Page 56 of The Demon Crown

Death was the only answer that would satisfy him now.

Stalking to the door of his bedroom, he silently slipped out of the room before he did something foolish. Like wake her and try to convince her to stay with him forever. She needed adventure as much as he did.

Right now, he was giving her a safe place to rest. That was all. A woman like her deserved more from a man than just a passing whim.

But the idea of another man touching what was his? Oh, it made his entire body ache.

“Greed?” Ivo stepped out of the shadows near the door, ever watchful. “She cannot stay here much longer.”

“She’ll stay as long as I wish,” he snarled. Anger bloomed in his chest already, wanting to pick a fight with yet another person who wished to take her away from him. “She has been injured. She’s healing.”

“I know that. But she is not healing fast enough.”

“I will not rush her.”

“Gluttony will be here in a week’s time. You know what will happen if your brother finds a pretty woman here.” Ivo flinched, showing emotion for the first time in a very long time. “You know how he likes blondes.”

“I do not know what my brother’s fetishes are,” he snarled, but then realized that Ivo knew more than he was letting on. “But do you know of them?”

“I do.”

“How?”

Ivo took a deep breath. “I try to keep up with all the rumors in all the kingdoms, Greed. If you need that information, then I have it to provide. Otherwise, I ignore most of what is said about you and your brothers.”

Curious. He hadn’t known that about Ivo. “Does Morag do the same?”

“No. She’s not all that interested in gossip or... listening.”

Greed looked at his guard with a little more interest. Here he had been thinking that Ivo was still struggling to get over his attachment to loyalty, only to realize that maybe his guard had already discovered more emotions. When had that happened?

Strangely, it felt as though pride swelled in his chest. Greed hated that feeling. It reminded him of his least favorite brother.

“So, you’ve been listening to the rumors around the kingdoms? And now you’re worried about what Gluttony will do when he sees Varya?”

Ivo perked up slightly, his eyes opening wider and his shoulders lifting higher. “Varya? Is that her name?”

Oh no. Had his guard developed a little crush?

Greed suddenly found himself upset. Ivo was a handsome man. He never would have put the spirit in anything but a handsome body, but he also didn’t want any competition for Varya’s attention. Ivo needed to keep his sights on someone else. Like that pretty little servant girl with the bright red hair who obviously needed to be around more often if Ivo was already excited to see Varya.

Gruffly, he replied, “Yes. That’s her name.”

“Ah, well. I thought to check in on her health and to inform you that Gluttony has already started sending his people ahead of himself.” Ivo tucked his hands behind his back, suddenly all business yet again. “I do not know if you wish us to house these servants. We can provide temporary homes for them all, but ten of them have already arrived. If your brother doesn’t arrive for another week, I assume...”

“That Gluttony will send even more.” Greed rolled his eyes up to the ceiling. “This is a punishment for both of us. Gluttony obviously needs one, but I have no idea why Wrath wishes to punish me. Send all of Gluttony’s servants back home. He knows he has to answer to me if he touches one of my servants, but his own, I have no control over. I cannot protect them while they are here and I will not hide any bodies for that moron who’s given himself a taste for human flesh.”

“Understood.”

“Perhaps...” Greed hesitated, wondering what Varya would have told him to do. She’d been the one to mention that his advisors were hiding information about the water. Maybe she would suggest... “Send them with food of their own. We have enough in the storeroom for them, don’t we?”

“We have plenty.”

“Good.” He cleared his throat, suddenly feeling awkward.

It wasn’t natural for him to suggest giving anyone anything. Already he regretted it. He wanted to tell Ivo to forget that he’d offered anyone anything. Gluttony had sent them ahead of him, and if they hadn’t packed for a good two weeks’ journey, then they could starve on their way back.

He didn’t care about others. He just cared that Varya would get angry with him. And all of that thought process was wrong, considering he’d only seen the woman a few times before this. Varya didn’t matter either. No one did. He only cared about what they could give him. Greed. That’s who he was. What could he get out of these newcomers if he sent them packing immediately?

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