Want to Eat Then Go Beat Him Up
Miles had been as still as a statue, but the moment the book was snatched from his hands, he lunged with a surprising burst of strength. He gripped the pages, a thin, pained noise tearing from his throat like the cry of a wounded animal.
"You're really going to fight me on this?" Cade gave the book a sharp tug. With a loud rip, several pages tore loose and fluttered to the grass.
Miles stared at the torn sheets scattered at his feet. His whole body began to tremble, a violent, uncontrollable shudder. He squeezed his eyes shut, clamped his hands over his ears, and curled into a tight ball, as if he could will himself out of existence.
Seeing that Miles still wouldn't make a sound, Cade started to shove him again.
But just as his hand shot out, something seized him by the collar, and his entire body was hoisted into the air.
Feet dangling helplessly, Cade started to panic, his arms and legs flailing. The grip on his neck was so tight he could feel the veins bulging.
"Who the hell are you? Let me go!" he choked out. "Put me down, or I'll have my grandmother beat you to a pulp!" When that got no reaction, he tried again, his voice cracking. "I'll find out who you are, and my grandfather will execute your entire family!"
Cassidy just hauled him over to the edge of the water lily pond. "Say one more word, and you're going in," she said, her voice dangerously calm. "Let's see what's faster, your mouth or my arm."
Cade looked down at his reflection in the water below and felt a flicker of real fear, but he tried to bluff his way out of it. "You wouldn't dare! My grandmother will make you pay for this!"
When it came to spoiled brats, Cassidy had a simple, foolproof method.
Without another word, she started lowering him toward the pond.
The moment he saw she was serious, Cade shrieked, yanking his feet up toward his chest. "Aunt Solana, I was wrong!"
Cassidy dipped him closer to the surface, his shoes almost touching the water. "Nope, sorry, we're doing this," she said, her voice dripping with mock regret. "If I put you back down now, I'll look bad."
Cade burst into loud, gulping sobs. "Auntie, I'm sorry! I won't do it again! Please, don't drop me, I was wrong!"
Seeing that Cassidy was actually going to go through with it, the Fourth Princess hurried over.
"Uh, Cassidy, maybe throw him in a tree instead?" she suggested. "If he falls in the water and gets sick, that could be a problem."
Cade's eyes went wide. *Are these two complete monsters?*
He was about to start wailing again when Cassidy roared, "Cry one more time and I'll pull your tongue out!"
Terrified, Cade clamped his mouth shut, letting out only soft whimpers and a stream of sniffles.
Once he was quiet, Cassidy swung him away from the water and tossed him onto the grass. She then turned her attention to Miles, who was still crouched on the ground, trembling.
She knelt in front of him, pulled a lollipop from her sleeve, and unwrapped it with a crinkle. She held the bright orange candy right in front of his eyes.
"Want it?"
Miles stared at the round candy. He'd never seen anything like it, but it looked unbelievably delicious. His rigid body shifted slightly. He didn't look up, didn't make eye contact, but he cautiously reached out a hand to take it.
Seeing the reaction, Cassidy added, "Go beat him up, and it's yours."
Miles's hand shot back as if he'd been burned.
Nearby, the Fourth Princess gave Cassidy a sharp look. "I thought you said you came to play with him."
"Isn't this playing?" Cassidy asked innocently.
The Fourth Princess was speechless. Tricking a kid into a fight was her idea of a playdate?
Cassidy gently poked Miles. "You don't want it? Fine, I'll just eat it myself."
When he didn't move, she popped the lollipop into her mouth.
Miles, who had been staring at the ground, jerked his head up, his gaze fixed on the candy between Cassidy's lips. He wanted it. He really, *really* wanted it. It looked so good.
Seeing him watching, Cassidy bit down with a loud, deliberate *crunch*.
Miles looked so wounded, watching her eat the candy right in front of him, that he looked like he was about to cry.
*She's got to be a demon,* the Fourth Princess thought.
Cassidy just pulled out a pack of cookies, tore it open, and asked again, "Want some?"
Miles caught the sweet smell wafting from the package, swallowed hard, and gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod.
Cassidy pointed at Cade and his two friends, who were trying to sneak away. She shot them a death glare. "Don't move. Any of you take another step, and you're all going into that pond to feed the water wraiths."
The words "feed the water wraiths" froze the boys in their tracks. Cade, in particular, was petrified. He'd just learned the hard way that this aunt of his absolutely meant what she said. He sniffled, his legs trembling, wishing someone, anyone, would come save him.
Seeing they weren't going anywhere, Cassidy turned back to Miles. "You want these? Go hit him."
Miles lowered his head again, though his trembling had stopped. He wasn't curled up so tightly anymore.
When he still wouldn't move, Cassidy knelt down in front of him and started eating the cookies herself, making loud crunching noises.
As if that wasn't enough, she pulled the Fourth Princess down to kneel beside her and stuffed a cookie in her mouth.
The two of them just sat there, eating together, right in front of him.
The Fourth Princess had wanted to refuse, she didn't want to be that mean, but the second the cookie hit her tongue, she was sold.
"Wow! Cassidy, what is this? It's amazing!" she mumbled through the crumbs. "It smells so good! Do you have more? I want more!" She shamelessly snatched the bag from Cassidy's hand and tipped the last of the crumbs into her mouth.
Miles's eyes were practically bulging. Tears welled up as he watched his two aunts scarf down the delicious-smelling food without offering him a single bite. He really was going to cry this time.
Just as the first tear was about to fall, Cassidy pulled a cheese stick from her sleeve. "Want this?"
This time, before she could even finish, Miles struggled to his feet. He marched over to Cade, who was still too scared to move, lifted his foot, and gave him a kick. Then he looked back at Cassidy.
Cassidy just tilted her head, silently telling him to continue.
Miles lifted his foot and kicked Cade's leg again, and again, and again. He only stopped when he saw Cassidy give him a warm, approving nod. Then he scampered back to her and held out his hand.
Cassidy unwrapped the cheese stick, handed it to him, and patted his head. "That's more like it. Next time someone bullies you, you fight back, just like that." She leaned in closer. "If you think you can win, you fight. If you can't win, you run and find someone who can win for you. Got it?"
Miles, busy licking the cheese stick, nodded obediently.
*Lifespan plus fifteen.*
Hearing the notification in her mind, Cassidy grinned and pulled another lollipop from her sleeve, pressing it into Miles's other hand.
"Don't let anyone push you around again, understand?"
Miles, now holding a cheese stick in one hand and a lollipop in the other, nodded, his eyes shining. His aunt was the best.
Seeing the endless supply of treats appearing from Cassidy's sleeves, the Fourth Princess held out her own hand. "I want some, too."
Cassidy pulled out a pack of spicy jerky and tossed it to her.
The other kids standing nearby couldn't help but gulp, their mouths watering.
Cade took a cautious step forward. "I... I want some, too."
Cassidy glanced at him, then beckoned him over with one finger.
Cade scurried over, his face full of hope.
"You want to eat?"
He nodded eagerly.
Cassidy's mouth curved into a wicked grin.