Chapter 6

ChapterSix

She was a horny idiot and needed to get rid of him immediately.

Kissing him? What had she been thinking? There was no excuse for kissing the king of their kingdom, the one who she should fear. It didn’t matter that he was a spectacular example of his sex. She should have had better self control.

And she had better self control. That was the most frustrating part about all of this.

Varya had spent a very long part of her life making sure that everything was in its neat little place. She was alone; she had no attachments, she only cared about her friends and they were wonderful people who might even miss her when she was gone. But her adventuring nature disturbed no one. They all had their own lives that she was barely part of. Sure, things would be a little more difficult for them if she wasn’t bringing in treasure to sell. But would they mourn her?

Maybe.

Maybe they would for a few days or a few weeks. But what would be different for them? If she was gone, it changed nothing about their day-to-day life. This was how she kept people at bay and how she kept her heart safe.

And then this big idiot had lumbered into her life, expecting someone would save him, and she felt like she had to, because he was a king, and now she was rambling in her own head while staring at him sleep.

Varya had woken when the very first rays of the sun had broken through the sand above their head. Spears of light came with the wind spraying sand down upon them as though they were in an hourglass.

His arm had been wrapped around her waist when she woke. His face buried in her hair, and he’d worn a soft expression that made her question her sanity. He clearly wanted to be wrapped around her. He enjoyed lying by her side, if the way he’d tangled his legs through hers revealed anything.

She’d taken a very long time making sure he didn’t wake up while she maneuvered herself out of that situation. She would not, could not, get involved with anyone at all.

And she had to get out of this cave.

The only reason she’d succumbed to the madness last night was because he’d surrounded her. He’d been everywhere with that spicy, warm scent that whispered of safety and quiet. She’d almost been able to imagine the warm mugs of ale, flickering firelight, and soft furs that likely cushioned his privileged head every single night.

She’d wanted that life. For an absolutely insane moment, she’d wanted him to take her back with him. Maybe she’d fit right in with his castle life. Maybe she would see what it was like to have all that luxury at her beck and call?

But that was insanity. She had a life, and it was one that she liked. She’d worked very hard to make sure that everything was exactly the way it was supposed to be. No demon king would ruin that for her.

The moment he’d asked for her name was the moment she knew she had to run. He was getting too close. Sinking in too deep. She’d seen the look in his eyes and she’d known that he was too interested in keeping her.

He wouldn’t be the first. He wouldn’t be the last. None of these men seemed to understand that she would not lose herself for any of them. Even one this magnificent.

Greed groaned as he rolled over in his sleep, his hands automatically searching for her.

Varya didn’t even try to hide her flinch. He wanted to touch her, sought her out as the first thought in his head after waking, and she was saying no?

She had bigger problems than she’d even realized if that was the case, but she would not bend. Not for him. Not for anyone.

Greed sat up, his red hair wild around his head as his eyes narrowed. He peered through the shadows, right toward her, as though he knew where she was. He shouldn’t be able to see her at all, and yet, this man constantly surprised her.

“Why are you up already?” he grumbled.

“Because you’re not healing,” she replied, her heart catching in her throat. “And we’ve run out of time.”

“If this is about last night—”

“You’re real arrogant. Has anyone ever told you that?” She stood, her leather armor already strapped onto her body and her coat over her arm. “There’s no more food, Greed. A woman can only survive on rats for so long and I’m not waiting any longer. You need a healer. I need to eat. I made the decision long before I woke up.”

His expression screwed up in confusion. “Rats? You’ve been eating rats?”

“What do you think I’ve been eating?”

Greed held out his arms and gestured around them, as though there was plenty to eat.

She took a deep, steadying breath and told herself not to argue. She didn’t need him to dig in his heels. She needed him to be a good little boy and stand up. “There is nothing edible in this cave, Greed. I don’t know what you need to eat or if you even do. But I need food. If you want me to bring you back to your castle, then you have to stand. I can’t carry you the entire way there.”

“You know the way?” he asked, and then pushed himself onto his feet. The movement was labored and new, bright streaks of blood splattered across his back.

She’d done that, Varya thought with a wince. She’d hurt him even more.

Greed knew where her attention was. He glanced down at a particularly red, now open cut on his chest and then grinned at her. “Ach, don’t beat yourself up about it, treasure. I might even let that one scar to remember who gave it to me.”

No, no, she would not listen to this nonsense. She couldn’t.

Varya narrowed her eyes at him and frowned even harder. “I see no reason why you’d want to keep a scar from a woman you knew for only a few days.”

“But I know you’re going to be with me for a lot longer than that, treasure. If you insist we move, then we move.” He glanced up at the holes in the ceiling. “What time of day is it?”

“After mid day. You slept for most of the time the sun was in the sky.” It would still be hot traveling, but at least they would be trudging through the sands toward colder weather.

She could only hope they were close to the castle. The man was not dressed for travel, and being shirtless without even a blanket would make the journey difficult for him.

And she shouldn’t be worried about him.

Damn it, again.

“You’re worried about our travel speed?” he asked as he strode up to her, looking like a man who had no cares at all. “Are you going to be excited to get rid of me?”

“Yes,” she replied instantly.

She would be very glad to get him out of her hair. She needed to figure out what she was thinking. Why she was so tempted by him? She needed to get home and bring the map back to them so they could all move forward into a brighter future. A future he should have provided them without Varya needing to steal and...

The map.

Where was the map?

She’d put it down when she changed her clothing, and she’d forgotten this morning to put it back into her pants. It had already been horribly sodden by her stupid decision to leap into the water after him. She had hoped that drying it out on a rock nearby would be enough so that it was back to legible, and it was this morning, but she’d meant to put it back into her pants and... and...

