Page 97 of Demon Food

Rage seethed through me.

I didn’t even look at Feloré, where he still knelt on the floor, head lowered, heart racing. If I looked at him, then it would dignify what he’d said, and fuck that.

Fuck that with every drop of my fucking blood. That was what I was working toward. That was the driving purpose of my hunger, my pain, and my goddamn revolution.

I would dismantle it one brick at a time, but this was not the place to start. My father was never going to change, which was precisely why he didn’t deserve my temper. What he deserved was to be proven wrong. He would see, because one day I would force him.

Until then, I would drive him to madness.

“A peach, you say? A duck?” I squinted as I stroked my chin. “None of those quite fit. Why, I would say he’s more of a fox than anything.”

The chain jangled as Feloré lifted his gaze.

“I’ve never heard of anyone eating a fox, Father. Have you?” I dipped my head to one side. “I mean, correct me if I’m wrong. But it seems like fox meat would taste too wild. Too… tough.”

My father scowled, dragging a hand down his face, and I took the opportunity to wink at Feloré. A light sparkled in his eye.

“Now, please do as I ask,” I continued. “Release this human and find me someone else.”

My father’s exhale was slow. “You don’t want this one?”

I shook my head. “This is not the one.”

“Very well,” my father said, tipping his chin at Feloré. “Rise, boy.”

Feloré eyed him, then me as he pushed himself up.

From the pocket of his robe, my father fished out a silver key. He twisted Feloré around by his shoulders and inserted it into the lock on his collar. I held my breath, waiting for some caveat, but then it clicked.

The collar popped open, and I wanted to sigh in relief.

Feloré’s fingers were shaky as he touched them to the reddened ring of scathed skin around his neck, but he was free of it. I couldn’t believe my eyes. This was it? He was releasing us?

“Thank you, Father,” I said, offering him a bow of my head as he tossed the collar onto the floor. “I know this is not easy for you, but I do appreciate your honoring my wishes.”

My father blinked for a long moment. Then he said, almost pitying, “Oh, Alek.”

I froze, searching his gaze.

“That is what you think I’m doing, son? You think I’m honoring your asinine wishes?”

A hard lump formed in my throat.

“I cannot imagine a more foolish thing,” he said.

My blood ran cold when he took Feloré’s elbow, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe.

“Um,” I said, struggling to tamp down the fear in my voice. “So, where are you taking him?”

“What do you care? It’s not as if it concerns you.”

Panic swallowed me.

“Nothing outside this room concerns you,” my father said, hauling Feloré toward the door. “Which is why you will remain here. Come, boy.”

“What?” I asked, eyes huge. “What do you mean I will remain here?”

“I do not know how to explain it any better.”