Page 56 of Fathom

It was delicious.

My taste buds lit up like stars flaring to life, the flavor singing through my body in a crescendo of missing nutrients and primal satisfaction. The meat was perfectly cooked, tender enough for my small, dull canines to sink into, but with just enough texture not to be mush. It had been seasoned delicately, with something rich and creamy, maybe butter, maybe something alien and better. I ignored where I thought it had come from, ignored the pain and suffering that led to it being there, and ignored the thoughts of horror.

I focused only on giving my body what I needed.

I chewed. I swallowed.

And I went in for another bite, until Eun’s mother reached out to try to take my meat.

“You’ve made your point,” she said smoothly, her hand stretching towards me, “but you’ll put yourself in the hospital eating that. Prey can’t digest meat. I may have threatened your life, but it is still valuable. You're the first thing Eun hascared enough about to give us leverage. We don't want you to die unless it is necessary.”

I jerked it out of her reach and bared my teeth.

I gave her my best snarl.

Eun’s father let out a sharp, surprised laugh.

“Humans,” I said, voice low and steady, “My species, we are predators.”

Then I took another bite of meat.

Eun’s father let out another booming laugh. “But you’re so cute! Look at your soft skin and tiny nails!”

I took another bite, chewed deliberately, and swallowed.

“Humans hunt through deception and endurance,” I said coolly. “We rose to dominance on our planet because we stalked prey like the Terminator on crack. You think I look like prey? That’s one of our tactics.”

Eun’s mother tilted her head. “What does…Terminator on crackmean?”

Right. I slid some of my own words in there, mixing them in with theirs.

“It means I’m going to eat this steak, every bite of it.” I pointed one greasy finger straight at Eun’s father. “And you’re going to honor your word because this plate? It’ll be empty.”

Eun was silent.

When I glanced at him, he was staring at me with an expression that twisted a hard knot in my gut. Like I’d peeled off my skin and revealed something unfamiliar underneath. He looked at me like he didn't recognize me, like I was something dangerous and unexpected.

“I’m surprised, Eun,” his mother said, her voice warmer now, her smile genuine. “What an interesting choice for a mate."

I took another bite, and the rest of them finally began to eat around me, tearing into their meat with wolfish bites whileI worked through my steak with a strange, primal enthusiasm. My body welcomed it. My mind tried not to focus on what it was.

Eun didn’t touch his plate. He just sat there, staring at me across the table, his expression unreadable, until I finished the very last bite.

“We are leaving now,” Eun said, rising to his feet. “We’ll discuss business tomorrow.”

“You will stay,” his mother said smoothly. “We haven’t touched a thing in your suite, and we need time to get to know your wife.”

Wife.Not prey. Not Pet.Wife.

The word rang through me like a bell.

“I don’t...” Eun began.

“We have more to speak about,” his father cut in. “For example, if your pairing is strong, then there is always the topic of grandchildren. Your younger brother isn't promised to anyone yet. Stay the evening. Let’s hash out the details tonight.”

"I won't...." Eun started, but I grabbed his arm with my greasy fingers, cutting him off.

He was so righteous, so honorable.