Page 40 of Demon Food

“But I can’t even get it up for him.”

The king groaned, eyes rolling to the ceiling.

“Come on, you should know my tastes by now.” Alek’s smirk was cruel. “You should know better than to bring me someone who looks so very poor.”

My gaze lowered to the floor beneath me. To hell with him. To hell with the whole royal fucking family. As if I even needed another reason to hate them. If I ever got the chance, I’d burn this place to the ground.

“I’ll take a human when the human is worthy of me,” Alek said, switching back to our shared language of Novithish. “Guards. Unchain him.”

I tried to keep my expression neutral, but I couldn’t help but glance at the king.

His jaw tightened as he looked to me, disappointment etched all over his features, like this was somehow my fault. It was nearly satisfying. I had to bite back a smirk.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Alek said, snapping his fingers as he pointed the soldiers to the floor where my chain was bolted, “I’ve just picked up an interesting read. I’d love to enjoy it with a hot bath.”

The soldiers dashed forward as Alek started toward the washroom, but the king held up a palm, halting them all instantly.

Something sparkled behind his cold eyes. It was almost wicked. His voice was a little more singsong as he said, “Not so fast.”

Alek gave him a bored, ireful look, but something about it had me standing on alert, fight or flight. “What now?”

“I wonder if perhaps you’re being too quick to dismiss our guest, when maybe all you need is a little time with him.”

My brow creased. Time. No.

“I’ll make you a little deal,” the king said. “He stays in your room with you for two weeks. If you’ve not warmed to him by then, I’ll butt out of your life. But I bet you will.”

Panic cycled through my body as I widened my eyes at Alek. Say no, say no, say NO.

“No,” Alek said, and relief washed over me. “As much as I would love for you to butt out of my life, this would be a waste of my precious time. I can promise you, I won’t warm to him.”

But the king only grinned and something about it curdled my stomach. “Son, you are more naïve than I realized if you thought you were getting a choice in the matter.”

A divot between Alek’s brow deepened as he searched his father’s face. It was the first time I’d seen him anything other than the picture of casual.

“Guards,” the king said, twisting to face his men. “Test the human’s chain. Make sure it’s secure as this will be his home for the next two weeks.”

“Father,” Alek said, and he looked a little rattled. Even more so than when I’d stabbed him. “Have you gone absolutely mad?”

“If I have, you’ve driven me to it. Oh, and make sure the prince has everything he needs,” the king added with a wry smile. “As he is not allowed to leave this room.”

Alek’s eyes widened until they were huge.

“Yes, your grace,” they all answered in unison, and dread swallowed my body.

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.

“Hmm, perhaps I’ll have a bath, too,” the king said, starting for the door. “With a hot meal sitting on my cock, of course.”

“Wait.” The prince trailed after him. “Father, wait.”

But the king was waiting for no one, his long robes swishing in mesmerizing zigzags as he strolled.

“I said wait.” Alek whipped him around by his shoulder. “You can’t keep me locked in my own room like a prisoner of treason. Call it off⁠—”

“What’s this?” The king’s focus had been stolen by a wet spot on Alek’s shirt.

Oh, fuck. The stab wound must’ve reopened from all the coughing.