Chapter 40

ChapterForty

When he rolled over the next morning, his nose buried deep in her freshly washed hair, Greed felt a sense of happiness that he’d never experienced before in his life. He’d always had moments of peace, certainly, but that need to steal, take, and keep always crept back in.

Not now.

Not with her.

He tightened his arm around her waist, drawing her deeper into him just so he could hold her a little tighter. She was the peace he’d been searching for. The energy that he’d been missing when he’d been trying to satisfy his urges in a thousand different ways. She wanted to be around him. She wanted him. And just knowing that eased some dark part of his soul.

By all the gods, he was a lucky man. Waking up with the sun filtering through the glass above their heads, the leaves of their jungle leaving pretty shadow patterns on her bare skin. Blonde hair draped over his bicep where she rested against him.

He would never get over the marvel it was to have a woman trust him so much that she would fall asleep in his arms. All the others had either not stayed at all, or they had woken at the slightest sound. He’d spent a thousand years knowing that he had given no other person enough peace of mind to sleep in his presence.

But this one did. Her chest rose and fell with each deep, even breath. The graceful length of her neck all stretched out. She’d have a crick in her neck if he let her keep sleeping like that.

How was he supposed to wake her, though? When she looked so perfect, all curled up like that? Her legs tucked in, one of his own in between hers. She was... his. Completely. And this time, he didn’t question the thought as it crossed his mind because he knew how right it was.

She’d given in to him, and that was the sweetest success he’d ever accomplished in his life.

“You’re staring at me,” she muttered.

“It’s hard not to.” He pressed a kiss to her warm skin, watching as the leaf shadows fluttered over her pulse. Or was that her? Was she excited to wake next to him as well?

“It’s creepy.”

“I’m not creepy.” He rolled over her, his own shadow now encompassing her as he braced himself above her head.

Whatever else he’d wanted to say fluttered out of his mind as she stretched underneath him. All that lithe muscle working, her body waking up and meeting his with that innate grace that he wasn’t all that certain she knew she had. And gods... She was so stunning.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she whispered, looping an arm around his neck and drawing him down closer. Her lips played with his, barely a kiss and more of an exploration. “I can’t be responsible when you look at me like that.”

“And are those emotions you or the spirit inside you?”

“Both.” She nipped at his lip, the little sting making a zing of lightning dance down his spine. “But we really need to get going. You promised.”

“Ah.”

He had promised. He would find the Horde and he would destroy them for her. Because if his queen asked him to do anything at all, then he would do it. Especially if that request came with the promise of blood.

He’d rend this entire kingdom to dust if that’s what she wanted. Greed had no question that he would become the destroyer of all kingdoms if she gave him the order, and that should have terrified him. Instead, it made him want her to ask him to do it. It made him want to beg her to tell him to bring all her enemies’ heads on a platter, so he had an excuse to be so truly feral.

Growling low underneath his breath, he reached between them and traced a finger through her pretty folds. Wet. Always so wet for him, and he loved that about her.

He sucked on the finger as he rolled out of bed and gave her a wink as she moaned in response. “You said I needed to get ready, didn’t you?”

His queen was anything but lady-like. She was sprawled out on his bed, the sheets tangled around her naked hips, and she never once tried to hide herself from him. Instead, she wantonly stared, licked her lips, and then shook her head. “We need to go. You’re distracting me.”

“We?” He arched a brow and started toward his wardrobe behind the walls of monstera. “I thought I made it very clear last night, treasure. You’re not going anywhere. You want them dead? I’ll gladly bathe the desert in their blood for you, but I will not have you in the midst of the battle.”

But he wouldn’t let her leave this castle. He couldn’t see her in danger again. The fear that already lanced through his chest was a horrible feeling. It zinged through his entire body, arced across his chest, pushed through his very heart as though reminding him that he was weak and she was weaker, and that was terrifying.

What would he do if she died on that battlefield? No, she couldn’t. The spirit. He’d put that in her so he wouldn’t have to fear that he’d lose her at every corner, but... he was consumed by the what ifs.

He heard her padding feet approach, but he could only see the image of her pale body flung across the sand, blood splattering across every surface that he’d so thoroughly loved.

Varya spread her hands across his chest, her hands anchoring him in place. Her fingers dug into the muscles of his chest and he had nowhere to look but her. But those big blue eyes, staring up at him with so much worry that it made his heart ache.

“I’m a fighter,” she said. “I’ve been a fighter my entire life. You cannot cast me aside and put me in a box to keep me safe, Greed. These are my people just as much as they are yours.”

“I don’t care that they’re your people,” he growled. And because he needed to, he pulled her against him, wrapping both his arms around her waist and holding her just a little more securely. “You are going nowhere, treasure. You will be safe, because I command it.”

“When have I ever followed commands?” Her words were garbled against his pecs, though, and he pretended he didn’t understand her.

He set her back on her feet and clapped his hands to her shoulders, squeezing perhaps a little too tight. “Let me do this for you. Stay safe, where you will not distract me with worrying about where you are or how I need to protect you. Yes?”

She frowned. “They still have that cursed object that makes you fall asleep, Greed. Who will protect you if I’m not there?”

“Ivo.”

He hated even saying that, though. Really, he’d feel better with Gluttony watching over her, but his brother had absolutely no interest in helping. He wanted to hunt and Greed couldn’t think of a reason why he shouldn’t.

Though his brother’s heart wasn’t in the right place, at the very least, it gave Gluttony the right time to use that need of his to their advantage. He could already see the Horde running as they realized his brother had a taste for human flesh.

Shuddering, he flashed a grin at Varya and then kissed her forehead. “We’re hunting today. I’ll probably be gone for at least a week before we return to get what all the other groups have found.”

