Page 106 of Demon Food

Time whittled away like shavings of wood.

I was a life-sized doll, numb to the touches of the four servants who’d escorted me to a massive, opulent washroom designed for the sole purpose of preparing concubines. It was an upscale version of what we had at the brothel, with four bathtubs instead of one.

The servants didn’t speak a word, probably directed not to, as they cleaned me relentlessly, inside and out. One massaged oil that smelled of amber onto my skin while one wafted steaming herbs around me, while another hosed a solution made of tincture and water up my ass, cleansing me until I was just a body.

A toy for a prince. A pretty gift no different from any other trinket that would one day break because it was made to be played with, not to withstand the test of time.

The outfit they dressed me in was similar to what I wore the first night, such that it was see-through, with trousers long and flowing, and a cropped shirt that exposed my stomach and bits of my chest.

But it was black instead of silver and trimmed in sparkling sapphire stones, the same as the earring they’d slid into my ear—a dangly thing that was so long it nearly grazed my shoulder.

It all contrasted starkly against my skin, and they were right to assume it was going to awaken something inside Alek.

Alek.

I hadn’t allowed myself to think of him; not really. Perhaps because thinking of him cut through the numbness too much. When I let my mind wander to Alek, even for a second, the pain of loss was too brutal, and the irony of what I had to do too vicious.

No demon in this palace deserved my sacrifice more than him. And yet, he wouldn’t accept it willingly.

A knock on the door of the washroom jolted the servants into a line with heads bowed. I couldn’t muster the strength to bow my head as they pushed me in front of them, but it didn’t matter.

Alek was the only one who had my respect anyway. Not the king. And certainly not fucking Neopal.

He stepped into the washroom, freezing at the sight of me, like his body couldn’t help it. Then his wrist twitched, and I would’ve spat on him if I had the fight. But the fight was gone.

“He is ready,” one of the servants said, eyes cast downward as she curtsied. “If there is something we missed, let us know, and we’ll do our best to accommodate.”

He breathed in sharply as his eyes dipped down my body. “Turn around.”

I was dead inside. Disconnected from my body moving through time and space as I did what I was told, spinning a full circle for his approval.

“It’ll do,” he said, nodding at the servants, rubbing his twitching nose. “Assuming someone has already brought his meal to the prince’s room?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

My final meal. Well, how gracious of the crown to provide one. The thing no one ever mentioned: you didn’t feel like eating your final meal.

“Come, human,” Neopal said. “I’d like to get you there and fed before he returns.”

Silence fell upon the room when I didn’t budge, the servants exchanging concerned glances between them. Then I pushed myself forward until I took a step, and another. I was finally following him out the door.

Neopal marched with his hands pinned behind his back, his expression stoic. He dared not place a hand on my lower back to guide me down the hallway like the king did, but he was well aware of my every movement, and I had no doubt he’d be on me in seconds if I ran.

But there wasn’t anywhere to run. Judging by the sparkling charcoal stone of these walls, scattered with lit torches, we were already on Alek’s floor.

“How is it going to happen?” I asked, my voice low. “What can I expect from tonight?”

He didn’t look at me, his jaw tight. Then he answered softly, “Tonight, you will feel more pleasure than you’ve ever experienced at once. It’s designed that way. Then once he’s had you, sleep will quickly claim you, and that will be it.”

I rolled my lips. “What about him?”

“What do you mean?”

“What will he be like?”

His eyes got a little vacant as he searched the walls, like he was accessing long forgotten memories. “It will be him, but not him. His darkest desires may arise, and he will be lost to them, to the beast inside, such that you might not recognize him fully. If you start to panic, he’ll aug you—it’s natural; we can’t help it—but you’ll appreciate it. It’ll relax you.”

Augmenin. I’d only heard stories of the powerful medicant in their lungs that made humans submissive and manageable. I’d never experienced it in all my years because most demons ran out soon after they lost their virginity.