Page 122 of The Demon Court

“I love him.” Selene blurted the words even as more stones shattered beneath her heel and tumbled into the darkness below. She had thought letting those words flee from her lips would make all this worse. As if by giving them life, she was admitting to herself that she could choose to leave the man she loved. Like a monster.

But they didn’t make her feel worse. They gave her life itself. She felt more powerful, more ready to take on this decision because it was what was best for him. She would never question that again.

Gulping, she met his shocked gaze and nodded again. “I love him. So much that it hurts sometimes because I know he’ll never feel the same. And I don’t love him like the rest of his subjects. I actually know him. We trust each other. I’ve seen him smile and laugh. I’ve seen him grow and change as I barged into his life and changed everything. And I loved him before all that. I will love him in whatever form he takes, whatever changes he accepts, whatever monster he becomes. I will love him. Until the darkness beneath us devours this kingdom and all who are in it.”

Her chest felt heavy with the words. She loved him. She could admit it now, and that hurt. Because she’d never say it to his face, but at least someone would know.

Greed grunted and took his hand away from her. “I should throw you over the edge. Maybe that would end this foolish mistake.”

“Maybe.” She braced for the shove. “We both know I’m going to die, anyway. If you want to end it sooner, I wouldn’t blame you.”

He snarled, baring sharp teeth and lunging for her. Selene let her eyes flutter closed because she didn’t want to see the kingdom recede from her view. She wanted to remember it as glittering and glowing and beautiful.

But Greed’s arm wrapped around her waist and yanked her against him. Her eyes flew open to see the small ledge she’d stood on crumble into the darkness. He’d... saved her?

Her back was pressed against his impressively large chest. Heaving breaths rocked her forward and back and a soft, furry something tickled her forearm. Looking down, she realized he’d even wrapped his tail around her waist as a last precaution. The tuft at the top was gently stroking her arm.

“Thanks,” she whispered, her breath still hard to catch. “That would have been bad.”

“I should have let you die.”

“Probably. But at least now you won’t have that on your head, as well as the knowledge that you let me go.” She patted his thick forearm. “And you’re going to let me go. Aren’t you, Greed?”

His breath blew her hair like she’d turned her back on a raging bull. “Probably,” he echoed her. “You’re going to the Tower, you said?”

She didn’t like him touching her. It felt like someone had thrown her into the arms of a giant. “That’s my best shot. I think Minerva will receive me if Lust isn’t there.”

“What are your chances of her punishing you?”

“High.” Selene shrugged. “But I’m already dying. She can’t do anything more to me that the curse won’t do. And I am her daughter. I’m hoping that after years of raising me, she’ll have some ounce of humanity left inside her. My sisters will fight for me as well, I think.”

“You think?”

“They wanted me to eat dinner with them?”

Greed growled. “That’s not high praise.”

“Not really, but it’s something.” Selene wiggled, trying to get free. “If you aren’t going to stop me, I need to get going. Lust will realize that I’m gone, and he’ll lock me up. I already explained myself well enough for you to understand why I’m doing this. So let me go, Greed. Or drag me back to his feet like you said you would.”

Grumbling, he released his hold on her and then speared his hand through his hair. She stared at the red locks that spiked straight up from his head. What was he thinking? Was he going to let her go? If so, she needed to run. She needed to get out of here before she lost her nerve.

Baring his teeth, Greed pointed at her. “You are not going to the Tower by yourself. You’ll die before you get there.”

“I’m not that sick.” But the snakes were crawling under her skin. She could feel them, even now. They would slow her and he had a point. She wouldn’t get far on her own.

“You’ll take one of my guards,” he snarled. “They’ll get you there safely and then return to me. I’m not keeping this a secret from my brother, sorceress. He will know where you went when my guard returns. But I will give you that much time to run.”

It was more than she’d hoped for.

Selene nodded. “Then hurry. I have little time to wait.”

Though she had thought the words were sobering, Greed flashed her a dark grin. “The jaws of death nip at your heels, sorceress. Outrun them.”

ChapterForty-One

He’d found it.

Since Selene wouldn’t let him stay in their bedroom with her—a thorn in his side that he refused to think too much about—he’d dedicated too much time to his library. And as he was certain he would, he found the counter curse.

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