Page 94 of The Demon Prince

Gluttony leapt to his feet, making his way to the desk where the small crystal was hidden. He twisted the top of it, activating the magic that would be required to summon all six of his brothers at the same time. “It’s magic. Something Envy came up with in his spare time. You know how he likes to dabble in spells. I’ll tell you who each of them are, don’t worry.”

“I don’t really want to—”

He didn’t let her finish the thought. Instead, he moved behind her chair and dragged it over to his side of the desk with her in it. She gripped the arms until her knuckles turned white and let out a little squeak that only made him grin even wider.

Sitting down in his own chair, he looked at his desk and then nodded with pleasure. “Yes, this will do.”

“Why will this do? You moved me like a sack of potatoes.”

Gluttony reached underneath his desk and grabbed her hand in his. He curled their fingers together, linking them as he’d wanted to do from the first moment he’d seen her through her window. As he always should, no matter what difficulty stood in front of them.

“There,” he murmured, squeezing her fingers. “Does it feel a little less intimidating now?”

Katherine’s mouth slightly opened, and she watched him with a soft expression on her face. “Yes. That’s much better, Gluttony. Thank you.”

He must have glowed with pleasure. That was all he wanted, after all. He just wanted her to feel comfortable and not like she was out of place because she was everything he’d ever wanted. And now she was right where she belonged.

The first flickering blue image was exactly who he expected. Gluttony leaned closer to Katherine and murmured, “That is Lust and his bride Selene.”

He tried his best to see his brother through her eyes. Lust with those shorter, curved horns that disappeared into the golden locks of his hair. He reclined at his desk, a billowing white shirt parted down to the short corset he had wrapped around his waist. His bride perched on his knee, draped over him in a stark contrast wearing a rather demure silk gown. Apparently, his brother hadn’t been able to get her to wear the revealing clothing he would have chosen.

Another blue image glowed across the room from Lust. “Greed, and his new wife, Varya. They were who I stayed with while I was not in this kingdom.”

Varya stood beside Greed’s desk, her hip leaning against the wood. But she grinned at him and waved the moment she saw him. “You’re looking well, Gluttony!”

“Well as I can be.”

“Still eating people?”

He bared his fangs at her. “Only one, these days.”

Varya’s eyes widened, and she bit her lip while looking at Katherine. “My, my. How time changes a man.”

Before his own little human could ask a question of Varya, another light blinked into existence. Gluttony quickly cleared his throat and said, “You already know, Envy.”

“I do.” Katherine gave him a little wave and then froze when the next demon appeared.

Gluttony’s brows drew down in concern. He’d never really looked much at his brothers. They were just demons, like him. But he’d forgotten how Sloth drew the feminine eye. His brother wore a sheer dressing robe, revealing plains upon plains of glistening muscle. Oiled and sleek, he didn’t even attempt to hide the golden scales that stretched over his shoulders and spun down his stomach in swirling patterns. Dark hair falling over his eyes, Gluttony could just barely make out their piercing blue color.

In person, Sloth was even more devastatingly handsome. He was perfection personified, as they all were, but unlike Lust, who had both women and men flocking to him at all hours of the day, Sloth had a deadly edge that only drew the most brave.

Or perhaps the most foolish.

“Sloth,” he said quietly, ripping his gaze away from his brother to look down at Katherine’s shocked expression. “Stay away from him.”

“Why?”

“Because he has a harem of women to choose from every night, and he doesn’t need to add you to his collection.” Gluttony bristled when he realized she still hadn’t looked at him. “Besides. I’ve heard he’s a terrible lover.”

That did it. Katherine flicked her amused gaze to him. “Really?”

“I’d imagine women would prefer a lover who enjoys partaking in the event rather than one who expects his women to do all the work.” He eyed her hungrily. “Or perhaps one who couldn’t get enough of them. Ever.”

She bit her lip to hide a grin he knew was there. “Oh, I highly doubt he expects his women to do all the work, Gluttony.”

Sloth interrupted them with a growled, “She’s right, you know. I’d be happy to show your woman just how much I partake in the... event.”

A snarl on his lips, Gluttony bared his teeth at his brother and pressed his hand against the arm of his chair, as though he could launch himself straight into Sloth rather than just the projection of him.

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