Greed: Kingdoms of Hell, #5

By Kit Bladegrave

A love story. Set in hell. The daughters of a god find themselves having to meet an obligation they didn't count on. They have been pledged to marry the Princes of Hell. Hell hath no fury like a goddess forced to marry a prince of the Underworld. The Kingdoms of Hell Saga is ongoing.

 

Aidan has more scars on the inside than he does on the outside. Those scars, those memories of the past are tearing him apart and the only thing that keeps him from falling to pieces is a thread woven between him and a goddess of love whose gentle touch is his only salvation.

 

Nell has a reputation for partying and spreading herself around among the males in several kingdoms. Definitely, not the reputation a girl—or a demi-goddess—covets. She doesn't give a crap. She knows who she is and what she's about. Even when her sisters are castigating her, laying blame upon her, she stays steadfast in her pursuit for the good. She's unwilling to let anyone in. Her walls are sky-high. Can one of the princes of hell break through her barriers? She may save him, but maybe she needs to realize she needs saving as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: KitBla
• Release date: Jun 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201762322

Book preview

1

AIDAN

The aftereffects of the formidable power that had sent everyone to their knees lingered in the air. It smelled of burnt flesh, clogging my nose and filling my throat. The hall that had been decorated to celebrate the union between Remi and Pierce vanished. In its place was a dank cell. The walls were covered in dried gore and the desperate claw marks of those who’d been put here before me.

My limbs seized, anticipating what had always come next.

Aidan.

Victor’s voice dragged me to the present, and the cell vanished. I was in the hall once again, surrounded by guests who only moments ago had been dancing and drinking in merriment.

Jaspen has given us our orders. We need to go.

Orders? The word slipped out of my lips in a whisper.

Are you going to be alright?

I glowered at Victor’s worried tone and shook off the talons of the past, reaching out to snare my soul. I’m fine. Where does Jaspen want us?

Our father and King of the Underworld had already vacated the Kingdom of Corruption. Ezra, Holden, Caleb, Meris, and Pierce had taken off with him. It made sense he’d order them to be by his side. The true warriors.

Once upon a time, that had been me, as well. Victor had never been much of a fighter, so it made sense for him to remain behind. He was the negotiator, the diplomat, and the heir to Jaspen’s throne, should the worse occur. But there’d been a time when I was feared as a swordsman. A time when, though I’d been young, the enemy had dreaded to face me on the battlefield. I’d been trained by Caleb and Ezra, after all. And my power was on a level all its own.

Or it used to be.

Now, I was lucky if I could control it once it erupted. Other times, I was lucky if I could summon it at all.

The taunting swell of memories rushed back in, and this time, I couldn’t stop the flood from sweeping over me and dragging me down. Victor was talking, but his voice was carried away in a wave of rising screams that echoed inside my skull. My screams. My pathetic pleas for mercy. Flashes of a gruesome battle interrupted the scene in the hall. Then I was back in that moment, trapped in a memory. I saw my fighters go down one after the other. Saw their blood stain the ground and their heads roll.

Then a blade pierced my body, and I jerked violently, feeling it slice into me. The first was followed by a second and a third until I ended up on my knees, gasping for air.

Aidan.

Nails dug into my shoulders. I blinked and found Victor kneeling before me. We were still in the hall, but I was on the floor on all fours. He tried to help me up, but I shoved him off and made it upright on my own. Shaking, but standing.

Orders. What are the orders? I snapped at my oldest brother, having to look up to meet his gaze. He was the tallest of my brothers.

He reached for me again, but I stepped back.

His hand fell, and he nodded. We’re to return to our kingdoms and secure the pits if we can. He didn’t sense the warding had fallen there.

It wouldn’t surprise me. The pits in Greed and Arrogance were the smallest out of the six kingdoms ruled by my brothers and me.

Is that all? I asked.

We’re to pull whatever forces we can spare to help protect the borders around Castle Wrath.

Castle Wrath was our father’s home and what had been ours until Jaspen had declared us mature enough to handle one of the kingdoms of the Underworld. It was the seventh domain and the heart of Jaspen’s power in the Underworld. Arrogance and Greed shared a border, so setting up a camp together made sense.

