Page 114 of The Demon Court

The carriage ride back to the castle—only a few days after they’d departed—was much different. This journey was quiet. She kept her tongue laced within her mouth for fear of crying. And every time she looked at him, it was as if the demon king was barely holding himself together.

Again and again her mind went back to that moment when he and her mother had looked at each other and some dark knowledge had passed between them. They shared some dangerous information. Information about Selene that neither of them had told her.

Her heart twisted every time she thought of it. Selene just wanted one person to trust in this world. How had she been so foolish as to fall back into that desire? She’d learned a long time ago women like her didn’t get to hope for someone to be a white knight or an armored prince coming to save the day.

She had to save herself. Because no one else would do it for her.

In too short of a time, the carriage rolled up to the castle. She gathered up the shredded pieces of her dignity and folded them around her body like a shield. No one would know she was upset. No one in this castle would think anything beyond wondering why her expression had hardened into a mask.

A crew of people stood at the ready, waiting for the order from their king. Selene was thrown back to the moment she’d arrived, when they were all shocked to see him leave the carriage with a woman. And yet, this time, they actually looked at her. Not with curiosity or surprise, but concern the moment they realized she was not quite herself.

These people barely knew her. And they were more concerned for her wellbeing than her own family.

Looking around, Selene realized they’d always been more concerned for her. They’d always wanted to welcome her into their home with warm arms. She’d been the one to deny them that, and eventually, even the kindest person would give up.

This was all her fault.

All of it.

Swallowing hard, she shoved all those emotions down until she felt nothing. She was nothing. Just an empty vessel without a soul.

It was suddenly overwhelming to have so many eyes on her. Even if they were concerned or caring, none of those eyes were what she wanted. She didn’t want anyone to realize that she was struggling or to know that her entire world had flipped upside down and she felt like a broken doll tossed aside by a child who no longer needed it.

Her eyes locked on Greed as he sauntered down the steps. His handsome face had curved into a devious smile, and his tail flicked behind him with obvious aggression.

“You’re home early,” he called out. “Did you finally see reason and realize those sorceresses are nothing more than puppeteers?”

“Greed,” Lust snarled behind her, and a wall of heat pressed against her back. “Now is not the time.”

“Not the time for the truth? There’s always time for that.”

“You’re thoughtless with your words,” Lust snarled. “Neither of us are entertained by your blind idiocy.”

A small wrinkle appeared between Greed’s eyes, and it was the first time she’d ever seen him frown. “You’re testy today. Why? What happened?”

Lust didn’t let anyone else question her. He used his body to physically move her up the steps, forcing her beyond the others and through the great hall. The pools of water rippled as they hurried past. And then she was in his arms.

He’d scooped her up, turning her face to his chest and holding her legs around his waist with one arm underneath her bottom. He hurried up the stairs, ignoring the startled gasps and whispered rumors that had already started.

She wasn’t even sure how he’d carried her with all the folds of fabric between them, but he did. And the warmth of his body soaked into hers. Trembles started, and she shoved those emotions down too. Over and over again until they were in their bedroom and she didn’t know how they’d gotten there.

His heavy boots struck the floor in a harsh staccato as he strode toward their bed, spun around, and then sat on the edge with her in his lap. He banded his arms around her, too tight, squeezing the air out of her lungs as though he needed the comfort as well.

With a soft sigh, Lust buried his face in the side of her neck and pressed a single kiss to her throat. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Even her voice sounded wrong.

“You’re fine?” he snarled, lifting his head to glare into her eyes. “You aren’t fine, Selene. I can see it in your face.”

No, he couldn’t. She had no expression at all, and she knew it. The numbness was spreading down to her fingers, and she had the dull thought that maybe she was hurting herself. Maybe she was using her power too much.

What if she couldn’t ever feel again? Would that really be so bad?

His gaze searched hers, and then hardened. Apparently, he’d seen something he didn’t like. “You’re doing it again, aren’t you?”

“Doing what?”

He cupped the back of her neck, forcing her to not hide from him. “Feel it, Selene. You have to feel it.”

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