Page 25 of The Cannibal

“You can come to me about anything, you know.” My father’s voice yanked my attention back down to earth.

“I know.” I smiled. “But it isn’t needed.”

“Oh? Silas takes that good care of you all?” He laughed. “I suppose that’s where you got money for such a pretty new dress.” He squinted as he smiled; I couldn’t help but read it as bitter.

“Actually,” I corrected, “it’s my money.”

“Yours?” He raised a brow.

“Well, Alina and I⁠—”

“So Alina is your provider?”

“No, we have collected our own accounts together.” The more I clarified, the less I wanted to explain.

“How do you manage to have accounts without a husband?” he questioned. He sipped the bloodwine slow, waiting for his curiosity to be quenched. “Silas made them for you?”

“We found a way.” I held my answer back.

“You changed your surname,” he commented.

I should know he didn’t ask questions he didn’t know answers to.

“I did,” I said.

“Lis,” he hissed through a smile, “a forged marriage certificate to a fictitious man? You are so clever.” He chuckled. “Both of you are.”

“Thank you.” I reluctantly accepted the compliment.

“I have to say, it’s quite a thing you’ve created.” He set his glass down, leaning back in the lounging seat. “Very creative. Artful, even.”

“I feel as if you are angry with me,” I breathed.

“No! No, of course not. Never.” He leaned forward, reaching over the coffee table. His nails were sharp, and they dug into me as he held my hands. “Would I be here, with you now, if I were angry?”

“I don’t suppose so.” I shook my head. “But are you and Silas⁠—”

“My boy and I will work it out.” His brow lowered in sincerity. “Whatever happens with the Appraisal, we will work through it. It is of the utmost importance to me that I support my heirs in all their conquests. I can forgive fair transgressions.”

Somehow that made me breathe a little easier. I squeezed his hands, basking in the relief.

“Besides, we have a lot to celebrate.” He let go of my hands to lift his cup. “We have a new addition to the family, my only son has stepped up to the role he was born to play, and the family is reunited once again.” He grinned, his long, thick fangs sticking out against his lips.

We raised our glasses, chiming them together before we drank.

For months, I feared that father would lay waste to us with how Silas has been acting. I was tired, so very tired of his tantrums ruining things. Even if he may hate me for speaking with our father, I wondered, in moments like these, if the geniality was the only thing keeping him from laying complete waste to the Nest through other means. I was frightened to see him, even if I hadn’t done anything wrong aside from blood relation.

All will be merry, all will be well, and we will all be whole once more.

Very soon, the dust shall settle.

We can all be a family again.

10

THE CREATURE

There has never been a time when I wanted to be home so desperately, yet I was afraid to return.