Greed had it in his hands. He was tilting it back and forth, trying to catch a sunbeam on the parchment as he stared down at it.

Oh no. If he realized what it was, would he try to take it back? Varya eyed the pool behind him. If he tried, she could kick him hard on his bad hip, and that would send him careening into the water. If she didn’t grab the paper then, which she was fast enough to do, then she could always follow him into the pool.

He was weak, and she was much stronger than he thought she would be. Surely that would give her the advantage enough to retrieve the map and run.

Where? She had no idea. The exit to these caves seemed as ephemeral as their entrance.

Greed tilted his head and the map at the same time before flicking his gaze up to her. “Where did you get this?”

“The Horde. You saw me steal it.”

“Where did they get it?”

Varya shrugged. “I have no idea. The Horde has their contacts, and they gather items from all over the kingdom. They could have stolen it from your very castle for all I know.”

“Oh, they didn’t do that,” he muttered. “I haven’t had this in years. Someone took it from me three centuries ago.”

She choked on her own tongue. “Centuries?”

“Did you not know? My brothers and I are all ancient.” He flashed her a wicked grin. “It has its uses. For example, I spent nearly ten years deep between the legs of a very talented—”

She held up her hand and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t need to hear about that.”

“Why?” He was suddenly much closer, and she could feel his breath against her shoulder. “Are you… jealous?”

Varya grabbed the map out of his hand and rolled it once more. She stared at the ground as she replied, “No, I am not. I just want to get going and if you don’t stop dawdling, we’ll be walking while it’s freezing out and I won’t lend you my jacket.”

“Ah, but last night we already realized how much easier it is to warm each other.”

He leaned a little too close for comfort, so Varya took three very large steps back. It was only a little satisfying that Greed stumbled before she turned and started toward the pool.

“Drink up, demon king. There will be little water on the way, I suspect.”

“We’re not that far from my castle,” he grumbled, but she had a feeling he was only saying that to make it sound better. They were very far from the castle, at least four hours of walking, and he wasn’t at his best.

What should have been a quick journey was sure to turn into a very long one.

She took her own advice and drank as much water as her belly could hold before turning back to him. He gestured behind her at a rock wall.

“Go on then,” he muttered. “If you’re so insistent that we need to start this moment, you can feel the heat first.”

She approached the rock wall, but there was no opening or sliver for her to slide through. There wasn’t even light coming through the stones. What did he expect her to do with this?

Greed grumbled behind her the whole way. Unsurprisingly, he still wasn’t feeling like himself, and he expected this to be a very trying day. If she didn’t want to acknowledge that, it was fine, but he refused to be shuffled around like a child. Or at least, that sounded like what he was mumbling. A lot of the deep guttural tones were difficult to understand.

Then he paused behind her and grunted. “Well? What are you waiting for?”

If she could punch him, this would all feel so much better.

Varya faced him and gestured toward the wall, trying her best not to look ridiculously put out. “There are rocks in front of me, Greed. What do you want me to do?”

“Go through them.”

“How?” she snarled through her teeth. Varya had to mutter to herself not to clench the map in her hand and completely shred it because of the stupid, moronic, asshole of a demon in front of her.

He flashed her a bright grin, as if he knew how much he was getting under her skin. “Just walk through it.”

“Not all of us have magic.”

“I don’t have magic.” He shrugged and started toward the wall of stone. “Demons aren’t real, anyway. You mortals are the ones who insist on calling us that, and it’s rather ridiculous. We aren’t monsters who were summoned out of the deep.”

He turned and waggled his fingers at her, backing toward the stone. He continued to make hand movements like he was casting a spell and then... disappeared through the rock.

“Rat bastard,” she hissed. Had he trapped her in here? Was that the plan all along?

When she saw him next, she would wring his stupid, fat neck.

But then Greed’s head appeared through the stones again, grinning like an absolute lunatic covered in dried blood. “Are you coming or not? I told you, no magic required.”

Completely and utterly confused, Varya stepped closer to the rocks and held her hand up to them. Her hand disappeared as she touched the stones and then reappeared when she moved it closer. There was no sensation of magic or even a spell, but obviously there was one here.

She was braver than this, she reminded herself. And so she stepped through the stones.

Out onto the sand beyond.

The sun warmed her chilled skin, and she pulled on her jacket and drew up the hood. Her mask was attached to the interior of it, so that was easy to pull up and cover her mouth. The wind had already kicked up, sending sand swirling around their feet and soon enough into their faces.

“You see?” Greed said, holding his hands at his sides. “Innocent and easy. No magic.”

“Good enough.” The mask muffled her voice. “Are you ready, or do I have to carry you?”

“You couldn’t...” He paused, then looked her over. “Actually, maybe you could. And I’m almost ready. There’s just one last thing.”

She rolled her eyes. What else could this ridiculously frustrating man have to do?

He stepped closer and gently took hold of the edges of her mask. Carefully, ever so carefully, he moved the mask around and tucked the loose strands of her hair more comfortably behind it. He took his time, making sure there wasn’t a single thread of gold revealed before he ghosted his fingers over the peaks of her cheekbones.

“You’re blushing,” he murmured.

“No, I’m not.”

Greed frowned, his brows drawing down in that expression she’d come to recognize so well. “No, you aren’t. That is rather strange, don’t you think?”

“Not really,” she muttered as she tucked the map into her waistband again. “Come on, we’re wasting time.”

But as she stalked off into the sands, she couldn’t help but feel like she’d fled his touch. It made her a little too warm, a little too comfortable, and... a little too close to blushing.