Page 27 of Glutton for Punishment

I walk a little faster, whistling as I head down the torch lit corridor. A cheerful and wildly inappropriate tune I remember from my childhood. Warm liquid drips lazily down my nose and chin from where I cracked my skull open, leaving little red polka dots on the floor behind me.

The Envy Towers’ immense stone walls try to swallow the sound of my music, but the fires of the torches seem to be almost dancing as I walk by.

They’re pretty dancers but not very good at actually brightening the place up. I bet no one will be able to see the pretty polka dots I’m leaving. I frown at the thought, glancing behind me.

This place could use some color.

Old stone, older secrets. Most of the people working in this place think the Councilor of Envy is just a rumor whispered in the dark.

Only three of us know he exists. His Speakers.

I reach the final torch in a dead end hallway and twist it sideways. The wall groans open, revealing the narrow chamber beyond.

Inside waits one of Master’s favorite little toys—a forbidden Sloth relic embedded into the pedestal like a jewel in a crown.

Funny thing about Envy…

We steal a lot of things from Sloth, apparently. Big no no’s, sloth relics… heavily frowned upon by the Council.

It’s just lazy magic that does all the work for you.

My fingers brush the mark imbedded into my wrist as I step inside. My leash. The one that lets Master slip inside my mind whenever he wants.

The Sloth relic that did this was a nasty little thing.

I remember the pain lasted for days. It felt like my skin was melting off, over and over…

How fun!

I smile at the memory before looking back at the pedestal. The relic in the chamber only needs a little blood.

Luckily, I’m already leaking and have blood to spare.

I swipe the blood from my forehead and smear it across the surface of the device. The metal drinks it eagerly, warming under my palm.

A second later the floor shudders as the lift rises.

Up we go.

The tower climbs in silence until the platform slows to a stop. I step forward… and blink to make sure what I’m seeing isn’t one of my hallucinations.

That’s unexpected.

“Professor,” I say sarcastically, looking at the man my bond watches with heart eyes. Sure, he’s my bond brother according to Master, but no said he had to be such a smug asshole.

Nikolai Gabriel sits at the long table beneath Master’s throne like he’s waiting for tea instead of standing inside the most secret room in Vail.

Infuriating.

I’m the one who deals with Nikolai. Messages, meetings, little arrangements between Master and the Sloth rebels.

But here he is. In the annoyingly untarnished flesh.

Which means Master trusts him enough to let him see him in person.

I tilt my head, studying Nikolai as I approach. He looks worse than usual. Pale and tired. Like someone who hasn’t slept in days and knows sleep won’t help anyway.

He still somehow maintains that smug expression. An expression I’ve never been able to read well. So I hate his face.