Dark Kings (Feathers and Fate #1) - Sadie Moss Page 0,46

thrust right into the middle of the real thing. I might not be morally against this, but that doesn’t mean I’m used to being so up close and personal with it.

“Don’t eat or drink anything while we’re here,” Phoenix warns me, cutting a sideways glance at me.

“I’m not stupid,” I tell him, with more anger than I planned. “I know you think I am, and that this is a waste of time, but I’m not as innocent as you assume.”

He sighs, running a hand through his ash-brown hair. “Just because I don’t trust how you’re dragging us all into this mess doesn’t mean I’ve got anything against you, sweets. It’s nothing personal, okay?”

Sounds pretty personal to me, but whatever.

I decide to let it go. Standing around arguing won’t help us find this bookie, and the sooner we find him, the sooner we can get out of here.

All around us are beautiful statues done up in erotic poses. I can’t help but inspect them a little. Some of the poses are slightly traumatizing, but the art itself is actually very well done. “This place is pretty high end, isn’t it?”

“Well, yeah. Only the best for the likes of us. You should see what our other brother gets up to. I’m sure you know the one I’m talking about.” Phoenix winks at me. He’s rather charming when he’s winking and smiling at me instead of being all surly. “I’d love to see him work a number on you.”

“So you’re saying you want to see Lust seducing me.”

“You don’t have to sound so put out about it.”

“If this is your way of flirting, I’m disappointed. I should’ve known that Sloth would get someone else to do his dirty work for him.”

Phoenix bursts out into laughter as I pause in front of another statue. “You’ve got a mouth on you, babe. I like it.”

Why is this statue’s mouth open? I tilt my head. Maybe the woman is supposed to be crying out in ecstasy.

“Pity I don’t care about your approval,” I shoot back over my shoulder at him.

It’s kind of a lie, because I do need the approval of the sins if I’m going to get them to trust me and be redeemed, but Phoenix seems to like it when I stand up to him and don’t take his crap. Sure enough, he laughs again as he wanders down the hallway.

Pleased with myself, I lean closer to the statue—

—and some kind of pink mist explodes out of the stone sculpture’s mouth, right in my face.

Ew, what is that?

It has a sickly sweet aroma, like when you spray Febreeze around a room to make it smell nice. I wave my hand in front of my face to dispel the mist, coughing.

Phoenix is peering into a room up ahead, and I don’t think he noticed what happened.

“C’mon, this way.” He gestures for me to follow him, and I hurry down the hall, scraping my tongue against my upper teeth as my cheeks flush with heat.

Ugh, I really hope he didn’t see that. He’ll never let me live it down. What the heck was that stuff?

Whatever it was, I hope it hasn’t messed with my angelic nature in any way. I only just got my wings back.

“I think this is an employee area,” Phoenix notes, leading me into a back room of some kind. There’s a large bed, which isn’t surprising, but it doesn’t seem to be as decked-out as the other rooms. Perhaps this is where employees nap in between sessions?

I’m feeling even warmer than before, and the heat in my cheeks starts to spread, sliding down my spine and pooling between my legs. My clothes feel itchy and too tight.

Huh.

“Ah, fuck. I think this is a dead end.” Phoenix tsks, then turns back to look at me.

He really is handsome. Laidback, but in a charming way. I wonder what he looks like underneath his clothes—is he as perfectly chiseled as I remember? For the personification of Sloth, he sure is in great shape. The idea of getting my hands on him makes my mouth water, and suddenly, it’s all I can think about.

“I have a question for you,” I say. “A personal question. Is that okay?”

“Uh… sure?” Phoenix shrugs. Then he cocks his head. “Your pupils are really dilated. Is that an angel thing?”

“No. So, you’re Sloth. But I saw a peek of your bedroom at your house, and you definitely have sex. So what’s that like? Do you just lie there and let everyone