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Pummeling the person who was “tumbling” his daughter would be the perfect way to work out some of his own grief. Defending a daughter’s honor was an age-old male pastime. Antiquated human behavior aside, I couldn’t believe Antonio had come to our home.
My attention sought out the little clock for the thousandth time. The afternoon was dragging by. There were hours left until I had to meet Wrath. To give my hands something to do besides fantasize about wrapping themselves around Antonio’s neck, I removed the damp cloth from the mound of dough and began rolling the pasta for the busiate.
I couldn’t believe I ever wanted to kiss that nosy fool.
“Oh, and Emilia?” I paused my assault of the dough and looked at my mother. “Make extra busiate. I promised Antonio you?
??d bring some over today with your apologies.”
I smiled. I’d happily make extra pasta and dump it all over the troublesome fratello’s head.
“Buon appetito.” I slammed two baskets onto the long wooden table in the dining hall, not bothering to remove the covered trays of food within them. The small gathering of men waiting for their meal went silent. Antonio paused his conversation with another member around his age, concern crinkling his brow.
I gave him a look that I hoped promised a slow, torturous death and it must have worked. He shot to his feet and hastily escorted me into the corridor. I tolerated his hand on my bare arm until we were out of sight, then shrugged him off.
Sleeveless bodice or not, I didn’t appreciate the liberty he’d taken with touching my skin.
“Is something wrong, Emilia?”
“I cannot believe you told my mother I was here with someone last night,” I hissed. “What I do, and who I spend my time with, doesn’t concern you.”
Antonio’s jaw tightened. “Your sister was murdered here and a month later, I find you in the same chamber with someone I’ve never seen and whose name you refuse to give. Forgive me if I wanted to check to make sure you were all right.”
“If you were that worried, you could have easily waited in the monastery and walked me home. You didn’t have to show up at my house before dawn.”
He closed his eyes, leaving me to wonder what exactly was going on in his head. He had to know how much trouble he could have caused. No one was that naïve. Finally, when he looked at me again, the fight seemed to leave him.
His voice was quiet when he said, “Another girl was murdered after we spoke last night. And… and I couldn’t stop worrying it was you. After what happened with Vittoria, I had to be sure it wasn’t. I apologize for any trouble—I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. We were too late. Someone must have discovered the identity of the witch Wrath had planned to meet later. But how?
My mind spun. Wrath said he was the only prince who knew about the potential brides, but that didn’t mean other princes didn’t have ways of figuring that out. Spies were utilized in human royal courts—the same likely held true in the demon world. I thought about the invisible Umbra demons who worked for Greed. If he’d sent one after me and it attacked Nonna, it was probable one of them was also passing the names of potential brides along to him.
I still hadn’t quite figured out why he wanted the witches dead, though. Maybe it was just to ensure the devil didn’t break the curse and never left Hell.
Antonio reached over and tucked a loose wave behind my ear, his fingers lingering a moment too long. A few weeks ago my heart would have fluttered madly in my chest. Now I couldn’t help but remember how easily one could be torn from a person.
“Do you know who it was?” I asked. Antonio stepped back, looking a bit dazed as he dropped his hand. When he still didn’t answer, I clarified, “The girl from last night?”
He shook his head. “Rumors, but nothing that’s been confirmed. The consensus so far is she had dark hair and eyes like the others. Which isn’t much since nearly everyone on this island fits the description.”
“Where was her body found?”
“That, I don’t know. If anyone from the brotherhood was called there to bless the body, I haven’t heard about it. But I’m sure the market will be abuzz with information tonight. It always is.”
Antonio was right; the vendors knew everything and everyone. Customers from all over the city were in and out of their stalls all day, trading information and gossip while they shopped.
Of course stories were often embellished, but the truth usually remained tucked somewhere inside the exaggerations. Luckily I had another, more reliable source who knew the name of our victim. It was almost dusk, so Wrath should be in the cave by the time I got there. I’d grab the demon, ask him everything he knew about the witch, then go to the market and find out the location of the murder.
Hopefully, Wrath could test the scene like he’d done before, only this time we’d be successful with finding out which demon prince was responsible.
Then goddess be with him. I had little doubt the demon of war would take almost as much pleasure in destroying the murderer as I would.
TWENTY-SIX
Throngs of people elbowed their way through the busy marketplace, but still managed to give Wrath a wide berth. I wondered if they sensed his otherness and just didn’t know what to make of it. There was a quiet assurance about him—a confidence in himself and the space he occupied. Men and women paused in their gossiping, their gazes tracking him as we passed by. Some appreciatively, some with open distrust and scorn. Though that might be because murder was the topic of the evening, and Wrath looked like trouble.
I imagined wandering through the crowded, twisting streets with a leashed panther would give off the same aura of primal danger. If someone was temporarily out of their senses, I admit there could be a certain level of excitement, being close to something so lethal.
