He downed his entire glass in one go. I raised my brows. “Is that necessary?”
“Not at all.” He refilled his goblet and took another large gulp. “But it doesn’t hurt.”
I took a tentative sip of the wine. It didn’t taste different. If I hadn’t uttered the spell over it myself, I’d never know there was anything suspect about it. I frowned into my drink.
Envy’s sudden bark of laughter broke me from my thoughts. “The witches who raised you kept many secrets, I see. It’s utterly delightful.”
“What is?”
“Watching as your perfect world crumbles.”
“You’re an awful person.”
“My dear, you keep forgetting. I’ve never been afflicted with humanity.” He lifted a shoulder and drank more. “Besides, I meant it in a good way. A phoenix rises from the ashes for a reason. Your world must be destroyed for you to rise anew. And rise you shall. Just as they always feared you would.”
“How long before the truth spell works?”
He finished off his glass and promptly poured another. “It’s already active.”
“Do you like me?”
“I find you tolerable. Should you meet a violent ending, I wouldn’t shed a tear. Nor would I rejoice. I would go on as if you never were.”
I snorted in the most unladylike manner and took another sip of my drink. “The night my nonna attacked you… you seemed to know her. How?”
“Curses are curious things.” He downed another glass and splashed more into his empty cup. “Sometimes they’re like trees. They stay rooted to the spot they’re planted. Other times they’re like wildflowers. Their seeds float along with the bees and fly with the birds. They tangle and grow and thrive outside of that original patch they were sprinkled upon. Kind of like keys. Not all keys fit in locks. Some keys are much more cunning.”
I waited for his nonsensical ramblings to revert to a coherent answer. He simply gazed back at me. “That’s not even remotely close to what I asked. Are you drunk?”
“Quite.” His s
mile was the first real one he’d given me. A dimple appeared in his right cheek. It softened the harshness he wore like armor. “But what I said is true. There are things I cannot say, no matter the spell used on our wine, because there are greater powers involved still. I know your grandmother. Though I know many other interesting secrets.”
I wanted to know how he knew Nonna, but there was little use trying to pry information he clearly either couldn’t or wouldn’t give. “Tell me about the curse, then.”
“It’s a tale so old its origins are known only to a few. And even their memories have become copperlike with the age and patina that’s formed over them, dulling their shine until the shadow of what was is all that remains.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The story of curses and stolen memories. And the unraveling of many lies.” He abruptly leaned back, nearly tipping his chair over. “My brother will never force you to marry him. It goes against all that he stands for.”
“I didn’t ask about your brother.”
“No, but I imagine you’re curious. Has he indicated he wishes for you to complete the bond?”
I didn’t want to answer, but the truth spell enticed the words from my lips. “He’s told me about it, but he hasn’t indicated which he prefers.”
“I won’t ask if you’ve considered it. Especially since we know the manner in which it’s accepted. At least in part.” I tried to not show relief, but Envy must have seen the slight flash of it in my face. His smile was cruel delight. “He may not force you to wed, but he will not meekly wait in the background. That is not his way, either. He will make his presence and intentions known to each royal House. As he did today.”
I took another sip of the truth wine. “Why do you do that?”
“Pardon?”
“You always sow seeds of distrust between your brother and me.” I did not need to drink my wine to ask my next question. “Are you that envious of him? Or do you simply covet anything that isn’t yours?”
“I am not always plagued by envious thoughts.” His green eyes flared with an emotion that wasn’t based in sneering or his namesake. “My brother’s temper caused something important to be taken from me. I hope to one day return the favor. It is not envy I am motivated by. It is retribution. Something I imagine you and I share in common, though I doubt you’ll admit it, even with the truth wine.”
He hadn’t phrased it as a question, so the spell didn’t compel me to answer. “I would do anything to have my sister back. You ought to forgive whatever sins have come between you and Wrath. Happiness should be the only thing that matters.”