Our numbers won’t do much good.

It’s better than nothing, Victor said, nervously raking his hand through his long, jet-black hair. We’re to establish a camp there and see to supplies and that orders get where they need to go. Until we get word from Jaspen on how bad this attack has hit the Underworld, those are our tasks.

Supply duty and message delivery? I ground my teeth. That’s what I’d been reduced to. No longer wanted on the front lines. No longer the fighter to be relied upon during a fierce battle. I was to remain behind and watch from afar.

Those duties are equally important as fighting on the front lines. You, of all beings, know that, Victor said softly, his blue eyes gleaming. The tattoo on his neck pulsed and glowed with his heightened emotions.

Do I now? Thanks for the reminder, I snarled.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Memories assaulted me, and I clenched my jaw against the onslaught of agony tearing through my limbs. The scars covering me from thighs to shoulders prickled. Unease churned my stomach.

Aidan— Victor started.

I held up my hand, stopping whatever apology or uplifting words he was about to give me. I didn’t want to hear them.

What happened to me wasn’t his fault. But he, like the rest of my brothers, continued to feel guilty for not being able to protect me. Jaspen did, too. Their pity pissed me off as much as their worried glances or the apologies that came around every few months if they caught me struggling.

And oh, how I struggled. Every day was a gamble whether I’d make it through without sealing myself up in my castle to escape the memories.

But they cared nothing for locked doors. The ghosts of my past found me no matter what I did or where I went.

They’d always find me.

We’ll leave shortly, Victor told me. I have something I need to take care of first.

I nodded, and he hurried away, taking his worry with him.

I was left in the middle of the hall, observing the organized chaos. Pierce’s people were clearing out guests. Remi stood beside Irina, Gabriella, and Nell.

Remi was talking to them, then she set off, fully embracing her new life as the Princess of Corruption. She’d taken on her role well, as had her sisters, who were already wed to my brothers. They’d most likely return to their kingdoms in the Underworld to do what they could to protect their people.

My eyes drifted to Nell, my betrothed, and a vise closed around my heart. Dark chestnut hair was curled and piled gorgeously atop her head for the occasion. Her short but flowy blue dress brought out the bit of matching blue in her eyes. Silver bands decorated her biceps, and more garnished her wrists. She had anklets on that clinked when she walked or danced. All night, I’d watched her from the shadows until she’d glanced my way. She was a sight to behold, one that made many males stop and stare.

I hadn’t met her before the war, but I’d heard about her. It was hard not to listen to the rumors that spread about the youngest daughter of Alric the Betrayer. Many spoke about how little she cared for her duties as a goddess. That she appeared loving and caring one moment, cold and heartless the next. During the war, she’d been tucked away to keep her safe, and as far as I’d known, she’d never had to witness the atrocities committed in her father’s name.

After, when so many worked to rebuild what had been destroyed, new rumors spread of how Nell spent her days journeying between the gods’ realm and the mortal world, doing what she wanted. Her nights were occupied with endless parties at her temple. She was said to throw herself at any male who gave her attention. And when she finished with them, she’d leave them a wreck.

But those were only rumors. Who Nell truly was, I hadn’t bothered to find out yet.

I’d been opposed to this idea of a wedding from the start. I was caught in a maelstrom of agony most days. Having someone else witness me when I was at my lowest point wasn’t ever something I intended to do. My two most trusted guards, Riff and Raff, were the only ones I allowed near me, and that was because they refused to obey my orders to go. Worse was dealing with my brothers and Jaspen if they witnessed one of my breakdowns.

Besides, Nell was a goddess of the heart. Of love and beauty. She wasn’t a fighter. She’d never had to know the terror of battle or the nightmares that came after.

She’d never had to feel what it was like to be put behind bars and made to feel unimaginable pain. She, of all the deities, would never be able to understand what I was going through. She’d probably see it as a weakness and spurn me for it. Or she’d come to fear me as so many others did now, and not because I was a renowned warrior.

Nothing my brothers had done, though, had made Jaspen change his mind about the weddings. I didn’t hold out hope that he’d give in to my requests to avoid holding up my end of the deal.

