Avarice Read online

  Bounty Award: 1,000,000 rubies. WANTED ALIVE. No award shall be given upon deceased delivery.

  Contact the Council of Affinities and Affluence via carrier pigeon upon arrival at Headquarters.

  To the strong go the spoils.

  Chapter Two

  Ava

  Present Day

  So many pockets, so little time.

  Ava sighed in contentment, adrenaline making her skin prickle as she gazed out over the crowded marketplace. It was a favorite of hers for a multitude of reasons. One, it was a place of happiness. Once a week, the locals would set up shop, lining their tents and displays on either side of the narrow path, eager to show off their trinkets and wares. Excitement was practically visible in the air as shoppers worked their way through the stands, elaborate jewelry and bright colored fabrics glimmering in the sunshine.

  Bakers would bring their goods to sell, the scent of freshly baked bread and sweets making Ava’s stomach growl.

  Two, it was easy pickings. Happiness was known to make one more vulnerable. It brought walls down and opened pockets. The market was the perfect place for Ava to make up for her less than successful trip into town the week before.

  Remembering that little mishap, Ava scowled and tried to regain her focus. There was a reason she didn’t go uptown very often. The wealthy became wealthy because of their tight pockets. Oh, sure, their power and influence helped, but it was mostly due to their greed. She would have had an easier time robbing a rabid pack of hounds.

  Slipping off her heels and scooping them up with her fingers, Ava made her way towards the baked goods, leaning down to breathe in the heavenly scent. The movement made her soft, lavender dress lift slightly in the back, showing off the long curve of her legs. Not short enough to be indecent, of course. Mama had always taught her that sexiness was leaving something to the imagination.

  A slim figure stepped up beside her, the scent of his shoe polish instantly piquing her interest.

  “Hello, beautiful.”

  Ava fought back a snort. Instead, she straightened, smoothing a delicate hand down the front of her dress as she turned. “Oh, hello.”

  The brown-haired man was average in height, and so indistinct that Ava wasn’t sure she would’ve been able to pick him out of a lineup. Brown eyes looked down at her with interest, a hand in his pocket.

  Allowing her other senses to come to life, she took in the aura surrounding him, picking up the flares of chestnut and a slight shape of his inner beast.

  Hyena. I hate hyenas, she thought, her smile never waning.

  Not everyone had the skill of reading auras. In fact, Ava was beginning to think it was something ingrained in her Wyvern abilities. It was oh so helpful in knowing exactly how to work a mark, though.

  Her eyes roamed down his chest before casting them away in feigned modesty. “Lovely day we’re having, isn’t it?”

  “Indeed. What’s your name?”

  Ava reached forward, her breasts pressing together, as she grabbed one of the cupcakes on display. “I’m Cindy,” she said, turning towards him and batting her eyes. “And you?”

  “Carl. Carl the Third.” He watched as she swiped a finger through the frosting and brought it to her lips.

  “Pleasure to meet you, Carl the Third,” she said, before dipping the finger into her mouth to stop her snort.

  What kind of egomaniac added numbers to their name?

  Carl’s gaze heated and he swallowed. “Are you here alone, Cindy?”

  Ava’s alarm bells perked up, ready to go off at any moment. Hyenas were notorious for secluding their prey, and while Ava was anything but, she knew when to be cautious. Memories of her mother’s downfall played in the back of her mind, making bile rise in her throat before she swallowed it down with a smile.

  “My brother is around here somewhere, I’m sure. Perhaps you could help me find him?” She looked up at him with wide, golden eyes. With her cupcake in hand, and standing there barefoot and blonde, she was the picture of innocence.

  “I would like that very much.” Smiling, he offered his arm.

  “Hey! You gonna pay for that?” a short, stout woman shouted from the other end of the table, wiping her flour covered hands on her apron as she glared at Ava’s cupcake.

  “Oh! Of course!” Ava’s fingers fluttered at the tiny blue clutch she had draped over one shoulder.

