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I pull my phone out beneath the table and glance down.

He sent me an address.

And beneath it:

9 PM.

I stare at the screen for a second, jaw tightening, then unlock it.

My prince: No.

My Parasite: I’m not really asking.

My fingers tighten around the phone. Across from me, my brother glances up, probably catching something in my face. I pick up my glass and take a sip before responding.

My prince: You’re embarrassing yourself.

My Parasite: And you’re coming.

My prince: I’d rather set myself on fire.

My Parasite: I don’t like the sound of that. You can bounce on my cock instead.

I nearly roll my eyes hard enough to blind myself. Alya laughs softly at something my father says, but I barely hear it.

My prince: Go bother Sasha.

My Parasite: Still thinking about her?

My prince: I’m thinking about all the ways I could dispose of you.

My Parasite: So you think about me. We’re making progress.

My prince: I’m not coming.

My Parasite: You will.

My prince: No.

My Parasite: Yes.

My prince: You overestimate your importance in my life.

My Parasite: If that were true, you wouldn’t have saved mine.

My thumb stills over the screen. I should have left him bleeding.

I know that.

My prince: That was a tactical mistake.

My Parasite: Then make another one tonight.

My prince: Go fuck yourself.

My Parasite: I’d rather fuck you.

Then another message comes before I can reply.