Seven Prince Gluttony
V IXIE, AN EXTREMELY affectionate guest, licked up the column of my throat, groaning softly.
“You taste so good, Your Highness,” she mumbled, suckling my neck again, no doubt spurred on by the sinful tableau taking place in my grand foyer as I welcomed guests to the party. Her teeth scraped against my jugular and I hid my wince. If she nibbled any harder, she’d find herself in the vampire court.
Trays of smoking cocktails passed by, the sharp fragrance of juniper and other winter-inspired ingredients wafting through the air.
I snagged an ice-cold glass, pleased by the theatrical extravagance of the drink. Frozen juniper berries were used in place of ice cubes, and some interesting technique made the top of the cocktail smoke, giving off that wonderful wintry note. The aromatics heightened the taste as I sipped the citrusy gin, enjoying the slight fizzle that popped over my tongue.
Sight, taste, and smell had all been perfectly engaged; my drink masters had outdone themselves tonight creating the signature cocktail of the evening.
Though some guests were finding more interesting ways to sample their drinks.
At House Gluttony we took feasting very seriously. Despite what a slew of rumors suggested, it started as a way to needle Miss Saint Lucent when she’d once written I wouldn’t know sin from virtue, and I ought to relinquish my sinner’s crown.
I’d wanted her to eat her words. Literally. So, I’d had a long table brought in, taking up most of the entryway, and forced guests to walk around it to enter the rest of the House of Sin.
I recalled with wondrous clarity the moment Adriana had walked in and drunk her fill of the sight that first evening. I’d made sure she’d secured an invitation to the event.
Shock—and what I’d sworn had been a spark of intrigue and desire—had marred her features before the mask of disdain slipped back into place.
But it had been enough to satisfy me. I knew then I’d won that round, even if she’d never admitted to it. I’d kept the table there as a staple of my House from then on.
There was no food or drink served on it. Guests were permitted to indulge in their fantasies, gorging on attention and their partners for all to see.
One such public display was happening now.
I watched as a threesome took turns disrobing, then slowly made their way onto the table. One male took an ice cube from his drink, then ran it over his lover’s breasts, getting her nipples perfectly hard before lathing his tongue along the tight buds. The moment she arched up, he hooked her legs over his shoulders and feasted on her like he’d been starved.
She thrashed across the table, her expression one of pure bliss as she groped her breasts.
A second male stroked himself to the scene, then, after bending toward her ear and earning an emphatic nod of approval, he fed his cock down her throat.
I finished my gin and set it on an empty tray. Miss Saint Lucent hadn’t arrived. A fact that wasn’t surprising, considering she no longer reported on gossip. Still, my attention seemed to wander to the door more than I cared for.
Another couple joined the table, and it became a mix of limbs and body parts entwined in impressive ways. If Miss Saint Lucent were here, she’d scorn the overindulgent orgy.
A throat cleared, drawing me back to the matter at hand.
Aside from greeting my guests, I was giving an interview.
Speaking with scandal sheets was part of my duty to keep up appearances and divert their attention while my House continued its secret efforts to unearth what had caused the dragon attacks.
At least for now the more the reporters focused on me, the less they might look for the next big story. I cocked my head at the reporter—his light hair was slicked back, allowing his aquiline nose to dominate his otherwise delicate features.
Perhaps that was what made him seem so haughty and full of himself.
“Is it true, Your Highness, that your grand ‘feast’ table is based on a private feud between you and House Lust?”
Anders. Anderson. Something pompous. He’d been firing off questions for the better part of an hour and despite him being one of my sinners, I was ready to smuggle him past Merciless Reach and feed him to the dragons. He was far less engaging than Miss Saint Lucent.
I gave him a lazy grin, dragging my companion closer, earning a pleased giggle as she pressed her generous curves against me. She started unbuttoning my shirt.
Anders watched, rapt, as her fingers deftly moved to the next button, slowly exposing my bronze skin and the top half of my tattoo. A second lover, Rosaline sank to her knees, running her nails up the front of my legs. It felt good but I remained unaroused.
If I closed my eyes, though, if I allowed my mind to drift to forbidden thoughts and desires, I could remedy that.
My eyes remained good and open.
Anders shook his head, seeming to recall he was working and not indulging in debauchery tonight.
“Well? Does House Gluttony have a secret war with House Lust?”
“Come now, do you think I’d waste my time with a subpar court?”
“Rumors suggest you’re both aiming for the title of prince of pleasure. Do you have any comment on that?”
“Lust might rule over carnal pleasure, but surely my House of Sin proves there’s much pleasure to be found in other areas.”
Anders looked like a dog who was intent on going after a bone.
My brothers and I got along well enough in private, but we all cultivated a certain image for the realm. We had our own sibling rivalries, but nothing as serious as going to war with one another like some gossips claimed. Anders opened his mouth to ask another inane question, when Val strode over, inclining her head.
I’d never been more thrilled to see my second. “Yes?”
“A note arrived for you, Your Highness.”
I gave my would-be lovers a wolfish grin.
“Why don’t you two indulge each other for a while?”
My companions were only too happy to oblige.
I disentangled myself from Vixie and Rosaline as they began kissing, all but forgetting me as their embrace deepened.
I turned my back on the dullest reporter of our generation and focused on the note. The cobalt parchment was crisp, the ink silver. It was from my House of Sin.
