Page 73 of The Demon Prince

Envy stiffened beside him. “I’m a fine person. Besides, we aren’t people, anyway. We’re demon kings who rule our kingdoms because no one else could do it properly.”

Yet again, another one of his brothers showcased the arrogance that had gotten them all in trouble to begin with. Instead of arguing, although he wanted to, Gluttony peered at his experiment and asked, “Do you really believe that?”

They sat in silence for a while as his brother thought over his words. And Gluttony found himself surprised at Envy’s response.

“No, I suppose I don’t. My kingdom had always been well off long before I ever got involved, and I inherited that. My councillors do most of the work for me, while I live in luxury until there are times when they need me.” Envy shrugged. “It’s not the same existence as the others, and I acknowledge that. I am less of a king and more of a glorified god they send out to their enemies when the time comes.”

“Enemies.” Gluttony coughed out a laugh. “What enemies do mortals make?”

“You’d be surprised.” Envy’s voice had darkened into a low growl. “They make more enemies than you or I could ever dream of. They spend their lives fighting and fucking and dying. It’s all they care about. Those three things.”

“You sound like you have more experience with their kind than you’re letting on.” Gluttony finally put down his experiment and turned to his brother. Removing his glasses to clean them, he asked, “I thought you were always the brother who avoided humans?”

“I take what others have,” Envy replied. “So what makes you think I haven’t taken mortals as well?”

They stared at each other while Gluttony tried to understand what Envy was telling him. “You clearly wish for Katherine to forgive you. Why? Because you wish to take her for your own?”

“I cannot lie and say that I haven’t thought about it. You and her are so very comfortable with each other. It is tempting to want that for myself.” Envy held up his hand before Gluttony could lash out. “But I have no interest in your pretty little broken doll, brother. I only wish to not be the person who has ruined that for you.”

“Why?”

“Because there is change in the wind, brother. Change that neither you nor I can understand.” Envy leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Lust is no longer the same spirit. Neither is Greed. I have to wonder if this is a reckoning for all of us.”

“We all knew it would come.”

“We did. But we do not know what will happen if we cannot control ourselves.” Finally, Envy looked back at him. “I fear what will happen if we do not adapt. You or I are not ones to change who we are easily. I see myself in you, Gluttony. What will happen if you cannot fix yourself and your need to consume? Will your kingdom be taken from you? Will you fall behind as the tides of change sweep everyone else to sea?”

“Are you worried?” Gluttony asked. “You seem so very much unlike yourself.”

He had to admit, however, Envy’s words struck true. They had seen two of their brothers change, and their kingdoms flourished because of it. Both of them now had a partner to rule with, and the women had made significant changes to their realms.

Lust worked harder than ever, and with more focus than any of their brothers had seen. His kingdom was already producing spells and magic for people to bring to their own kingdoms. Greed’s kingdom was slowly piecing itself back together. The fractured desert had always fought, but now it appeared to be fixing those long open wounds.

What would Gluttony’s kingdom do if he changed himself? He had a hard time imagining it.

“So you think this woman might be the one to change me?” he asked, before tossing his head in denial. “I doubt it. Katherine is a captive who made a deal with me to save her people. There is no love between us. Nothing other than an understanding that she is here to do her duty for her people.”

“And yet, she keeps coming back.”

“Because her people need her to.”

“Because she wants to,” Envy hissed. “How can you be so blind? I have seen her with you, brother. I’ve seen the way she even moves differently. As though you put her entirely at ease and no other person has ever given her that chance. You need to open your eyes or you will lose her.”

“Why are you saying all this?”

“I am afraid!” Envy shouted, and his words echoed back at them. The truth ringing clearly in every word. “I am afraid I cannot change and I want to make sure that you are well. If I cannot fix myself, then I will damn well fix you.”

Gluttony stared at his brother, wondering if Envy had lost his mind. “Of all our siblings, you know I am lost the farthest in darkness. There is no saving me, Envy.”

“You see yourself in a far different light than anyone else who meets you. I can save you, brother, and that starts with the woman I gravely insulted.” Envy turned his head toward the door and then gestured for Gluttony to get up. “She’s back. Go to her.”

“I have work to do. Katherine knows this. I’ll see her tonight when I... I...” Gluttony paused when he saw the absolute devastation on Envy’s features.

“Don’t waste so much time,” Envy said, his voice pitched little more than a whisper. “Go to her, brother. We never know how much time we have with them until it is too late.”

And Gluttony found himself standing. Perhaps it was the thought of losing her so soon, when he hadn’t actually said everything that needed to be said. Or perhaps it was the strangeness in his brother’s voice, but he couldn’t remain here.

Not when Katherine was in his castle. Not when her footsteps echoed through the halls and the scent of her trailed through the air.

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