Page 83 of The Demon Court

“What is that?” he asked, an uneasy feeling settling in his stomach.

“What do you mean, what is that?” Affection shouted, the wispy edges of its form rioting with the question. “Are you an idiot? Romance is romance! It’s about love and feelings and telling someone else your feelings. It’s about caring how they feel and learning what they like and listening when they talk. How do you not know what that is?”

He glanced over at Greed, who, again, shrugged. “We are the embodiment of what we are. Just as you are the embodiment of affection. Lust and romance do not... Not necessarily mix.”

“Then it’s time for you to learn. Or she’ll leave this place and go back to the Tower with all those dreary white walls and women who hate her.” Affection sniffed. “You’ll lose her, Lust. If you only want her for her body and all you do is reaffirm that you’re only interested in her for sex, she’ll walk out of these doors and you’ll never see her again. Mark my words.”

And with that, the spirit rolled out of the room with a huff. The edges of its mist vibrated with anger.

The two brothers sat in silence for a little while. Lust leaned back in his chair, gently tugging on his bottom lip as he thought about what Affection had to say. Would Selene leave? No. She enjoyed being here far too much for that. And last night had certainly solidified that she would want to stay. Who would ever pull themselves away from such incredible sex? And it would be incredible sex. Maybe tonight, if she was a little less shy.

Pulling himself out of his thoughts, he saw Greed staring at the ceiling. His jaw ticked, so he could only guess whatever his brother was thinking wasn’t all that pleasant either.

“What do you think?” Lust asked.

“I think this is still dangerous. My gut says there’s something about to happen that we cannot change, but I can’t figure out why.” He looked down, catching Lust’s gaze and holding it. “I want to tell you to be careful. Danger’s afoot. But I also want to tell you to run headlong into this because it feels right for you. It’s a strange feeling.”

His brother’s feelings were usually right. Greed didn’t know how to see the future, but he had some sixth sense to him that Lust had always trusted.

“Two very different kinds of advice,” he murmured.

“Indeed.” Greed slapped a hand to his thigh. “And yet, I think right now you should go find her.”

“Find her?”

“If Affection is right, then she’s already planning to make her great escape. Change her mind, Lust. Whether she’s dangerous or the woman that will alter everything, we need to keep her around.” Those golden eyes flashed with humor. “For some reason, I don’t think you’ll allow me to be the one forcing her to stay.”

The words made him imagine Greed’s arms around Selene. She’d hate it, but in his mind’s eyes he saw her lips curve into a polite smile. He saw that long neck tilt to the side as Greed pressed his damned mouth against her neck and he refused to indulge his imagination any further.

Lunging to his feet, Lust stalked out of the room without another word.

Instead, he went to find her.

First, he searched their bedroom. She might still be getting ready, but he couldn’t find her there. Not even the faint hint of her scent remained. Curious now, he walked through the halls where he usually found her frequenting. But again, Selene was nowhere to be found.

He even asked a few servants if they’d seen her, but they only gave him blank expressions and asked who Selene was.

Right, because he hadn’t been parading her about the castle as someone that was important to him. Sure, there had been the rumors of a queen. But even those were getting a little less frequent the longer they didn’t see her. Only the servants who worked at the feasts knew what she even looked like.

Damn it, so where was she?

A feeling in his belly whispered that perhaps she’d gone out to the gardens. He tried to still himself, wondering what that feeling even was. Lust had never been one for premonitions like Greed. He’d never even had much of a power other than electrifying people with their deepest desires.

As he stilled in the hallway, closing his eyes and focusing on that feeling, he realized there was a warmth in his chest that was new. A warmth that at first seemed like the cold bite of winter but inside, the warmth of a cottage with a hearty fire, good food, and a warm bed filled with long limbs and dark hair.

It was her, he realized. A connection between the two of them that had bubbled up since last night. He’d tasted her lust, yes, but it had also fueled him in a way no other had before. This new power came entirely from feasting upon what only she could give him.

She was in the gardens, he knew without question. And she wasn’t alone.

Lust took his time now, wandering through the halls to the second level, where he could peer down into the flower beds. And there she was. Her dark gown trailed behind her like the shroud of a woman in mourning. She wore the dress that covered her up the most today, the dress he hated more than any other. The dark embroidery glistened in the sunlight as she meandered through the rows. And beside her? A little glowing spirit who had already shouted at him today.

Affection. He should have guessed it would meddle.

Lust leaned on the railing and stared down at the two of them. As he watched, a strange softness bloomed in his chest.

Where he had been in such a rush to go to her, to prove that he wanted her to stay, now he just wanted to look at her. So he did.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

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