Page 35 of Demon Food

No, he did not kill me. I was still standing, and I wasn’t going to get anywhere by cowering.

I stepped from the washroom and stood before them with my chin lifted, the silver chain curling around my feet. The attendant stood, his face blanching even more at the sight of me. He was young. Terribly young. Seventeen? Eighteen? Another virgin, but likely one who hadn’t awoken yet.

Just fuck me. I had the worst luck.

He stumbled over his words as his body began to vibrate in twitches. A lot of twitches.

“Shit,” he muttered, breathy, trying to stabilize his trembling wrist. “Shit, I’m sorry. You are—wow. I just wasn’t expecting to see one of you here. Looking so, um. What’s the word I’m searching for?”

The prince cocked his head at me. “Fox-ish?”

“Yes, that’s precisely it.” The attendant was trembling hard as he scanned my outfit, the collar, and the chain bolting me to the floor. “Fox-ish.”

“Don’t beat yourself up, Lucc,” Alek said, patting him on the back on his stroll to the armoire, the smoldering herbs between his lips. “He’s dressed like that for a reason. Besides, I’m sure he’s used to it.”

My eyes narrowed on Alek. I just noticed something. He hadn’t twitched. Not once.

“Who is he?” Lucc asked, unable to peel his gaze from me. “Why is he here?”

“He is a gift from my father.”

Lucc’s eyes widened as he swiveled around. “Oh, shit.”

“Oh, shit is right.” Alekus grinned, something about it forced as he pulled a fresh new shirt from his wardrobe and worked it over his broad shoulders. “Would you be so kind as to fetch the king? I’d like a word.”

“Yes, Prince,” Lucc said with a bow, wheeling to dart down the hall. “I’ll make haste.”

He vanished, and I was, once again, alone with a creature whose very presence threatened my life, and yet, he hadn’t twitched. Not once.

What’s wrong with you? I wanted to ask. Are you not normal?

He summoned fire into his palm once more as he stood before his full-length mirror with his shirt draped open. “Perhaps cover your ears, human. Just in case.”

Something was wrong with him. Something was off. I cupped my palms over my ears, but I could still hear his flesh searing as he pressed his burning palm against the stab wound.

The sound alone was enough to make me want to throw up, but he didn’t break into his natural voice. He simply gritted his teeth, his expression cold and determined like he was no stranger to pain.

Then he clenched his palm into a fist to snuff the flame and adjusted his shirt. I slowly let my hands fall from my ears. The wound looked gnarly, all red, puffy, and barely fused together.

“While it’s been absolutely lovely chatting with you, darling, and getting stabbed by you,” he said, the air of nonchalance back as he started to button his shirt, “I’m afraid our time together has come to an end.”

I studied his reflection’s molten copper gaze. And just what did he mean by end? “What does that mean? I don’t deserve to die. I haven’t done anything⁠—”

“My darling Snow Fox,” he whispered, his voice so deep, smooth, and compelling. “Shh, you must take it easy, baby. I’m not going to kill you.”

My lips pinched into a hard line. It was like I was at the mercy, having to beg for answers about my own well-being from the same creature who threatened it. “Then what are you going to do?”

He grinned. Sparkling. Demonic. “Get you the fuck out of my room, of course.”

12

Istood at the edge of the prince’s bed, desperately trying to distract myself, smoothing my fingertips over a wood-carved sex scene in one of the posts. It was a vultus licking the pussy of a human woman with their long tongue, and it was sinfully detailed for being so tiny.

“Here he comes,” Alekus said, sucking the last of his herbs before flicking them into the fire. “You remember what I said?”

He’d given me instructions on how to behave once the king arrived, which was maybe his way of trying to be helpful, but it wasn’t.

“Keep your mouth shut,” he’d said. “Show him respect. Oh, and sure as fuck don’t call him a demon.”