Page 50 of Demon Food

His brows drew together. “You don’t remember?”

“Blood loss is charming like that.” I grinned as I stepped a little closer. “Was it brilliant?”

He hesitated, like he was thinking about it. “It was unexpected, but not in a bad way. You spoke of the kingdom.”

I froze.

“You spoke about the things you didn’t like.”

I just realized I didn’t remember. I didn’t remember anything about last night past our conversation about my father.

Well, that wasn’t good. Hopefully, I didn’t say anything about…um. Fuck. Anything.

“Then you fell asleep, and I couldn’t wake you, but I would like to know more. You should tell me more about how you want to change the kingdom.”

Well, there it was, cutting straight through my bullshit. It was a struggle to hide my alarm, but I had to deflect. Whatever I said last night, I could guarantee, his human ears had no business hearing it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, clearing my throat. “I don’t want to change the kingdom, sweetheart. Why would I? It’s perfect as is.”

“Perfect?” he whispered, his forehead creasing. “That’s not what you said last night.”

“Darling, last night, you might as well have been talking to a drunken dog. Do not trust the words of the bleeding.”

He blinked for a long time. Then he said, “I don’t believe you. You were being honest last night. You’re not being honest now.”

I cocked my head toward the door. These walls were supposed to be soundproof, but occasionally, I could hear footsteps or the murmur of voices. Like now. Someone was coming.

“Why tell me that and then deny it?” he asked, a frown tugging at his already pouty lips.

“I’m not denying anything.” I sucked the last of my herbs, then tossed the stub into the fireplace, waving the air to lessen the smell. “I’m telling you, whatever I said was nonsense.”

“It didn’t sound like nonsense,” he said, clutching his chain as if it was the hope he was clinging to. “It sounded sincere. It sounded groundbreaking.”

“Shhh, sweetheart.” I tapped a finger to my lips, leaning an ear toward the door. “Now would be a good time to drop this topic.”

“Drop it?” he asked, eyes rounding. “You cannot ask this of me. Not when the future king of Novithia says we need a fucking revolution⁠—”

I didn’t even think. There wasn’t time to think. Before he could finish that word, I was on him, pressing my palm against his mouth, gripping him by the nape of his neck. His eyes widened, huge and terrified.

“Shh,” I whispered, trying my best to soothe him, but he struggled in my grip, and we stumbled backward until he bumped into my desk. I had no choice but to press my body against his. “Easy, baby. Easy, I won’t hurt you.”

He squirmed.

I pressed tighter. “I won’t hurt you.”

His heart was pounding. I just realized I didn’t have a plan beyond making him stop talking. I’d not been this close to him—at least not facing him. It was difficult to function while staring into his peculiar eyes. They were so strange. So lovely. The exact second a blue ocean wave crested to white.

He whimpered, the sound muffled by my palm, and I nearly fell to my knees.

“Okay, um.” I needed to think clearly, but my fingertips were wrapping so perfectly around the delicate curve of his neck as I held him. “You mustn’t say what you were going to say. You’re better off forgetting you heard anything. You understand, human?”

His odd eyes searched mine, so full of questions.

“You’re smart, my love. I can tell,” I whispered. “Trust me when I say, the less you know, the better off you’ll be.”

That was it. The thing that made him go motionless in my arms.

“I’m going to let you go now. Okay? You’re okay, baby.”