Page 44

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

WRATH

" T his is ridiculous," I muttered, flexing my fingers to release small tendrils of energy that danced between them like lightning. The display only made my frustration grow. I needed...something. Distraction. Information. Anything to help me understand what was happening.

The men who’d hurt Kiva were still out there.

Yep, that would do it.

Decision made, I slipped out of my room and into the hushed corridors of Gluttony's manor. The house seemed to breathe around me, ancient and aware in ways I was still adjusting to. Moonlight streamed through tall windows, casting elongated shadows across intricate rugs and gleaming wood floors.

I let instinct guide me, following the soft glow of lamplight until I found myself outside what could be the library. The massive double doors stood partially open, warm light and the comforting scent of old books spilling into the hallway.

Peering in, I saw Pride reclining in a high-backed leather chair, a massive tome open on his lap. Across from him, Sloth sprawled on a plush velvet chaise, one arm draped dramatically over his eyes while he somehow managed to hold a book aloft with his other hand.

Just sneak away.

I turned, proud of how soundless it.

“Where are you going?”

I flinched and stumbled forward, caught by a pair of strong arms.

“Pride, I–”

"Can’t sleep?” Sloth asked lazily, book closed in his hands.

"It's more like I can't...settle," I admitted, sinking into an armchair near them but not too close. "My skin feels like it's too small. Like there's too much..." I gestured vaguely, golden light flickering between my fingers as if to illustrate my point.

Pride's eyes tracked the movement with sharp interest. "Magickal overflow," he said, marking his place in his book and setting it aside. "It's to be expected, given the circumstances."

Sloth snorted. "What he means is, 'Sorry we triggered a cosmic magickal bond that's now making you feel like you're going to vibrate out of your skin.'"

I couldn't help but laugh at his bluntness. The sound felt good, releasing some of the tension I'd been carrying.

“I’m going to hunt down the men who hurt Kiva,” I announced.

Damn that felt good. Right, even.

I expected them to protest, or try to convince me to go to bed.

Pride stood, brushing himself off. Sloth sighed, and put his book down.

“A new mission? Perfect. Let’s add it to finding Lust.”

I jumped as Envy came up from behind me, a sack already over his back. He surprised me with a kiss on my cheek, his lips rough and weathered. "Who are we killing, sweetheart?”

The moment his arm brushed against mine the restless energy that had been buzzing beneath my skin seemed to...settle. Not disappear, but harmonize, like a discordant note finding its proper place in a chord.

“Those traffickers,” I said again, my magick sparking in my veins at the mere mention of the injustice done.

They’d taken Kiva’s family. They’d taken her life.

Pride studied us with analytical intensity. "This might explain the fated mate connection," he said thoughtfully. "Such bonds are exceedingly rare, nearly impossible in our world."

“G knows we’re going. Diana is staying with the fae. I’ll nab Greed on the way out!” Envy planned, punching the air with enthusiasm.

A hole in my chest opened up. “Does G not want to come?”

Pride put a hand behind his head.

“G will...come around. Just give him time.”

“Stubborn vampyre,” Envy added helpfully.

I shook my head. I couldn’t worry about him now. My magick itched and hummed under my skin, desperate for release And not a sexual release–a release of Wrath.

"Six Sins connected to one who's both Wrath incarnate and a witch. Fate doesn't create such bonds without purpose,” Sloth added thoughtfully.

I laughed. "And you poor suckers are stuck with me."

“Good thing you have me here, then,” Envy shot back, grinning.

I glanced at Envy's wrist and noticed an unusual tattoo, of a snake eating its own tail in black ink. Ouroboros–the cycle of death and rebirth.

"What exactly do you do?" I asked, curious about his role in all this. "I mean, besides being Sin personified."

Pride and Sloth exchanged looks. "Envy here is our resident bloodhound," Sloth offered with a lazy smile.

"Supernatural hunter," Envy corrected, shooting Sloth a narrow look before turning to me with unmistakable pride. "Best in the business. No one finds what doesn't want to be found better than I do."

"He has an extensive network of contacts," Pride explained. "Speaking of which, have you heard anything new?"

Envy patted the satchel he'd brought in. "That's actually why I stopped by. There are reports of unusual activity along the eastern coast—just came in today. Might be nothing, but..."

"The traffickers?" I asked, tensing slightly.

He shrugged. "Either way, we can head out tomorrow to investigate and burn some of that rogue energy." He winked at me.

"We could help you practice your magick," Pride offered, setting his book aside. "Learn to channel that excess energy purposefully rather than just...containing it."

"Like magickal target practice?" I asked, intrigued by the idea.

"More like emotional alchemy on steroids," Sloth suggested. "You've already shown talent for manipulating emotional energy. Now you just need to scale up."

Envy shifted beside me, his shoulder warm against mine. "We'll all help. Each in our own ways."

The offer touched me deeply.

"Thank you," I said simply, letting the words carry the weight of my gratitude.

Pride inclined his head in acknowledgment, while Sloth merely waved a lazy hand. Envy, however, leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper meant only for me.

"Don't thank us yet. Wait until you see what we're capable of."

His words sent a different kind of heat racing through me. One that had nothing to do with excess magickal energy and everything to do with memories of what had started in that room earlier today.

Envy clapped his hands together.

“Let’s go hunt down some motherfucking traffickers.”