“You’re leaving?” she asked, appearing a little dumbfounded. “Right now?”

“You told me you wanted this taken care of. I told Ivo last night to summon the hunt. We leave the castle today and then we will cover the entire kingdom with my scouts. Soon, we will find the Horde. And even if they move, once I have their scent they cannot get far.” He tapped his nose as though that explained everything.

In truth, he expected to spend most of his week in his battle form like the animal he was. Tracking was part of the fun, after all. He liked to chase his prey for days on end until they were too weak to run from him. Then they understood the true meaning of fear.

A little growl escaped before he drew her in for one more heart melting kiss. He pressed all his worries and fears into her lips, hoping that she understood him. That she wouldn’t betray him. That she stayed right where she was supposed to be because, for gods sake, he was going to lose his mind if she didn’t.

And when he withdrew to put his pants on, she seemed to stay. Varya watched him with a wary gaze, apparently seeing right through his hope that she wouldn’t see why he was so nervous.

She stayed in the room, though, and that had to count for something.

Greed had to tear himself away from her because all he wanted was to stay right here. He wanted to crawl back into that bed with her and spend the next few days lost to the world and all its responsibilities.

Being with her made him feel whole.

Ivo stood outside the door, leaning against the wall with his eyes focused on the wall before him. The poor bastard had to listen to them for hours on end, and his ears were probably still ringing.

Greed almost felt embarrassed about that. Rubbing the back of his hot neck, he asked, “Are they all ready?”

“Have been for a few hours now.”

“It’s still early enough to start.”

Ivo pointedly stared up at the sky before looking back at Greed, his lips twitching. “It’s almost noon.”

“And that is the perfect time to start a journey!” It wasn’t, and he knew it just as well as the rest of them. Greed shook his head and stalked forward, knowing that Ivo would come with him. “Gluttony is ready?”

“Your brother has complained for hours that we dragged him out of bed, only to wait for you.”

“Good.”

“And he also complained that none of the beds here are anywhere near as comfortable than his own, that your nuckelavee are terribly trained, and that if your bride was going to keep you in bed all day, could you at least provide the men and women waiting for you a distraction.” Ivo’s eyes darkened with the last bit. “I threatened to take him aside for my own kind of entertainment, but he said he wasn’t interested in men like me. I think he missed the point.”

As they started down the stairwell that led to the courtyard, Greed snorted. “I think he got the point, Ivo. He was trying to get underneath your skin.”

“Well he did.” Ivo’s hands flexed. “He’s been looking at my beauty a little too long, if you ask me. Said he’s got a thing for redheads and I don’t like it.”

Greed looked at his friend, realizing in that moment that Ivo had gotten even more human in the past few months. Ever since meeting Varya, really. His dearest friend, the man who was probably more of a son to him than any other person, had done what Greed did not think was possible.

A spirit, fully grown in a mortal form, battling his natural instincts, stood before him changed. Not just a spirit anymore, but a real life mortal who had thoughts and feelings and desires. It was more than Greed had ever hoped to see.

He wrapped an arm around Ivo’s neck, forcing the other man to bend as he dragged him toward the others. “I’m proud of you, Loyalty. You’ve come a long way since those first days when you could barely walk.”

“You gave me a massive body,” Ivo grumbled.

“And one you’ve put to good use.” They paused before the others, and Greed released him. He eyed the other man, taking in all the bulk that stood before him until he nodded. “Take care of our women, Ivo. Make sure nothing takes them from us.”

“I will.”

And it wasn’t loyalty that made him say that. It was true love for the woman he had fallen madly into that pit for, and respect for the woman that Greed likely loved just as much.

Nodding, he swung up onto the back of his nuckelavee and looked at the crowd of men and women before him. They were all decked out for a hunt. Their faces painted with broad, black strokes that would keep the sun out of their eyes. Their mounts twitched beneath them, just as prepared for a long, hard ride as his own people. These were the men and women he would give his life for, time and time again.

Lifting his arm over his head, Greed waited until silence fell through the crowd of a hundred. “We ride for the Horde. They have attacked me, bested me, and then they attacked my brother. But worse, they attacked and harmed my woman! I will not keep her hidden away in this castle for the rest of her long life. I will deliver her their heads on a platter and feast upon their hearts with all of you!”

The roar that erupted from the crowd shook the very sands beneath him. He felt the hunger for the hunt roll through them all, and knew that he’d gotten larger, that his claws came out of his hands and his eyes must flash gold in the sunlight. They would see a beast before them and they would ride at his side.

They did not fear him. The Horde, however, should.

Gluttony nudged his beast beside Greed and watched the crowd of hungry warriors before them. “You’ve amassed quite an army, brother.”

“This is not my army.” His voice had deepened into a low growl. “These are just the scouts.”

And as he turned to look at Gluttony, he had the distinct pleasure of seeing his brother’s face pale. Perhaps this was the first moment that Gluttony realized just how powerful Greed had become. If there were a war between the kingdoms, Greed did not fear for his own. He would not attack any other kingdom, but he would protect his own.

These people would fight beside him. Each one more mad than the next, desiring blood and looting at the end of it all.

He tilted back his head and let out a roar that could be heard even over the thunderous cries of his scouts. “I promise you wealth!” he shouted. “I promise you glory! I promise you all the looting and maiming you desire! Whatever you find is yours. Take it and make your king proud!”

Reaching into his pack, where they always were, he drew out the twin daggers that had always been his preference for fighting. Lifting them crossed over his head, he squeezed his thighs around his mount and rode forward through the crowd.

A stream of a hundred men and women followed him across the desert, their thirst for blood fueling him.