Food arrives and is placed in front of me. It looks delicious. My mouth is watering. But Mal said I could only eat if I used a fork and I can’t see one.
I stare at him and wait for him to tell me what to do. Perhaps this is a test? He grins.
“Good boy.”
His words dance over me. Through me. They make me giddy and lightheaded. Words have so much power it is frightening.
“That’s a burger, you can eat it with your hands.”
I don’t need to be told twice. I’m hungry and the human food smells incredible. I dive in. Flavors explode over my tongue.
“Not like that,” says Mal sternly.
I look up at him with my mouth full.
“Look around you. Pay attention to how the humans are doing it. You need to fit in or you will get caught again.”
The burger falls from my mouth. Terror cuts into my guts like a thousand red hot knives. In the silence of my mind, I amscreaming. My limbs are trembling. I’m surrounded by humans. Trapped. Cornered.
“Gray, pull it together!” snaps Mal.
Dimly, I’m aware that the lights are flickering. Shadows are writhing. Tables are shaking. Humans are crying out in alarm.
Suddenly Mal’s strong hand is around my throat. His fierce eyes are inches from my own.
“Do as you are told,” he growls.
But that has never saved me.
His hand tightens. Strong and commanding. It ignites something deep within me. A primal memory. I want Mal to bite me. Claim me. Make me his. Keep me safe. But he is not an overlord demon, and this is not hell.
“Don’t try to be a disobedient bitch,” he whispers softly. “Or you will pay for it later.”
He has me by the throat. Whatever he is, he is stronger than me. He can carry out his threats. I stare into his eyes. He likes fucking me. He is not going to let humans take me. I am safe.
My panic recedes. Shadows fall still and lights settle. Tables cease moving.
Mal regards me intently for a long moment, then he releases me and sits back down in his seat. He pulls out a cigarette, lights it and takes a long drag. The restaurant customers calm down. Humans like to dismiss what they don’t understand.
“I’m sorry sir, there is no smoking in here,” says someone.
“Is that so, princess?” answers Mal with a grin I would be proud of.
The human flees. Mal takes another deep drag of his cigarette. He looks annoyed. And stressed.
“Mal!” exclaims a new person as they seat themselves at our table.
The newcomer appears human. But he has a dark energy about him. He is tall and thin with short, golden hair. His gaze rakes over me. It makes me glad for the hood I am wearing.
“Who the fuck is this?” he asks with cold blue eyes.
“Just a fucktoy,” shrugs Mal.
The human’s eyebrow lifts. “You bring fucktoys to meetings now?”
“Just ones that are a flight risk.”
The stranger laughs. A hollow, mocking sound with no mirth in it. “How far have you got with breaking him in? Have you smashed his gag reflex yet?”
