Page 127 of Demon’s Snack
“More than you deserved.”
Isolde folds one arm across her ribs behind me, her tone turning cool and precise. “You confined me in violation of audit breach protocol.”
Vaerith’s attention shifts toward her. “You are under wardship authority.”
“You overrode a neutral witness requirement.”
“A temporary necessity.”
“Convenient phrase.”
Vaerith studies her for a moment, pale eyes unreadable. “You seem to believe public murmurs will protect you.”
“And you,” Isolde replies calmly, lifting her chin slightly, “continue believing secrecy is the same thing as control.”
Vaerith steps closer.
The hunger surges so sharply my glamour tears apart completely. Heat bursts beneath my skin. Horns cut fully into view.
Vaerith sees the reaction and smiles.
“There it is,” he murmurs. “Every pressure point reveals itself eventually.”
“Stay away from her,” I say.
“Or what?” Vaerith asks softly. He takes another measured step, close enough now that the corridor wards brighten around him. “Will you devour for love? Tear me apart in private and leave my estate full of dead guards and shattered walls? Shall I summon witnesses now, or would you prefer a few more breaths to pretend restraint matters?”
The word love strikes through the bond hard enough to hurt.
Behind me, Isolde’s hand settles between my shoulder blades.
The touch is light.
The effect is devastating.
I take one step toward Vaerith.
He expects violence.
Instead, I hold still.
The hunger coils tight beneath my skin, hot and starving, but my hands remain open at my sides.
“You don’t get to touch what’s mine.”
The words leave my mouth low and certain.
Behind me, Isolde inhales sharply.
Vaerith’s smile thins. “Possession language. How disappointingly primal.”
“I’m comfortable disappointing you.”
“Yes,” he says softly. “Let’s test that.”
He lifts one hand.
The corridor lights flare red.