Wolves are prowling in circles of darkness.
I folded the message back up. It was code. And I suddenly had a very interesting adventure to embark on. I schooled my features into the perfect mask of a devilish rake, allowing innuendo to drip from my tone.
“If you’ll all excuse me, I have an invitation I would be foolish not to indulge.”
I moved as silently as a shadow as I stalked my brothers, mindful of each cobblestone I stepped on. Snow added to the challenge, but the thrill of being caught during the pursuit fueled me to forge ahead. My prey meandered down the block, unaware of my presence.
For all their combined cunning, Lust and Envy were rather easy to track as they made their way through the winding streets of the night district. It made me suspicious; were they truly trying to be stealthy or was it a diversion? Perhaps I was simply paranoid.
That they were sneaking around my circle without my permission, and it was grounds for war, was another matter entirely. I could end this right now, reveal myself, but then I’d miss out on seeing just what they were up to.
It had taken less than thirty minutes to locate them. Now I waited, picking my way through the shadows to see where they were heading, curious to discover which of my demons were selling information to our rivals. Perhaps I’d strike gold and find Adriana’s informant too.
I trailed my brothers, keeping a block between us to remain unseen, hunting them as I would any ice dragon or creature of the north.
I scanned their wool cloaks, impressed they’d attempted to disguise themselves at all.
Of course, the gleaming polish of their fine boots ruined their attempt to mask their wealth. Lust’s lack of focus I wasn’t surprised by; he was always more interested in finding pleasure or toying with it, but I expected better from Envy, master of detail.
They casually strolled down the cobblestone street, projecting an innocuous image of two friends in search of a good time. At the next cross street, they turned right.
I waited several beats before following, just catching them as they walked into one of the many restaurants on the block. Fire pits roared in pots out front, warming guests who’d chosen to dine outside despite the snow that fell almost constantly.
I breathed in the aromas of grilled meats and savory meals that filtered out each time a door was opened. My circle was known for its many eateries—unsurprising when so many liked to indulge in food and drink. I inhaled once more, fighting off my own desire to partake in something greasy and delicious. Not far from here a bistro cut potatoes into thin strips, fried them, and dusted them in salt and hot pepper the moment they came out of the oil.
Turning, I scanned the street. I needed a place to wait without drawing attention. An alleyway with a decent number of shadows was directly across from the restaurant.
I aimed for it, glancing around once before slipping down the narrow, darkened path. At the end there was a rubbish bin with a lid half falling off. I looked up at the roof of the building. It wasn’t too far from the ground, but it was high enough that I couldn’t simply jump.
I could use my wings but didn’t want to risk anyone seeing me, thus alerting my brothers that I was prowling around the area.
I exhaled, my breath coming out in a puff, my heart beating double time as I dragged the rubbish bin under the nearest window, cursing as the metal loudly scraped against stone, then quickly stepped onto it. The thin metal bent under my weight.
I jumped high enough to grip the ledge, my fingers sliding over the ice before getting a firm grip, and slowly pulled myself up.
If stealth wasn’t needed, I’d already be up on the roof. Instead, I took my time. One wrong move would send snow and ice careening over the edge.
I scaled the building, finding handholds and footholds, moving as fast as I could until I finally reached the roof and rolled onto it. I dusted my hands off, then took up my position near the edge. I had a perfect view of the restaurant below.
A few demons passed by on the street, unaware their prince lurked above.
Drunks linked arms, singing tavern songs. Demons laughed and shouted as they tossed snowballs at one another, the mood light and untroubled. No one was looking toward the sky in fear, no whispers of ice dragons attacking any Prince of Sin. All seemed to be well.
It would be a good night for my circle.
Except for the two princes who didn’t belong here.
I waited, gaze locked on the restaurant Envy and Lust had entered.
A few moments later, my brothers were back with a waitress, being seated on the outdoor patio, purposely choosing a table half blocked by a fire pot.
It would have done its job of hiding their features had I still been at ground level.
Food and drinks were served quickly, and I settled in for what appeared to be the most boring spy mission of my existence. They picked at their plates, shared a few laughs, and called for a second round of drinks. I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to fly down and demand to know what the hells was going on. Patience was a hunter’s strongest ally.
If I waited long enough, I was bound to discover something.
Nearly a quarter of an hour later, I was rewarded. A cloaked figure strode up to their table; envelopes were exchanged like they were part of some espionage novel.
Envy looked inside his, nodding curtly, then the cloaked figure disappeared into the shadows.
For another hideous stretch of time, nothing happened.
Finally, once I was on the verge of revealing myself, demanding to know what they had planned next, my brothers finished their drinks, then stood.
To my utter delight, Envy removed something from his envelope.
A small object gleamed in the firelight.
A key.
Runes glowed as my brother ran his fingers over it.
I knew the precise location that key unlocked. A place they really ought to have asked me about before taking it upon themselves to visit.
Grinning to myself, I turned to the next building and jumped across to its roof. I would permit them their adventure, to see exactly what they were after and who would be giving them the information. Once I knew that, I’d leave a message for my brothers to come find me as soon as they finished their little outing to the Seven Sins.
If they believed they’d slip through my circle undetected, then unravel my House secrets, they were mad. They needed a reminder that I was the best hunter of us all, and there wasn’t anywhere in my circle they could go where I wouldn’t find them.
Especially not to my very own private club of sin.