“Lady Emilia.” She offered a polite curtsy to me and dipped low for Wrath. “I’ve secured the necklace.”
She winked at me as she handed Wrath a rather large jewelry box. He lifted the lid to glance inside before closing it again. “Did you get something for yourself?”
“Yes, your majesty.” Fauna brushed her curly jet-black hair aside, showing off a choker that featured little red berries. The color looked lovely against her warm brown skin. “I offered one to Anir, but he declined.” Her sepia eyes twinkled. “But he did accept the necktie beaded with them. He’s dressing now and should arrive shortly.”
Wrath jerked his head in approval. “Make sure he looks like a courtier.”
“Of course.” Fauna curtsied again, then rushed from the room, her copper skirts swishing across the marble like whispering waves on the shore.
I nodded at the box. “May I see it?”
Wrath popped the lid open and lifted the necklace.
“Oh.” My breath caught from its beauty. And its true purpose. This was no simple adornment. It was a weapon. Strands of Rosary Pea berries alternated with rubies. The gemstones the deep red of blood. It was meant to entice. To draw the eye. And then to warn. The vampire emissary could look but not touch. Unless he wished to die. “Subtlety isn’t your strong suit.”
“Subtlety is for cowards, my lady.”
Wrath motioned for me to turn around, and he quickly fastened the jewelry around my neck. I faced him again, running my hands over the exquisite statement piece. The demon prince followed the path my hands traveled with his gaze, then continued lower as if he were seeing me for the first time and drinking in the full sight. A carnal look crossed his features. So primal and intense, I was tempted to see what sort of trouble we could get into on the throne.
“Do you like it?” I asked, knowing he more than liked it. I could almost see him calculating whether we had time to make my newest fantasy come true as he looked me over again.
My rose-gold gown hugged my curves, the color so pale and soft someone might forget the terrible magic sizzling under my skin. Might be lured in by the pale pink charred roses covering the top portion of my bodice that plunged a bit too low, might mistake the pale vines with thorns that accentuated my hips before fading into the fuller tulle skirts for pretty adornments, and not understand the warning they were. My gown was my magic in wearable form. I quite loved it.
Wrath looked like he wanted to shred if off and show his appreciation for it in a purely animalistic way. Thoughts of him sliding my skirts up to bury himself deep inside had my cheeks going rosy. Not in embarrassment, but want. I needed a fan. Or an ice bath.
“This gown might be one of the hexed objects we haven’t located yet.” His mouth kicked up at the edges. “It’s certainly got me spellbound. Though I think it’s just you, my lady.”
I glanced at my dress, fighting a grin. I adored when Wrath flirted with me. It was a welcome distraction, a bit of light to balance the dark.
A sharp knock drew our attention. Any hint of sensuality or lightheartedness vanished from Wrath’s face. In its place was the hard, unforgiving mask of the strongest prince of Hell. Here was the demon whose power was so overwhelming it altered the entire realm. “Enter.”
An older demon hurried in and bowed respectfully low. He wore a suit that reminded me of butlers in my favorite romance novels. “The emissary’s party just left the stables, your majesty.”
“Alert Anir and the others. I want them here now.” Wrath held his arm out to me, so formal and full of manners. “Come, my lady. Let’s prepare ourselves for our guests.”
“Unwelcome though they may be.”
“Indeed.” Wrath’s grin was wolfish.
I placed my hand in the crook of his arm, and we made our way to the thrones. Even feeling safe in our own House of Sin, nerves still had my pulse pounding. An unfortunate thing considering who we were about to entertain.
Wrath helped me up the stairs, then brought his lips to the shell of my ear, his warm breath causing a delightful shiver to dance along my spine. “Breathe. Or the emissary will walk in on me doing everything in my power to get your heart pounding for more pleasant reasons.”
To follow his seductive statement with action, he kissed the pulse point at my throat, his tongue flicking over it lightly as he scraped his teeth against my skin. His hands… those cursed, incredible things, drifted along the swell of my breasts, down my silhouette until he playfully squeezed my bottom, promising to do exactly what he’d said.
I abruptly sat on my throne, earning a deep chuckle from Wrath. I was well and truly distracted as I fought the temptation to have him kneel before me, his head between my thighs, as the vampire entered our domain and the demon’s tongue entered me.
Wrath’s eyes flared—he’d sensed my arousal and likely felt the emotions I was struggling with. Goddess curse him for being so impossible to resist; this wasnotthe time to be thinking of a tryst. Or submitting to desire.
I gave him a slight shake of my head. “Behave. The emissary will arrive soon.”
“I have no idea what you mean, my lady.” The look he gave me was a mixture of pure male smugness and feigned innocence. “I’m simply admiring my fierce wife.”
He sat on his throne and once again adopted that icy demeanor. I wouldn’t wish to be on the receiving end of that look. It promised unending cruelty. Anir and Fauna entered the chamber, followed by several other demons I didn’t recognize, all wearing their finery.
Most demons—both male and female—often stood with confidence, but something about the way these courtiers moved made me think they weren’t simply lords and ladies of House Wrath. I’d wager anything these were soldiers.
I gave my husband a sideways look. He was prepared to fight. I was unsure if it was simply a precaution or if it was an offensive move. There hadn’t been much time for us to get ready, and he’d left the bedchamber to meet with Anir and his top soldiers before I’d finished getting dressed. I had no clue what his scheme was, but I was certain he had one.