Throne of the Fallen

She knew what he meant, even if she wasn’t sure why he was so desperate for her to say it out loud. It was a plea, not a threat or a demand. A choice. She thought about her mother, about how she’d commanded Camilla never to speak her truth aloud again.

“I may be Fae,” she whispered softly, “but that doesn’t make me part of your court.”

“Doesn’t it, though?” His smile was reminiscent of his name. “Be safe, fair winter lady. Remember, I am not your enemy.”

Oh, but he is exactly that, isn’t he? At least for now.

This time, when she plunged back down the path she’d made, the other Fae didn’t follow.

FIFTY

ALEXEI.” ENVY’S VOICE carried a magical summoning, alerting his second no matter where he was on the grounds that Envy needed him.

A moment later, the air stirred behind him.

“Your Highness?”

“Vittoria is on her way; I need this”—he motioned to the bodies of his fallen court members slumped throughout the corridor leading to his throne room—“taken care of before she arrives. No one can know the extent of our… problem.”

Envy finally turned, looking his second in the face. The vampire’s gaze was hard. Alexei had known the court was falling to the memory madness, had scented the blood behind closed doors well before the violence reached the corridors.

Lennox had many enemies; Envy only wished one would have taken him off the playing board centuries back. His second looked like he was considering doing just that.

Alexei could have returned to Malice Isle decades before. Envy knew he’d never admit it, but the vampire felt at home in these corridors. Had taken to the demon realm more than he’d ever taken to the politics of the vampire court. He wanted to see this game over too.

Wanted to rip the throats of their enemies out, bathing in their blood, making them pay for the suffering of the demons here.

“Of course,” Alexei finally said, twisting to the nearest body. His mouth had a grim set as he hauled the first body up.

Envy lifted another, his anger and hopelessness growing. These members of his court looked like they’d turned on each other. When you couldn’t remember anything, everyone wore an enemy’s face.

Together he and Alexei worked quickly, bringing the bodies to a chamber where they could be properly tended to later. Demons didn’t have religious practices like mortals, but there were sacred funeral rites observed by each House in the Seven Circles. Ways of honoring the fallen.

Once the corridor was cleared, Envy went to his bedchamber and changed into a fresh suit. Vittoria would scent death better than anyone else, given her true role as the goddess who ruled over it. He used more of his magic to cloak the scent. It was draining too much power, but he had no other choice.

Initially he’d only used his power to keep a select group of his guards and staff as clearheaded as possible, hoping they’d be able to take care of the rest of the court. Then Envy had had to ward his House. When he’d arrived tonight and seen the state of his court, he’d decided that no matter how much of a drain it caused, he needed to use his magic to stave off any more madness in his circle, as long as he could.

Now he was fueling too many demons with his personal store of power and barely keeping the memory fog at bay. He wasn’t siphoning enough magic back to replenish what he was using. And it was taking its toll.

Being weakened going into what he assumed was the final leg of the game was not ideal. He had to hope other players were just as ragged.

Alexei stood in the doorway, arms folded across his chest. “I don’t like this.”

“Lennox doesn’t design the game based on what we like.”

“We don’t even know if Vittoria has the next riddle or clue.”

Envy blew out a breath. He knew that, but he couldn’t risk not seeing if she did. “Do you have any better ideas?”

Alexei’s mouth pressed into a firm line.

Vittoria might not be the key to the next clue, but they were almost out of time.

“If you’re going to go through with it, then we’ll make it count. You need to siphon more of your sin tonight,” Alexei said, echoing his own worries. “You’ll never last to face off with Lennox if it comes down to it.”

They both knew it would. Lennox enjoyed lording over the winner, mostly to boast about his cleverness as game master.

“You won’t like it,” his second continued, “but Miss Antonius—”

“No.”

“I don’t mean stoking your jealousy.” Alexei smiled. “If Miss Antonius sees you with someone else, I’m sure she’ll provide a great deal of envy for you to siphon.”

Envy couldn’t argue. It was the best way for him to regain some of his power to continue funneling to his court. And yet…

“It’s our best hope,” Alexei said, more softly. “If Vittoria doesn’t have a clue, you’ll still have gained something from this meeting.”

Envy glanced toward the window. Somewhere on his grounds, Camilla was in his cottage. Part of him wanted to go back there, forget his reality for a few more delicious moments.