Page 181 of Feed Your Fiends

“What?!” Kessia shrieks. The tip of her nose straight down her collar is stained a vibrant red.

“But the chemical peel will last about a week,” I say. “Use sunscreen.”

“You could’ve killed us?” Rin hisses.

“Killed?” I tsk. “I would never want to kill you. Just maim you.

“All because of that cunt?” Kessia hisses at Elle.

“Listen to me carefully,” I say quietly. “Only death can stop me from finding out who did it. I’m going to be with you at all times. On you.Inyou. Everything you do. Every sip you take. Every bite you ingest, I’m right there with you. I want you confused. Weary. Because I’m going to wear everyone the fuck out until someone breaks, and when one falls, they all fall.”

“Interrogations start next week,” Hale says calmly. “Everyone has to answer. Everyone has to pay.”

“How is that fair?” Rin gasps, her eyes flickering from untouchable face to untouchable face. “And why the fuck did I get a cup?” she says, seeing that no one at the high table is marked. “I’m technically an untouchable too.”

“A burn for a burn,” I say, and realisation dawns on her as she gazes at Elle’s chest. Right where she’d burned her with that tea.

She bites her lip, hard.

“Elle’s a part of the royal elite now,” Hale says. “She’s my brother’s queen. Anyone against her is against the crown, and anyone against me is dead. Because mercy is what?”

“A sign of weakness,” Etienne says quietly, yet his words still curl around the room that changes to a new kind of terror.

The hall’s doors burst open as students run into the night, headed for the nurses' station. My hospital provided a new nursing staff, so they’ll be well taken care of.

I turn to Elle, who’s standing perfectly still amid the chaos. Understanding is slowly seeping in as her eyes flicker up to me.

“You asked me to be your fiend, to do what you couldn’t. Do you still not understand that when I say anything, I mean anything?”

“That’s the scary part,” she says, even as she brings her cup to her lips and drains it.

“There’s nothing to be scared of when you’re on the scary side.”

She shakes her head slowly. “How did I get here?”

“You fed your fiends, Elle. Once you’ve done that, there’s no turning back. They imprint on you forever.”

She peers through the open doors, where everyone is panicking on the lawn. Then she eyes the empty tables betweenthemandus.

“And once they imprint, you never have anything to fear. They’re loyal for an eternity.”

“Loyal and full of secrets,” she eyes every untouchable in turn.

“Not without good reason. Even if you cannot see it.”

“And you trust them?”

“Blindly.”

“And I should do the same?”

“You don’t have a choice,” I promise.

“You’re in our ring of fire now,” Hale says.

“Don’t cross the boundary,” Zedd warns.

“Don’t get burned,” Bae says.

---