Truth be told, Envy had started suspecting much earlier. It was easier for him to blame her for betraying him; otherwise, he’d have to consider facing the truth. He’d recently been able to lie to others, but Envy had been lying to himself far longer.
Did his one-night rule truly protect his court, or did it prevent him from ever feeling heartbreak?
He finished his drink, staring into the glass. Camilla might not want to see him. She might be perfectly happy in the Wild Court. With Wolf.
That meddling prick Alexei, now Envy couldn’t unsee Camilla and Wolf rekindling their flame.
Envy squeezed his eyes shut. That gods-damned Fae had truly gotten under his skin too. He knew the Unseelie would be attempting to win Camilla back. Maybe he already had.
Perhaps Wolf was holding her right now.
Jealousy froze the glass in his hand, until it began to crack, drops of bourbon leaking into his palm.
Envy glared at the physical proof of his displeasure.
“Gods’ blood.”
Miss Camilla Elise Antonius, lover, betrayer, Unseelie princess, drove him absolutely fucking mad, even here, realms away from Faerie.
The question now was, what Envy was going to do about it.
He sensed one of his spies a moment before he materialized, partially corporeal.
“I have news from the Wild Court, Your Highness.”
His tone made Envy’s skin crawl. “And?”
The spy handed him a folded piece of parchment.
Envy scanned the report, then crumpled it in his fist.
“Fucking hell.”
SIXTY-SEVEN
“ARE YOU READY?” Wolf’s voice carried through Camilla’s bedchamber.
She stepped out from behind the ornate dressing screen, her silk floor-length gown a beautiful lavender gray.
Camilla looked every inch an Unseelie princess as she situated a flower crown on her head. She twisted to the side, admiring the silver cuff she wore on one of her elongated ears. Little moons and stars were carved along the metal, an ode to her heritage.
She’d stopped wearing hunter green days ago, when the Prince of Envy made no attempt to contact her. When he’d left without uttering a single word, not even a curse.
She’d been foolishly hopeful. Those first few nights. Thinking he’d returned to his court, save them, then he’d be back.
Fighting with her.
Kissing her.
Playing games they both loved.
Surely he had something to say after… everything they’d been through. Camilla thought his freeing her from her father’s cruel games meant he’d forgiven her. Or would at least allow her the chance to explain. To admit how terrible she’d felt, keeping this secret.
But she’d been so afraid. Scared that he’d react exactly this way.
His silence spoke loud and clear. The Prince of Envy was never coming back. And Camilla needed to move on with her life, help her brother Ayden establish his temporary rule, then return home, to Wisteria Way. She missed her gallery, her cat, and Kitty.
Wolf gave her a long once-over, momentarily snapping his mouth shut.
The gown was indecent by Waverly Green standards—clinging to every curve like a dream. In the Wild Court it was rather tame. But she was not interested in playing courtly games. At least not here. Things might have been different if her mother had never kidnapped her, bound most of her magic, and made her grow up human. Maybe if she’d grown up in Faerie she’d be as abominable as her older brother and sister.
Wolf’s gaze slid back up, his yellow eyes darkening. He’d made his intentions clear.
The blessed reprieve lasted only a moment. Then Wolf started in again.
“Ayden cannot rule in your father’s place forever,” he said. “We don’t even know if he’s capable. He might disappear one night and play carnival again.”
“Well, until our mother decides to return, there’s not much choice, is there?” Camilla said, her tone as gentle as she could manage.
“Your mother might not ever return, Princess.”
They’d had this same disagreement for the last week, and it was growing tedious. Camilla wanted to return to Waverly Green. Had no interest in staying to help rule the Wild Court. She had no interest in ruling the court she was supposed to see to, either. It had been running as a principality for decades and was doing just fine.
“You know I have no wish to stay here,” she said. “My brother will marry soon and have an heir. In a few decades the issue will resolve itself. His heir will rule over his court until—and if—our mother returns.”
Over the past week, Wolf had helped her glamour the minds of all who’d been tortured by the king, a necessary evil, a choice Camilla did not make easily before sending them home again.
It was one of what would be many difficult decisions in the wake of Lennox’s death.
Wolf wanted Camilla to take hold of the Wild Court before her debauched elder brother or sister scented opportunity. She’d immediately suggested Ayden step in. He had his faults, but he’d spent time among humans too.
“And you’ll simply live alone in Waverly Green, glamoured for the rest of eternity? You know that doesn’t suit you anymore. You have friends here, family. Me.”
He’d struck the one chord that always hurt. Camilla did not want to be alone.
“We could mate for life,” Wolf suggested. “I would help you acclimate again. You might not love me now, but love grows.”
“Except for that bothersome little fact that I do not wish to stay here.”
“Faerie?” he pressed. “Or the Underworld as a whole?”
Wolf was fishing. He wanted to ask what she thought about Prince Envy.
And that was much too complicated. Part of her wanted to pen him letters of apology, part of her wanted to paint his head onto an oversized donkey, pointing out that he was obviously an ass. But the longer they went without speaking, the more unsure she became.
Maybe it was for the best, giving up. Letting go.
Then Camilla wouldn’t have to worry about him leaving again one day.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by a mewl.
Camilla rushed past Wolf to open the door, smiling for only the second time since she’d set foot in this court.
“Kitty! Bunny.”
Her friend swept in, setting her cat on the floor, and hugged Camilla close. Then she stepped back to look Wolf over.
“Did I interrupt?” Lady Katherine asked, ever hopeful.
Camilla snorted. “Hardly.”
“That tone is most unappreciated, ladies.” Wolf shook his head. “Has no one in the mortal realm heard my legends recently? I might have to rectify that.”
“How are you here?” Camilla asked, ignoring Wolf. “You didn’t have to leave Waverly Green, Kitty.”
“I did, actually. When your glamour broke, mine did too. Most inconveniently.” Lady Katherine pulled her hair back, revealing her elongated ears. “It took some time for me to explain things to William, but he’s coping surprisingly well. You’re all right?”
Camilla lifted a shoulder, then dropped it.
Kitty had originally been tasked with asking Camilla to return to the Wild Court, a decade before, when Prim Róis had finally left her side. Then, when Camilla refused, Lennox had commanded Kitty to stay, to keep an eye on Camilla.