Page 2 of Wicked Prince of Curses
Stars.
Exactly what Ididn’twant.
Gradually every head turned to look back at me. I counted down fromthreewaiting for them to notice the inevitable.
Sure enough, as the angels looked and saw my eyes, their expressions started changing. In the blink of an eye, I was surrounded by a sea of enemies. I lifted my chin and squared my shoulders.
“Safah Eloise Anathelle, I didn’t think you would make it. Good to see you’ve come to carry the torch of tradition.”
Esau curled his lips. It looked more like a sneer than anything else. I said nothing. It was bait. Manmi had warned me about this, too.
Avoid speaking when spoken to, especially if it’s a Farasee. Chances are, they don’t want a response. They want an excuse to push your limits. And this, my fifi, always ends in blood.
I had too much pride to lower my eyes, but everyone staring was starting to make me itch. Ellabeth squeezed my arm as a cruel voice spoke out over the crowd, dripping with hatred.
“Here we go again. More Anathelle swine trying to pollute the Farasee Order.”
Chapter 2
Iwhipped my head around to find the source of the voice. I was ready to beat their wings in and see if they had the talons to say it again.
“Tharic Zamarien, don’t be so quick to forget your wings haven’t been forged as an Ascendant yet. You will treat Safah, and every angel here, with respect.”
Okay, so maybe Farasee Esau wasn’tsobad. At least I could count on him treating us all equally. I scoured the clustering angels to find Tharic. The egotistical ashrat was towards the front of our numerous group. He floated above the sandy floor as if he were our king.
I scowled. Tharic was tall, broad-shouldered, and muscular. His Papi made sure he’d been trained well. His pale skin looked luminescent under the sunlight. He stared at me with a strong jawline and piercing gold eyes that matched his golden hair and wings. Tharic Zamarien glared at me like I was the sea rot beneath his new sandals. I glared back wanting to peel his skin and let him roast.
Instantly I knew he was cut from the same cloth as the rest of his family. Zamariens were full of pride, wealth, and had the ear of the Empràr. I always wondered how they’d earn the earand trust of the emperor. They were notorious for demanding the Farasee Order remove all its females since they thought we “tainted” the Order. Females were nothing more than playthings to a Zamarien.
No one was louder on this front then Farasee Kaelthos Zamarien, Tharic’s Papi. Manmi taught me, according to him, females were to be seen and not heard. Our place were in our home villas as wingmates, bearing younglings and keeping the villa in order. The thought was so astronomically preposterous I nearly threw up on the spot.
“You don’t belong here, Anathelle,” Tharic spat. The angels had fallen silent. “You’re notfit. You’re only here because your Manmi is dead. A waste. A bag of bones even the Fallen dogs didn’t care to lick up themselves when they finished with her.”
I flinched, snapping my head back as if I’d been struck. Stars. That blow hit true. And ithurt. As a family, we Anathelles were still mourning Manmi’s loss. And this demon of a Zamarien decided to use the loss of her life as a weapon against me.
Well, two could play that game. I was a grown female. Not some suckling child that couldn’t defend herself. If he wanted to go low, I would go straight to the Hèls.
“I’m here because I actually have a brain, sunburned ashrat.” I crossed my arms. “Or are you so slow you couldn’t take two seconds to read thatIscored the highest marks as both a Spirit Filerandan Incense Fuser on my Ascendant exams. It’s pretty public knowledge.”
I batted my lashes at him, smiling sweetly. Like poison.
“Unlikeyouwho needed your Papi to convince the Order to let you in on…let me check my notes again…oh that’s right. Onprinciple,” I said, and pointed to my temple. “Even though you’re dumber than a chest of seashells.”
Ellabeth wheezed. A male floating close to us, with pretty brown, hawkish eyes, grinned wide, eagerly looking between Tharic and I.
Tharic scowled, his eyes flashing with fire. I watched him. The tightness of his breaths. The veins crawling up his neck. His hands turning into fists. If he was going to attack, I would be ready for him.
Manmi always said Zamariens had short tempers, long mouths, and cruel hearts. I couldneverlet myself be caught by a Zamarien, especially alone. Their hatred for Anathelles ran long. Deep. It didn’t help I had over seven generations of Matriarchs serving as Farasees in the Temple, outside of Manmi who was killed by a Fallen attack at the Seal Gate—the portal between Hallowed and Fallen angelic realms.
“Enough,” Esau cut in, stifling a yawn. He pinched the bridge of his nose as if he was developing a headache just from being in our presence for too long. “There will be no violence in your ascent. Am I clear?”
“As glass, Farasee.” I answered Esau, but I kept my eyes on Tharic.
Tharic didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. His eyes promised all I needed to know.
Violence.
“All eyes on me.” Esau didn’t have to raise his voice. Every head snapped to attention. Even Tharic.
