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I blinked up at a ceiling covered in roots and sat up with a start. It was dark, underground dark, and the thick roots crisscrossing the ceiling indicated that wherever I was, a giant tree was above me. I glanced around the empty room… cell. Bars made up one entire wall, too close together to slip through—the other walls were packed dirt, the floor impenetrable stone.
Lines of painful fire ran down my chest and turned agonizing.
The battle. Wrath. Wolves.
Everything came crashing back at once. Despite the burning wound, I shot off the straw mattress I’d been placed on and gripped the bars, hoping to rattle one loose.
Sharp pain lanced up my arms, and I quickly let go. The bars were spelled; hopefully it was only a complication, not a complete hindrance. I dove into Source and summoned my fire, aiming for the metal; the flaming rosebuds sank in, the metal angrily glowed crimson, then… nothing. The cursed bars absorbed the magic.
I tested them again and was knocked backward from the surge of power.
Perfect. My magic fed the spell; the more I fought to get free, the more trapped I’d become. It was a nasty little trick, but effective. Goddess curse her. “Vittoria!”
“Do you recall the night you eavesdropped on me talking about the Stars of Seven, Shadow Witch?”
I jolted at the sound of another voice and focused on what I’d thought was a darker shadow pressed into the far corner of my cell. “Envy?”
The prince of that sin sat forward, just enough for the light from the lone torch in the corridor to show his cool, handsome features. “You’re not the only one disappointed, pet. I’d rather my brother was here instead, too.”
“Howareyou here?”
Envy gave me an annoyed look. “Your sister couldn’t keep her demonic hand off me.” He absently rubbed at his chest, right where his heart should be. His shirt was torn like Vittoria had, indeed, wrenched out his heart. He caught my horrified expression and gave me a slow, wicked smile. “Not to worry. It grew back. Shriveled and just as black. But it’s there.”
“I don’t want to know.”
“Immortality.” He shrugged. “Wounds heal, hearts regenerate. Life goes on. And on.”
When stated like that and muttered in a bland tone, it sounded dreadful.
“If Vittoria didn’t want you dead, why would she rip your heart out and lock you in a cell?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, your sister is both a sadist and a psychopath. Though judging from that nasty wound on your chest, that’s not surprising news.” Envy rose to his feet and brushed the dust from his trousers, then he scowled at his dirty hands. “She also happens to be obsessed with me, though I suppose I can’t fault her for that. I’m unbearably handsome. My refusal of her advances, as well as her offer of an alliance, drives her mad.”
“You’re unbearable, perhaps, but the rest remains to be seen.” It was interesting that my sister had also sought out Envy when she’d had an alliance with Greed. Unless it happened the other way around. “Were you her first or second choice for an alliance?”
“Second. Though I’m sure she wishes she came to me first. My coffers are bigger than Greed’s.”
“I doubt that, your highness.”
He really grinned at me this time, showing off his boyish dimples. I’d only seen them once before, and it softened me to him.
“Looks like your sister isn’t the only one with sharp claws. Believe what you like, pet, but remember I can’t lie.” He glanced at the marks on my chest. If I didn’t know better, I’d think concern creased his brow. “You need to get that taken care of. It already looks infected, and the rot will stink up the cell to high hell.”
“Duly noted.” My eyes narrowed. “Why do you keep calling me a shadow witch?” I asked. There was no healer, no bandages, no point in dwelling on something I couldn’t tend to. If the wound got that badly infected, the stink would be the last thing to worry about. “I know what I am. Who I am.”
“Do you now?” He sounded unconvinced as he sat on the floor again.
I drew in a deep breath, focused on the last image I had of Wrath to fuel my sin. To allow it to temporarily break free from its cage, then I let go. “You tell me.”
“Your eyes…” Envy raised his brows, looking almost impressed. “Mortal no more. Seems like immorality has won out. No surprise there. Though you’re not healing, which is rather curious.”
I released my fury and exhaled. Envy scrutinized my features but didn’t comment on what I imagined was the return of my warm brown irises. I lifted a shoulder, then motioned to my eyes. “Not quite immortal.”
“You may not have your full powers, but mortality submits to immortality in the end. It’s the strongest force of the two. A drop of immortality is more powerful than a bucket of mortality.”
That made sense. Almost. Except for the fact that Wrath had fought very hard, more than once, to keep me from “dying.” I would get to the bottom of why soon enough. “Let’s not get off track. I asked about shadow witches. Tell me what that really means. Please.”
Envy cocked his head, considering.