How was I supposed to have someone like Nell in my life and be okay with it?

It’s not as if she’ll ever want anything to do with you anyway. Why would she, with so many others vying for her heart?

I bristled, recalling the males I’d seen her around at the reception this very night. She’d spoken with all of them, laughed and danced with so many others. Gods and demis and demons who were far better off than I would ever be. She could have her pick of any one of them, yet she’d be stuck with me for eternity. She couldn’t possibly want that.

At some point, I’d have to talk to her. I could try to find out the real Nell for myself, but for so long, all I’d heard were the rumors. If they were false, why didn’t she bother correcting them?

How could I ever trust anything that came out of her mouth?

You can’t. She’ll twist everything around to get what she wants. She’ll walk all over you. Perhaps this attack is a sign that you won’t have to deal with her.

Pointedly, I looked away from Nell and her sisters. I searched the remaining crowd, wondering where Victor had gotten to. Through the mass of beings, I spotted my brother, but he wasn’t alone. Petra, the oldest of Alric’s daughters, was with him. They stood with no space between them. Victor’s lips were moving, and from the aggravation shining in Petra’s gaze, she didn’t like whatever he was telling her. She started to shake her head, but he cupped her face and kissed her.

How long had that been going on? That kiss, the way Victor pulled Petra into his embrace and held her there, spoke far louder than words ever could. Petra clung to him in turn. They kissed again, and I turned away.

You’ll never have that with Nell. You’ll never have it with anyone. It’s for the best, and you know it. You’ve seen what you’re like on your bad days. Being alone is how you should remain no matter what Jaspen believes. Dealing with a goddess like Nell is the last thing you need.

Aidan, we have to go, Victor called from across the room.

Petra was gone from his side, and he waited for me at the doors to the hall. I took off for him, not allowing myself to look back at Nell. What was the point? After tonight, I doubted I’d see her soon, or perhaps not ever again. If this was the beginning of a new war, whatever wedding plans we might’ve had would be put on hold indefinitely.

There was no way to know what I’d find in Greed once I returned or how the next few hours would go, let alone the next couple of days. I might enter my kingdom to find it had been attacked. I could be walking straight onto a battlefield. My stomach dropped, and the ghost of those swords plunging into my body stopped me mid-step. I broke out in a cold sweat. Squeezing my hands into tight fists, I swallowed back my fear. There was no room for it. Not now.

If Jaspen thought for a moment I couldn’t handle my responsibilities, I’d never prove myself to him. I’d never make it back to the front lines with a sword in my hand.

So you can hope for a swift death and finally be done with it? Maybe it’s time to give up on trying to be a warrior again and become something else before you get yourself killed.

But if I wasn’t a warrior, if I wasn’t fighting to protect my people with my sword and the storm inside me, then who was I?

You look like you’re going to be sick, Victor commented after I’d gotten my feet to keep moving toward Pierce’s study.

What were you and Petra talking about? I asked instead of bothering to acknowledge his words.

Nothing important.

It looked like it was.

Victor’s hand paused, inches away from the mirror’s surface. She’s returning to the gods’ realm to see what help she can offer from there.

I waited for Victor to activate the mirror, but he seemed frozen. "What else did you say to her? Now you look as if you’re about to be sick."

I was saying goodbye, Victor whispered, and my heart sank. Just in case. He flattened his hand to the mirror and stepped out into his kingdom of Arrogance.

Once the mirror cleared, I stretched my hand out to the glass. My entire arm trembled. Furious, I yanked my hand away and paced. I could do this. I had to do this. It wouldn’t be like the last time. I clasped my hands behind my neck, mentally screaming at myself not to run away. I wouldn’t be a coward. I would face whatever was on the other side of that mirror, and I’d do it as the Prince of Greed, son of King Jaspen of the Underworld.

Not giving myself a chance to second guess, I rushed to the mirror, slammed my hand on the glass, and pictured my kingdom. I stepped through, wondering how long I’d be able to last before my sanity cracked and tore me the rest of the way down.

2

NELL

Aidan left the hall, hurrying to keep up with Victor. I took two quick steps as if to follow him but jerked to a stop, my