Nestled between his powerful legs, my head resting in the crook of his shoulder while he leisurely dragged the linen over my body, I released the remaining tension I’d been carrying for the last few months. There were still matters to be dealt with—what to do with the First Witch, as well as clearing my sister’s name. Proving that Vesta was alive and well and left of her own free will and that my twin had nothing to do with her “murder.” And whatever trouble the Star Witches might still be plotting. I hoped that my show of magic was enough to keep them in the Shifting Isles for a while. And as for the vampires, after Wrath’s brutal display, I believed they’d remain in their region and rethink any notion of war.
But for now, with the curse finally broken, we had a moment to simply breathe, to enjoy each other’s company without anyone interfering or any clocks ticking down our time together. I’d like nothing more than to put off dealing with those final pieces for a month.
Sleep tugged at me, and I gave in to the alluring pull of dreams. It had been a long, exhausting haul. I’d gone from removing the threat of the witches as they invaded Greed’s circle to attending a celebratory ball to the Well of Memory; from there I’d threatened Sursea, visited Claudia to retrieve the dagger, and broken the curse.
Resting never felt so good.
“We should send invitations out within the hour.” Wrath’s deep voice startled me awake. “For the coronation. We’ll want to crown you by nightfall, if possible. With the curse broken, and your magic gone, it is a prime time for someone to attack.”
And just like that, the serenity was gone. I twisted in his arms. “Remind me to not make the mistake of thinking a bath with you will ever be peaceful. First the Blade of Ruination speech, now this.” I smiled as I shook my head. “It’s a good thing I love you, or I’d wish to hold your head under water for a few seconds.”
He kissed the tip of my nose. “At least you didn’t say a few minutes. That shows progress, my lady.”
“Perhaps I simply enjoy certain parts of you too much to give them up for good.”
He splashed water at me. “I’ll make sure those parts tend to your needs daily, lest I find myself on the wrong end of your blade.”
“Smart demon.” I lovingly patted his cheek. Seriousness replaced the levity. “Who do you believe will attack? The witches?”
“Sursea is in captivity, but I doubt her location has remained a secret. The coven could be planning something as they rebanded. They already staged an attack on House Greed. Without the fear of your magic, they might strike here next.”
“To free Sursea.”
Wrath nodded, a grim expression on his face. “If they timed it perfectly, and somehow managed to slip past my defenses, they could break her free while we’re at the coronation.”
“It would be an ideal distraction. A good opportunity. But would they really try something again so soon after they’d lost so many?”
“I would think they’d be smart enough to leave well enough alone, especially after taking such a large blow to their forces, but one can never be too sure.”
I studied my husband. “Even if it’s unlikely, you’re still planning on the attack happening.”
“If presented with an enticing opportunity, most do not pass it up. Even if they believe it’s a trap. There’s always a chance it isn’t. Or that they still have a higher rate for success.”
“Which would be true. As we’d both be occupied.”
“Not just occupied. The coronation will take place in the Sin Corridor, in front of each of my brothers.”
It wasn’t fear that made my stomach twist, but unease. “They could attack each House of Sin while all the princes are gone.”
“Or they could focus on the Sin Corridor.”
And if they managed to free Sursea, they wouldn’t need to worry about the numbers they lost. They were undoubtedly craving vengeance, and they could potentially destroy every demon prince and at least one goddess if they took a chance. I didn’t like it, even with the combined power of the seven princes of Hell, it seemed too great a risk.
“Why not have the ceremony here?” I asked.
“The crowning of a prince or princess consort would take place in the House of Sin they’d rule over. But to be crowned queen, the ceremony must take place in the corridor. It shows you will rule fairly and justly over each House of Sin, should any prince request assistance. It hasn’t happened; my brothers are more than capable of tending to their circles, but the law remains in place.”
There was a slight twinkle of excitement in Wrath’s gaze, reminding me of our fight with the werewolves. My husband was a delightful heathen. He wasn’t nervous about a potential attack; he anticipated it. Outmaneuvering his enemies was a challenge, an opportunity to create a strategy and use his sin. And if I knew anything about my husband, he’d already had a plan in place.
“If they believe the First Witch is here, they’ll strike. So you’re going to move Sursea.” I eyed him speculatively. “Instead of banishing her like you’d bargained for, you’re going to send her to House Pride, aren’t you?”
Admiration glinted in his eyes. “My brother was only too willing to oblige my request. Sursea never agreed to when she’d be banished. Only that she would be. After what she did to corrupt his marriage and steal his wife, he’s been waiting for an opportunity like this.”
The memory of Claudia when she was still Lucia flitted across my mind. I shifted to the other side of the tub to face the demon. “Does your brother still love her?”
“Lucia?” Wrath asked. I nodded. He pulled my leg onto his lap and began rubbing the soles of my feet, thinking. “Only he can answer that. I know he’s never stopped searching for her. He believes she’s alive somewhere. That perhaps her mother put a spell-lock on her, too.” His attention dropped to my chest, where my mortal heart had been. “Now that you and Vittoria are restored, he’s more determined than ever to find Lucia and see if his theory is correct.”
“But did he ever love her, or was it his pride and ego that made him covet her? I imagine she would have been quite the conquest as the daughter of the First Witch. The one witch who was supposed to lead others to guard the realm and keep princes of Hell in line.”
Wrath leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “My brother was and is still widely known for his dalliances. Mostly because it is an image he wants to project. He’d never once proposed to any of his lovers. Nor has he ever so much as spent more than one night with anyone since Lucia.”
“You’re certain he never slept with Vittoria?” I asked, thinking of our previous conversation.
Wrath’s mouth lifted on one side. “Your sister is the only other being that matches him in a lot of ways, which was why her betrayal hit him so deeply. But I still don’t believe they ever consummated that relationship. By then, he’d already been trying to work on issues in his marriage, but Lucia distanced herself. Personally? I think she loved him as much as he loved her, but they might have been too dissimilar for it to last. If things were different, if he’d met Vittoria first.” He lifted a shoulder and dropped it. “I do know none of that matters until he finds out what happened to Lucia. Regardless of what anyone may think, Pride is loyal.”