  “Allow me,” Carl said, withdrawing a small leather billfold from his left jacket pocket. He tossed a silver coin at the woman with a wink.

  “Well, aren’t you the gentleman,” Ava crooned, slipping her arm through his. She knew where the goods were, now she simply had to steal them. Who knew, maybe she could even get a solid meal out of the deal?

  Perhaps stealing should have made her feel guilty. Batting her lashes at the man beside her, however, no guilt slapped at her conscience. He screamed money, from his charcoal tailored suit down to his spit-shined shoes and cufflinks that glinted in the sunlight. Eyeing them now, she briefly debated on how she could nab those, too.

  Leaning into him, she took a deep breath. He smelled of luxury and the woodlands. Hyenas were scavengers by nature, and she knew he would just as easily take from her and leave what was left to the wolves.

  No, Ava’s guilt had been left behind her in a time before she had known true hunger and loss.

  They walked about the market for a bit, Ava doing her best not to bristle at the nonstop chatter from Carl The Third. She couldn’t get a word in edgewise, which was fine with her. It was much more difficult to keep up a lie when the spotlight was on her. This also allowed her time to scan their surroundings, scoping out any other possible targets. Sure, it was risky to hit two in one day, but someone had to pay the bills.

  “Oomph. Sorry, sir!” A young boy shook a head of auburn hair, grinning up at them after nearly barreling them both over. Several other kids ran past them giggling, and Ava narrowed her eyes.

  “Watch where you’re going,” Carl snapped, his friendly demeanor vanishing as he pushed the child aside.

  Ava stiffened. That was just about enough of this date. “Do you like jokes?”

  Carl’s attention returned to her, eyes sparkling in delight. “Why? Do you know any good ones?”

  “As a matter of fact I do. What do sea monsters eat?” Pause for dramatic effect… “Fish and ships.” Grinning, Ava waited for the joke to sink in.

  Then Carl doubled over, cackling like a mad man. “F..fish...and...ships..” he roared between breaths, holding his ribs.

  Ava chuckled right along with him, leaning into his side and slipping her hand into his breast pocket.

  Only to find it empty.

  “Oh, that little…” Ava cursed under her breath, turning just in time to see a mop of brown hair dart behind a stand of honey. Ignoring the man crying with laughter beside her, Ava took off after the little thief.

  Whipping around the corner, she watched as the kids quickly came together, trying to track the billfold as it passed hands, until they all separated and darted in different directions.

  Snarling, Ava skidded to a stop. She took a deep breath, hoping to track where the money went. Dropping her eyes to the ground, Ava let out a sigh, bending over to scoop up the now empty billfold.

  “Cindy? Where did you run off to?” Carl called out in the distance, making Ava’s shoulders tighten.

  With nothing to show for it, she tossed the billfold and headed in the opposite direction, weaving into the busy crowd to avoid her now broke acquaintance.

  Half an hour later, Ava found herself sitting on a bench beside a display of colorful mums, eating an apple she had swiped off a fruit stand. Her gaze scanned the crowd, hoping to find someone who would make the day at least somewhat successful.

  Her eyes moved over the nearby stand of elaborate fabrics and trinkets of every color, desire pulling at her spine for the dozenth time since she sat down.

  No, Ava, she scolded herself. You don’t need any more shinies. You need dinner. />
  Still, they were awfully pretty…

  No. Focus.

  Being a Wyvern Affinity was not without its difficulties. While her rare spirit gave her a boost in grace and intrigue, it also made her a tad bit greedy and quick to temper.

  Just a tad.

  So, it wasn’t really her fault that she was a pirate. It was simply fate, this desire for treasure. If only she could satisfy that never ending need. No matter how much she plundered, she still yearned for more, her own little treasure trove she could curl up on and hide from the world.

  It was there at the farmers market, with thoughts of treasure troves spinning in her head, that she first saw them.

  The Griffins.

  Like Wyverns, Griffins were a rare, mythical Affinity, or Rarity, as they called them. Ava herself had never met another Wyvern, let alone a Griffin.

