Page 69 of The Demon Crown

“Until she died.”

“Unfortunate, yes.” Gluttony’s hand twisted, his long nails slicing in front of him as though he was slicing the woman’s neck. “I didn’t consume her body. Wrath is ever so dramatic.”

“Then what did you do?”

“I just drank her blood.” Ah, he hated it when Gluttony smiled like that. It revealed those teeth that looked like snake fangs. All together too long and very unnatural. “Like I said, she enjoyed it.”

“Until she didn’t.”

“Until the very end,” Gluttony corrected. “She enjoyed every moment because she wished to die, brother. I merely helped her seek the end in a way that was... mutually satisfying.”

“I find you disgusting.”

“And I find you poor.” With a deep inhale, his brother cast his eyes toward Morag. “Now who is this?”

“A guard.” Greed moved to stand in front of her. He should have remembered that Gluttony’s nose was almost as good as his own. Even though Gluttony wasn’t animalistic like some of the brothers, he always seemed to seek out a scent he enjoyed.

“Not a guard at all.” Gluttony’s smile never moved. “Oh, brother, we all have our secrets, don’t we? After all, I have my tastes and you have your games. I’ll keep your secrets if you keep mine.”

“I will keep none of your secrets.” Greed felt his body shaking. He wanted to change into his battle form so badly. All he desired was to rake his nails across that pretty face, even though he knew it would do no good. Gluttony would heal almost instantly.

Perhaps from all the mortal souls he’d consumed.

Gluttony rolled his eyes. “Then send her away before I catch any more of that scent. You could at least hide it better, Greed. Spirits all smell the same, you know.”

He flicked his fingers at Morag, who melted into the darkness. Her eyes gleamed for a moment before she was gone. Only then did he round on his brother.

“You will say nothing of this,” he hissed.

“Why would I? No spirit is as strong as we were when we changed. Your little pet project doesn’t threaten me.” Gluttony stepped closer, his hands spread wide and those wicked claws ready to fight if he had to. “Pride might have something to say, of course, but neither of us talk to him all that much. I won’t tell him about this if you don’t tell him about my new affinity.”

“You won’t be drinking from anyone here.”

“Oh, I don’t think you’ll have much say in that.” Gluttony leaned closer and inhaled. His nose wrinkled in disgust. “You could have at least washed up. You reek of her.”

Shit.

He was such an idiot. Greed had forgotten so much about his brother until it was far too late. Now Gluttony knew what Varya smelled like. What his treasure smelled like and if he was correct, Gluttony never forgot a scent.

If his brother knew how much she meant to him, or how tempting Varya had become to his own sanity, he’d...

“Stop it,” Gluttony hissed. “You’re doing that thing with your face that I hate. I forgot how annoying your existence is.”

“I’m not doing anything with my face.”

“You’re doing a lot with your face and I don’t like it.” Gluttony waved a hand full of claws right in front of Greed’s features before he finally stepped back. And just like that, Greed could breathe again.

Apparently, they weren’t going to fight. Maybe the two of them had grown up in the past few hundred years after all.

Gluttony eyed the jungle surrounding them and the glass domes above his head, then he cracked his neck. “You realize you have a problem in this kingdom, don’t you?”

“Yes, it’s called sand and erosion.” Greed rolled his eyes. “This kingdom has seen better lifetimes, I know. Thankfully, the other brothers of ours are more than happy to help. They send food, water, provisions. Helpful men, they are.”

Gluttony rolled his eyes at the not-so-subtle jab. “I don’t have a lot in my kingdom to give you.”

“You have everything in your kingdom, and we both know that.”

“Maybe.” Gluttony shrugged. “But I’m not the one who doesn’t realize there’s an entire group of people secretly running my kingdom from the very underbelly of my home. You don’t see the problem here? I’d imagine at least your newest plaything would have mentioned it once or twice. It’s a real obvious one.”

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