Page 74 of The Vampire Court

I don’t miss home. I don’t miss hunting or stealing or scavenging to put food in our bellies. Of course, I miss Kitty, but knowing she’s safe is enough. I’m glad that part of my life is over.

I want to be where I am now, which is utterly insane considering all that has happened—thrown in the dungeon, nearly reclaimed by another vampire, and all of the games where I am in the center of it all.

I am the pawn, the sacrifice that everyone is using.

How can I want this?

How can I want to be with a vampire? A man I should hate but who has taken my heart without me noticing. A man I love who has no reason to ever return those feelings.

While there are things I would change, I would still choose to be here with Alaric. No games. Just being at his side.

Three soft knocks on the door pull me from my thoughts.

“Go away,” I call out.

Silence greets me, but I know exactly who it is without having to hear his voice. The knock comes again, and this time, I ignore it.

With an annoyed growl, Cassius throws open the door and slams it closed behind him. He marches into the room with a large plate balanced in one hand, heaped with what looks like at least half a roasted chicken, bread, a thick bunch of grapes, and a single strawberry.

“I saidgo away.” I fling the pillow at him.

He bats it away with his free hand. It drops to the ground with a soft thud.

“You can send me away all you want, but I’m not about to let you starve.” Cassius shoves the plate of food under my nose.

My stomach clenches at the aroma. I push his hand away. “I’m not hungry.”

“Demon shit,” he snaps. “Eat it, or I will force it down your throat. I don’t care about your hurt feelings. You need to keep up your strength.”

I don’t doubt for a second that he will follow through with his threat.

With a huff, I snatch the plate from him. Several grapes break free from the vine and roll off to the mattress, followed by the lone strawberry.

I cross my legs and set the plate down in my lap. “I’ll eat. You can go.”

Cassius shakes his head. “I’ll leave when you’ve finished.”

Irritation prickles over my skin. I don’t take my eyes off him as I rip into the meat with both hands.

The steam burns my fingertips. Bite after bite, I shove seasoned chicken into my mouth. I don’t even wait to finish before stuffing more, filling my cheeks.

I wait for him to be disgusted and leave, but it doesn’t work. Cassius relaxes against the wall, arms crossed, and one perfectly shaped brow arched as he watches me.

Halfway through eating, my hands are dripping with grease. It takes a while, but eventually, I manage to swallow the food in my mouth.

My gaze darts around, looking for something to wipe my hands with, but all I have is the blanket beneath me and my clothes. Neither option is ideal.

“Forgive me. I didn’t think to have a bath sent up. I assumed you knew how to eat like a civilized person.”

I do feel better, at least physically, now that I’ve eaten. As much as it pains me to admit, he was right.

Rubbing my hands, I wipe as much food off as I can. Regret and embarrassment seep up my neck, stinging my face.

I glance up ready to apologize, when a ball of cloth bounces off my face. At the same time that Cassius snatches the plate from my lap.

A thought occurs to me as I run the napkin over my face then hands, eyeing him. The snake that was always nearby at Windbury has been scarce.

“Where is your demon?” I ask. Come to think of it, I’ve hardly seen Cherno since arriving, and when I have, they haven’t spoken a word. “Actually, why is it I hardly see any demons around?”