  Standing, she followed them through the marketplace, her gaze locked on their broad bodies. She watched the way they stalked the area, their keen eyes looking for more than pies and jams. Perhaps they were soldiers? There was a war going on, after all--powerful affinities fighting one another and dominating the rarer breeds, beating them down until most were practically extinct. Lions and bears couldn’t very well let dragons and sphinxes flourish, for they knew just how powerful the rare breeds were. If they could gain a foothold, those rare breeds would dominate the others with ease. So the less powerful attacked first, building their armies and “cleansing” the world of the dangerous Rarities, winning by numbers alone.

  It was not only a lonely existence to be a mythical Affinity, but a dangerous one.

  At least these Griffins had each other. Curiosity and a tinge of bitterness coiled beneath her skin. Maybe their uniqueness was what had piqued her interest, but that interest was quickly turning sour. Whatever the case, she tracked and observed the strange creatures.

  They were tall and broad, with dark hair and fancy suits. Handsome would be an understatement. But there was something dangerous that licked across their auras. An otherness that made passersby give them a wider berth. They couldn’t see their auras, as Ava could, but there was no denying these men were predators. No one else noticed how their auras flared every so often, highlighting their spirit wings. The wings that would never manifest.

  They couldn’t shapeshift into their Affinities, even with their heightened abilities.

  It was a constant irritant to Ava. The craving to fly, to feel the wind caress wings you didn’t have, was enough to drive anyone insane. Where that craving came from, no one knew. It was speculated that their Affinities were from past lives, leftovers from reincarnation. Ava didn’t believe that, though. She had met too many powerful Affinities that were dicks. If reincarnation was possible, surely the assholes would come back as mice or worms, right?

  Then the Griffins walked into the sunlight, and Ava forgot all about reincarnation and unfurled wings.

  Their skin was golden. It looked enticing and smooth, and although it was probably just their mysterious heritage, Ava swore it was as if someone had melted the sun and created them just for her.

  And she couldn’t have them.

  A rage steadily grew in the pit of her stomach, her curiosity quickly waning as she watched them strut about, their riches evident in their careless spending. They were her worst nightmare, these golden boys with their fancy suits. Not only did they flaunt their wealth and companionship in her marketplace, tainting all of her shiny things with their prettiness, but then they had to be gold made flesh? It wasn’t fair.

  Stalking them while her stomach growled and her desire for gold beat against her skin, Ava watched as the pretty one tossed one of Marge’s mouthwatering banana muffins at the one with close cut hair, her ire spiking as the asshole scowled and dumped it in the trash. Ava realized she had found a new mark. Three of them, actually. And they had no clue how thoroughly they were about to be swindled.

  Chapter Three

  Ody

  “Get down!” Ody roared, shoving Midas out of the way as a cannon shot overhead. He drew his blade, leaping over the makeshift barrier they had created and darted into the fray.

  Bodies lay scattered across the battlefield. Rare and Common Affinities alike, their blood pooling in crimson ruin over the grass, trailing off into the river beyond.

  Ody leapt over friends and enemies, determined to get to the lead commander. The Bear Affinity was tearing through their platoon, their numbers dwindling too damn fast. If he could get there before the bastard got a shot at the second wave of soldiers behind him, the number of casualties would be limited significantly. He let the technical terms of war warm his blood, allowing him to keep the mental distance needed to finish this fight.

  Midas shot out beside him, leaping into the air and twisting in an elegant twirl of blades and bloodshed. His brothers flanked him, helping him carve out a pathway to the enemy.

  Almost...There.

  “ODYEUS!”

  Ody lurched awake with a roar, sweat and tears covering his face. With a frustrated growl, he swiped it all away, along with the nightmares from his past. Turning, he put his feet on the ground, letting the cool hardwood floor and the sway of the sea soothe his nerves. Fuck. Why were his nightmares getting worse?

  “Morning pumpkin,” Ramé said from the doorway with a grin, leaning a hip against the frame and crossing his ankles.

  Ody scowled, throwing a pillow at his foster brother. “What time is it?”

