I glanced around at the others, waiting for someone to offer an alternative. But there wasn’t one. Merri didn’t have other friends or family to turn to. Which meant she was out there alone, with more enemies after her than I could count.
“We can’t know where she’s gone, but we have to find her. There is no other option.”
“How do you suggest we do that, Chaos? Do you have a locator spell in your pocket? Any secret magic up your sleeve?”
I ignored Sin’s jabs because he was right. We were woefully unprepared for something like this. Glancing from man to man, I sighed before finally admitting, “I have no idea.”
Chapter
Five
FAMINE
“This band of pathetic rebels still thinks they beat me.”
I listened to my sister drone on and on as I checked my manicure. The long, pointed, crimson nails suited my ensemble, the color nearly matching my tresses and contrasting beautifully with my black leather catsuit. God, it was good to be back in my body.
“I can’t wait until Sunday sees my face again and realizes how wrong she was.”
I rolled my eyes, stifling a loud sigh. War had always been too confident, somehow able to twist her failures into successes when the tides began to turn.
I stood outside Lucifer’s main hall, where he’d most recently tortured me for no damn reason. Now he was gone and my sisters were here, plotting like the mischievous hens they were.
It was nearly time for my grand re-entrance, but if I’d learned anything during these games of ours, it was that information was priceless. I’d been away for a while, and this meeting was a perfect opportunity to bring me up to speed. Especially since they might reveal something they may not want little old me to know. The second thing I’d learned is never to trust thesescheming bitches farther than I could throw them. That went double for Death.
“We have to find them first. My army has been scouring London for any sign of Lilith or her lackeys. We’re sure she has her claws in this.” A male voice filtered to my ears, causing me to perk up. Pride. How interesting. What were the Princes and the Horsewomen doing colluding without their boss around to tell them how high to jump?
“Lilith isn’t important. She can be dealt with. It’s finding our children that matters. Where are we with gaining the Siren coven’s cooperation? Without their locator spell, we’re not going to find them. They have too many magical allies who can shield them.” Death was the smartest of them. Always had been. She was honestly the only one who could give me a run for my money.
“They’ve been annoyingly tight-lipped,” Greed answered. “We’ve tried our most persuasive techniques, but they aren’t taking the bait. Thankfully, Sloth will be free in a few more days, and then they won’t stand a chance.”
A little shiver rolled down my spine at the mention of the final Prince. Sloth had a reputation, and not just for being lazy. Laziness was the mother of all invention, and Sloth had a sadistic streak that made my sisters and me look like pussycats. If he was going to deign to do something, he’d damn sure make it count. He’d strip your skin slowly and keep you awake for every long, drawn-out moment of it. When it came to torture, he wasn’t just a prince; he was king, and everyone knew it.
Now was my time. A lull in conversation while the group pondered their next topic. The perfect entrance. I stepped over the threshold, the echoing of my heels on the stone floor calling their attention from one another.
“Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up,” Death said with a smirk.
“Where have you been?” War demanded.
“Who fucking cares?” Pestilence muttered, ever the petulant bitch.
“Lovely to see you all as fucking always.” I gave them a saccharine smile before settling myself at the head of the table, where Lucifer normally sat. Mmm, it felt nice to be here. Powerful. “I’ve been doing what none of you were capable of while you sit around staring at each other and complaining.”
“And what’s that?” drawled a Prince I didn’t recognize, though his green eyes gave him away. Or maybe that was the aura of jealousy he couldn’t quite hide.
“Envy, is it?” I asked, making a show of it as I eyed him up and down.
His lips twisted in a sneer, though he gave me a little nod.
“Well, darling, prepare to live up to your name, because I found them.”
“Who?” War snapped, sitting forward with her elbows on the table. She fucking hated the idea of someone getting one over on her, which frankly just made me want to do a little dance in my chair.
I smirked, leaning back and kicking my feet up onto the table. “Take your pick. The horsemen. The vessel. All of them.”
“What? And you’re only just sharing this now?” Pestilence snarled. “How typical.”
“I’ve been working my way into her heart. You would’ve been smart to try that tactic yourself, MayorDelta Dubois. If you had, maybe you wouldn’t have ended up as a victim of your two sons.” I shook my head, tutting. “No one likes a politician. Why on earth you’d take the form of one is a mystery to me.” Then I offered her a wicked smirk. “Oh, wait, I know. It’s because you’re fucking stupid.”
