Page 120 of Their Lethal Pet

Reaper sighs. “Fine. But once we formally mate her, this will no longer be an issue. She just needs a little immortality boost to help her recover.”

Flame grunts but doesn’t say anything as he takes me from Reaper’s arms.

Immortality? I repeat to myself.Is that what will happen when they mate me?

I’m not sure how to feel about that.

Happy? Scared? Relieved?

Because it means I can truly keep them for eternity.

Live like this for the rest of…forever.

That… that doesn’t sound all that bad. Actually, it sounds pretty amazing.

As does letting Flame brush my hair, I decide, gazing up at him from where he has me cradled in his lap. “I?—”

A glass of water appears as Reaper’s nude form comes into view. He’s standing next to the bed. “Drink that before you speak, pet.”

I don’t bother arguing, mostly because I’m parched.

He stands there and observes as I drink every drop, his expression satisfied at the end. “Good girl.” He takes the glass. “I’ll bring more into the bathroom.” He looks at Flame. “Go groom our pet. Lunch will be ready when you’re done.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

ORCUS

Several Minutes Earlier

“I hear your intended mentioned Chicago,”Queen Helia says, her long nails drumming along the armrest of her chaise lounge.

She’s not what I expected. Oh, she’s regal and clearly used to being the most powerful being in the room, but she’s relaxed in a way I didn’t anticipate.

It seems her obsession with rules isn’t quite as intense as what Emissary Jones led me to believe.

“I’m sorry for all the formalities and the runaround, God Orcus. My Emissaries are protective of me,” she said shortly after I arrived.

My eyebrow inched upward at the title. “You’re aware of what I am?”

She shrugged. “I sense origins. Power. Portals. It’s all within my realm of knowledge.” She stepped forward, extending her hand. “I’m Helia, Queen of Monster City. But please don’t worry about the distinction. I wouldn’t dare to ask a God to address me as his Queen.”

All expectations of hating the woman on sight ended in that moment.

Instead, I accepted her gesture and joined her in the opulent seating area of her suite, where she served some sort of red alcoholic punch.

Reaper would tsk at me for trying it, but it wasn’t like poison would work on me.

“It’s fascinating,” she continues now, bringing me back to our ongoing conversation. “Humans of this time are not acquainted with old city names. I don’t suppose your intended mentioned how or where she heard about Chicago?”

“She hasn’t. She’s only said that she needs to find Chicago.” I lean forward in my chair—an oversized beige leather monstrosity that pairs well with the gold fixtures of the room—and brace my forearms against my thighs. “What can you tell me about the Elite City?”

Thus far, we’ve primarily focused on inner-dimension relations. She hasn’t given my world express permission to remain here, and I haven’t requested it.Yet.

I suspect we won’t reach that part of the conversation until she’s done feeling me out.

Which is precisely what she’s been doing since I arrived.

I can feel her energy caressing mine, searching for any and all weaknesses.