Page 161 of The Cannibal

Hearty laughs erupted like a wave as they heard his japes.

Silas’s jaw was so tight I thought a tooth may crack, or several.

Even Luka, who stood on the perimeter behind him, looked about as worn with the conversation as Silas. A small bit of blood dripped from his blinded eye, the only outward expression he could make without it being obvious how he felt.

Patience.

The wine cart arrived with Amelia, a dazzling bronze frame with glass shelves. The bottles were chilled in a tub, as it was no ordinary wine.

Bloodwine. A celebratory nonnegotiable.

And I was expected to toast to my misery as well.

Amelia began to pour, lining the glasses on the serving table.

“Luka!” Levi called out. “You should do the honors.”

I could feel eyes on me.

“As a precaution,” he said, “I hope you can understand.”

Luka broke his broody expression to smile. “Of course,” he said tensely, moving over to the table.

Amelia poured straight from the bottle, handing him the glass.

Everyone watched as he inspected the wine, tipping it to his nose to read the notes before he glanced at me over the rim of the glass.

I only stared.

He took a gulp, then another, and finished it there.

He wiped a bit from the corner of his lip, the last of it wiped on his tongue before he raised the empty glass in a faux toast, placing it back in Amelia’s hands. Luka walked back to his spot on the perimeter, placing himself with his hands clasped in front of him.

With the poisoning speculation extinguished, it was like they were relieved they could celebrate again.

They passed out the wine, and Levi continued as if he never stopped talking in the first place. “I hope you’ll be more appreciative of the luxuries afforded to you.” Levi sawed into his steak, closing his eyes when it met his tongue. He nodded his head as he chewed, as if tasting some culinary marvel. “But I suppose you are your mother’s daughter.”

“You didn’t know my mother.” I twisted the stem of my glass. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t speak of her.”

He only laughed at me.

“Is that what you think?” he chuckled, wiping his mouth with the napkin before tucking it back on his lap. “You wear the same ring she did, and you think I didn’t know her enough to speak of her?”

His expression did not seem joking. I stared down at the posey band on my finger.

My mother’s, and all those who came after.

“She died during childbirth,” I said sternly.

“She did.” He smiled wide, glancing at the others as if to say watch this. “Toxemia of pregnancy. Twice.”

“Twice?” I asked sharply, all preplanned responses leaving my brain as it raced.

“I want to be clear, your father was truly quite sweet.” He seemed amused with himself. “But he was far too naive. Just like the rest of them. Pathetically easy, if you ask me. All you have to do is dangle a new species before their eyes and they give in to your every word.”

“What did you do?” I raised my voice.

“Collect yourself, woman, all I did was make a suggestion.” He leaned forward as if speaking to a child. “Your father was much like you. Thinking the Vipera could be a key resource for many advancements. Including those with your mother’s condition. We used each other fabulously. He got to play with his little cures, and he helped bless me with the gift of children.”