  “Half past six.” Ramé tossed him a muffin, almost hitting him in the face. Luckily the years in the military, combined with his Griffin Affinity, made it damn near impossible to catch Ody off-guard.

  Looking down at the muffin, Ody narrowed his gaze at his brother.

  Ramé rolled his eyes. “No, it’s not banana. Come on. Midas wants to go over the plan.”

  The asshole was constantly trying to poison him. Ody was allergic to bananas. Nothing deadly, but Ramé thought his hives and incessant itching were hilarious, apparently.

  Running a hand over his crew cut, Ody used the bathroom and grabbed a black t-shirt off the chair before throwing it on and heading towards the bar on their yacht.

  Ah, the yacht. One of the very few upsides to having fought in the war. In their world, “might equaled right.” Victors inherited wealth and the spoils of those they conquered. This ridiculously expensive ship had been paid for with one concussion, one shattered forearm, and a broken tailbone. Something Midas and Ody took great enjoyment in reminding Ramé of every chance they got. It gave broke ass a whole new meaning.

  Entering the parlor, Ody sat at one of the bar stools, eyes raking over the paperwork neatly spread out on the countertop in front of him.

  “About time,” Midas said from the doorway. “We’re burning daylight.” He walked over to the bar and pointed down at the first document, ready to go over the bounty as they did with every new case. “Lobah Pontiki. She’s a local. Smart. Her uncle runs the entire Eastern coast.”

  Ramé whistled, slouching into a stool beside them. “She’s Pirate Sal’s niece? That’s a hell of a mark.”

  Ody’s brows furrowed as he stared down at the picture of the young woman. Her brown eyes sparkled with mischief, her neon green hair practically shimmering in the sunlight captured on film. “What’s her Affinity?”

  Midas let out a breath. “Unknown.”

  Ody and Ramé gazed up at him in disbelief. Midas could read auras. A rare gift, they depended on him knowing his shit.

  “How is that possible?” Ramé asked.

  Midas ran a hand through his hair. “I haven’t gotten close enough to assess her myself. Rumor has it she’s just a mouse.”

  The silence hung heavy between them.

  “But?” Ody asked.

  “But there are other rumors. Rumors that she’s something else.” Midas turned and headed towards the elegant fridge beside the bar.

  “Do you think she’s a Rarity? Something the Council wants to exterminate?” Ody asked, his voice a l
ow drawl. They refused to bring in Rarities. Having fought in the war for years, the brothers would rather eat their own foot than help some Common asshole pursue their lust for power.

  They may be bounty hunters, but they had principles.

  “I won’t know until I get closer,” Midas explained. “You know how shit spreads. Odds are she’s just a Common who stole from the wrong prick.”

  “Maybe,” Ody said, eyes scanning over the other papers. “If she turns out to be anything else but a Common thief, we reassess. Agreed?”

  His brothers nodded, their jaws tight. While they usually didn’t take up bounties for the Council, circumstances had changed. Their home had gotten hit hard after a recent storm washed up rogue sailors to their shores. The battle had ended swiftly, but their stored goods had taken a hit. They needed a bigger bounty to cover the costs and refill their supplies before they fell. Working for the elite bastards didn’t sit well with any of them, despite the temporary truce between the two factions. It was as if the three of them were simply waiting for an excuse to call the entire thing off.

  But the brothers’ people were counting on them.

  Their island had become a safe haven for Rarities. Something Ody wished had been the case when they were children, before war and bloodshed could sink into their bones.

  Ramé, Midas, and Ody had found each other at an orphanage as children. A Sphinx Affinity named Mitera had founded the tiny foster home in one of the last Rare villages left standing after the raids. It hadn’t been long before they had been forced to flee, always outrunning the enemies trying to destroy them for merely existing.

  Until they had grown into men, something no one had anticipated, nor had anyone predicted just how strong the three brothers would be together. They battled their way across the continent, gathering the other Rarities they could find as they went, until finally settling on an island off the coast of Southern Litore.