Page 73 of The Demon Crown

The plain dark pants would be a little baggy, but they’d do. The white linen shirt would swallow her form, but she’d roll up the arms and it would be just fine. If she left the top a little untied as well, that would give it a bit more flare. At least no one would think she had been staying in Greed’s castle for the past few weeks.

“What are you doing?” Ivo hissed as she started out of the room.

“Stealing.”

“Yes, why?”

“Because I don’t have access to normal clothes?” Varya arched a brow. He knew where he lived, didn’t he?

“That’s... But that’s...”

“Wrong?” she interjected. “Stealing is a way of life here. If you want to fit in with the rest of us miscreants, then you’re probably going to have to learn how to do it.”

“Steal?” he spluttered, as though that was the most terrible thing he’d heard in ages.

“Yes.” Varya laughed as she started stripping right in front of him. The man had proven he wasn’t all that interested in her, and besides, she still had her underthings on.

A choked sound echoed out of his mouth before he spun around like she’d flashed a tit at him. “Now what are you doing?” he groaned. “You can’t just take your clothes off in the middle of the city, Varya!”

“I can, actually.” He couldn’t see her grin, but she was anyway. This was the first time she’d felt like herself since she’d gotten here. Shimmying the pants up her legs, she buttoned them at the waist and figured out the last bit of her plan.

Honestly, this was the best part of her job. She had to figure out every detail on the fly when she suddenly decided she wanted to do something. Like right now. She knew Greed would not let her go to the Festival of Lights, not unless she snuck out.

Ivo had already heard her talk about the festival, so he knew where she was intending to go. And he’d been around while she stole all her clothes, so he definitely had a clue where she was headed and what her intent was.

What they didn’t know was where the festival was, and that was good enough for her.

Greed loved the chase, after all.

“Ivo, why don’t you give me a good argument about why I cannot just strip in public?” That ought to get him started. Then she pulled the shirt over her head, leaving it loose and messy, and then slipped down the stairs.

She ran, a wild grin on her face and her heart thundering in her chest. Varya had already found the stables on one of her previous rounds. There were plenty of horses to take, and a few of those leathery beasts with fangs. She eyed one of them that looked paler than the others. That was Greed’s mount, wasn’t it?

The thought passed through her mind that maybe she could steal that one. But the beast snapped at her, sharp fangs flashing as it tried to bite her and she had second thoughts about that plan.

Instead, she grabbed a big black beast in the back that was already pawing at the door. Bareback, she put a bridle in its mouth and called it good.

She led the horse out of the stables, peered around to see if anyone was looking, and then ran for the front doors. Good enough. No one was here to stop her, and no one was likely to try after she threw open the doors.

Varya swung up onto the horse, her legs spread so wide around its back that it almost hurt. But she wasn’t going too far, just a couple hours ride, really. If she couldn’t walk when she got to the festival... Well. It wouldn’t be the first time, if she couldn’t.

“Varya!” A shout rang out in the castle and she turned to see Greed standing on one of the highest platforms. He looked enraged, far more angry than she’d ever seen him before. How had he known?

It didn’t matter. Let him be angry for her stealing away. He should be a little.

In leaving, she was taking his most prized possession away from him. Herself.

Giving him a little mock salute, she kicked her heels against the horse’s sides. The wind raked her hair back from her face, the sand blasted from the horse’s hooves, and the sound of her laugh trailed behind her as she fled.

ChapterTwenty-Five

Damn the woman. She’d run from him. Again.

And he’d let her. Or rather, his guard had left her and Ivo had gotten the shakedown of his life as Greed screamed at him. Though he knew the other man was just as worried about Varya’s disappearance as he was, Greed couldn’t find it in himself to care that he might be hurting the spirit’s feelings.

Varya was gone, and he had no idea where to find her. At least, until Ivo had said she wanted to go to the Festival of Lights.

If the woman had wanted to go there, why hadn’t she just told him? He’d have brought her. Maybe. He could have been convinced.

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