That demon bastard dragged me to the dining hall like I was some rebellious child who refused to eat their vegetables.
I was tossed into a chair.
A huge table full of expensive-looking food sat in front of me.
Xareth sat down across from me, arms crossed, watching me like a hawk.
I glared at him. "I'm not eating."
He raised an eyebrow. "You will."
I leaned back, crossing my arms. "Make me."
His eyes glowed.
Then suddenly—
A fork lifted into the air.
I blinked. "What the—"
The damn thing floated toward me, covered in his magic.
I dodged. "Oh, fuck no."
The fork followed me.
I tried to slap it away—it dodged my hand.
I grabbed a knife—it flew out of my grip.
"Stop this witchcraft!" I yelled, horrified.
Xareth just smirked, controlling the floating utensils like a smug asshole.
"You eat, or the fork feeds you. Your choice."
I cursed, snatched a piece of meat off the plate, and shoved it in my mouth.
The fork finally backed off.
I chewed aggressively, muttering insults.
"Stupid motherfucking demon bastard… treating me like a damn toddler…"
Xareth just leaned back in his chair, looking way too satisfied.
I was about to throw my cup at him—
Then the doors flew open.
And I saw her.
My stepsister.
Dressed in a flowy white dress, hair perfect, looking like she had just walked out of a royal fucking fairytale.
What. The. Fuck.
For a second, I just stared.
Because WHY THE FUCK WAS SHE HERE?
I was literally SOLD TO THIS BASTARD to protect her, so what in the unholy hell was she doing waltzing into the demon king's palace like she fucking owned it?
She hadn't seen me yet.
Her eyes were locked onto Xareth.
And the moment she saw him—
She gasped and ran straight into his arms.
"Your Majesty!" she cried, clinging to him like a goddamn leech.
I nearly choked on my food.
She pressed herself against him, looking up with huge, watery eyes. "I was so scared! I didn't know what to do without you!"
Xareth didn't react much.
Which was weird.
He didn't push her away.
But he also didn't hold her back.
He just let her cling.
And I sat there, baffled as fuck.
I slowly put my fork down, staring at the scene in front of me.
Then I muttered, loudly,
"Bitch, why are you here?"
My stepsister, wrapped around Xareth like a damn snake, clinging to him like she was about to cry or faint or both.
Xareth? That bastard just sat there, letting it happen.
And me?
I was about two seconds from flipping the whole fucking table.
I slammed my fork down. "Oi. What the actual fuck is this?"
She finally looked at me—and gasped dramatically.
"Sister?!" she cried, like she just realized I existed.
I squinted. "Don't 'sister' me, bitch. What the hell are you doing here?"
She blinked innocently like she didn't just walk into the castle of the same fucking demon I was sold to so she could be safe.
"I—I was so worried about you," she said, voice soft, fake, annoyingly delicate.
I laughed. Laughed.
"Worried? Bitch, I was literally sold to this demon asshole to PROTECT YOU." I pointed at Xareth, who was just watching like this was prime entertainment.
"So tell me why in the fuck are YOU standing here, clinging to him like he's your long-lost lover?"
Her eyes got watery. "I—I had no choice! The king—he—"
"He what? Breathed near you? Bitch, shut up."
Xareth chuckled.
My stepsister pouted and turned back to him, batting her lashes.
"But Your Majesty," she whined, voice ten times softer. "Why did you bring my sister here? She's so… difficult."
I fucking gasped. "Excuse the fuck out of me?!"
She ignored me.
I grabbed my goblet. "I swear to the gods, if you say one more word—"
Xareth leaned back, smirking. "You seem very upset."
"Because this is some BULLSHIT." I threw my hands up.
"I get kidnapped, forced into fancy demon clothes, trapped in a castle, and now I have to deal with my stepsister acting like the fucking main character?"
I gestured at her dramatic pose, her big innocent eyes, her fake-ass delicate hands.
"Look at her! LOOK AT HER!" I shouted. "She's acting like a fucking damsel in distress! Are you falling for this? Is this working on you? Are you hypnotized, bitch? Blink twice if you need help!"
Xareth just grinned, saying nothing.
My stepsister looked at him with a soft smile and touched his chest.
She touched his fucking chest.
I saw red.
"Oh HELL no," I muttered, reaching for the nearest throwable object.
The maids gasped, and Xareth's grin widened.