by his sin like we all are.”
Camilla wanted to cast the warning aside but thought of Vexley. Of how quickly Envy had despised him. She’d thought it was about defending her. But if Lo was to be believed…
“You’re saying there was never any heartbreak?”
“I never said that.” Lo’s smile was a slow twist of his lips. “If you want my advice, guard your heart and forget my brother. He is content with his games and riddles and plots.”
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.
“Bathe. Eat. Rest. My brother is already requesting reentry.” Lo smiled again, although this smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’ll make him wait a bit more just to remind him who rules House Sloth.”
GODS-DAMNED PRICK.”
Envy crumpled the missive in his fist, seconds away from declaring war on his bastard of a brother Sloth. Said war was only narrowly avoided by the surprise visitation request from his
Envy glared at Wrath, who was dressed impeccably from head to toe in his signature black.
Gold rings gleamed on his fingers. Only a fool would think they were a simple fashion ornamentation. Envy knew firsthand how they could sharpen a blow.
His brother had come prepared for a fight, and Envy was feeling vexed enough to oblige. Decades ago, Wrath had refused to get involved the first time the game master screwed Envy. A fact he’d never fully forgiven his brother for. If anyone had stood a chance at swaying Lennox back then, it had been Wrath. But he’d chosen diplomacy instead. It set into motion their underlying friction and Envy’s least favorite role he played: the conniving, heartless villain.
Animosity aside, Envy had recently pretended he wanted to steal something his brother coveted. What no one knew was that Envy had his spies secretly feed Prince Greed the location of the two missing goddesses. It was
No one suspected Envy’s true motivation, they all only saw the game player. Which suited him fine.
The demon of war gave him a mocking grin.
“I missed you, too.” Wrath tossed a bag his way, the scent of sugar and cream immediately filling the air. “Not as much as my wife, though.”
Envy glanced inside the bag, a strange feeling thawing his irritation slightly.
Emilia had made cannoli for him. He stared at the bag a long moment, no discernible ulterior motive surfacing, nothing aside from… friendship. Emilia loved cooking, loved nourishing those she cared deeply for. Envy was admittedly a little touched that that now extended to him.
He fought the urge to try one when he realized how closely Wrath was inspecting him.
Envy folded the bag up again, tossed it carelessly onto his desk.
“Gratitude.” Wrath’s tone was amused. “That’s the foreign emotion you’re experiencing. I’ll pass along your thanks. For some reason, Emilia thinks you’re friends now.”
That pleasant feeling in his chest expanded painfully.
Envy squashed it at once.
“Shouldn’t you be home tending to your deviant wife? I’ve heard all about the manacles.”
“She’s visiting her sister.” Wrath’s golden gaze pinned him, all humor draining away. “And if your spies watch my wife again, I’ll come for you.”
Envy sighed.
“Contrary to popular belief, no one cares about your sex life. Don’t bend your wife over every hard surface you encounter outside the castle if you seek privacy like a mortal.”
“Your spies shouldn’t be in my circle, those wards—”
“Why are you here?” Envy interrupted; best not to travel that path.
Wrath stared at him, hard, proving he knew exactly what Envy was up to.
