Page 119 of Demon Food

“Tonight,” Lucc continued, addressing Feloré, “in three hours’ time, she will come. She said to keep a window open and a fire burning. She will hide you and your brother on the back of the wine merchant’s cart, where you will start the journey to Doctor Barrion’s.”

“Doctor Barrion?” Feloré asked, hope budding in his tone. “Alek. Isn’t that your doctor?”

My sweet Snow Fox. I nodded, but it wasn’t going to be the answer he wanted.

“You’ll come with us then,” Feloré said, eyes rounding. “Yes. That is the answer. If she can get me out of the palace, then she can get you out of it. You said your doctor can help you.”

Lucc and I exchanged a look. We were so attuned with each other that I could tell exactly what he was thinking. Getting them out of the palace and getting me out of it were two entirely separate challenges.

What was probably a half dozen soldiers looking for his brother would transform into an entire army if I went missing.

Not to mention, I had no business getting on that cart. The three-day journey to Barrion’s was difficult for someone who could move and talk. I would be starting a journey I wouldn’t be able to finish.

I hadn’t noticed how Lucc’s eyes had gotten a little watery. A little pinkened. I gave him a subtle, cautionary look. One that said, You say nothing.

He was a good attendant, and an even better vultus, so he pinched his lips together. And he said nothing.

I offered Feloré a weak smile, whispering without using my voice, “It is a good plan.”

His heart quickened, like a spot inside it was brightening.

“Thank you for everything you do, Lucc,” I whispered, the sound barely there. “You are dismissed.”

The look on his face was pitiful as he pinned his arms behind his back and bowed deeply. “If you do not need my services for a while, just know, it has been an honor to serve you, Prince.”

With that, he was gone, wiping his eyes only as the door was shutting behind him.

“What do we need?” Feloré asked. His hope was blooming all around him, as golden as a rising sun. “Do we need to bring anything with us?”

“Let us worry about it later,” I whispered, the sound so scratchy and awful.

“But—”

“There is plenty of time.” I was so weak that even smiling hurt.

He hesitated by the armoire.

“Will you come to me, darling?” I asked, extending a hand. “Please? Just for a moment.”

There was something so marvelous about the way he crawled into my bed and nestled against me.

Inside my arms, my Snow Fox fit perfectly. He tucked himself in tight against my body as if to make an imprint, like a palm pressed into wet sand.

It was the first time I ever had the thought: This… This is what arms are for.

“How is this?” he asked, snuggling against my weakly twitching torso.

Torture, I thought, grinning as I buried my nose in his hair. Beautiful, fucking torture.

36

FELORÉ

Asilence had fallen over the room as Alek still lay on his side, drifting in and out of sleep. I’d gotten up to open the window and stack extra logs onto the fire, but I returned without fail each time he called my name. It was surprising how often he did it. Like he was saying it in his dreams.

“I’m here,” I’d say, slipping back inside the bed to palm his cheek. “I’m right here.”

He needed his rest if he was going to have the strength to get out of here, but it wasn’t lost on me how pale his lips had gotten—an ashen gray. Or how his breathing was more labored with each passing hour. As much as I wanted to let him sleep, I found myself too often pressing a hand against his chest to feel his heartbeat.