Page 150 of Their Lethal Pet

“Tell him your new safeword, Alina,” Orcus interjects softly. “Say it so Reaper and Flame are aware of the change.”

I almost glance at him.Almost. But our pet has my soleattention, my eyebrow quirking in curiosity. “You changed your safeword?”

She swallows and nods. “Chicago no longer works.”

“All right.” I rest the blade against her hip. “What’s the new safeword?”

Alina clears her throat, a sense of boldness overcoming her features. “Monster.”

My eyes widen.

“Tell them why,” Orcus encourages her.

“Because you’re fae, not monsters. And I know you won’t do anything to make me feel otherwise.” She shrugs. “I don’t need a safeword. You won’t hurt me. But if I have to pick one, I choose that word because I know I’ll never say it when thinking of you.”

Fuck. Hearing her faith in us, hertrust, it makes me want to ravage her. To own her. To… to…devourher.

“You’re so godsdamn perfect, pet,” I tell her, emotion thick in my voice. “I’m going to give you so many fucking rewards. But I have to claim you first. I have to pledge myself to you. Give you my soul. My very being.”

And to do that, I have to mark her.

I draw the tip of my knife along her hip bone toward her mound. Then find the space I desire—an intimate spot situated right on her bikini line under her belly—and say, “Take a deep breath for me.”

Alina does, her gaze on me the whole time as I press the sharp edge into her skin.

She releases a hiss, the bite of pain an aphrodisiac only because I know I’m the one causing it. And because I know what it means.

Soon, she will, too.

She fists the blankets on either side of her, then releases one side to grab Flame’s hand as he offers it.

Fuck, that makes me harder. It’s such a turn-on to seethat her instinct is to lean on him while I carve into her flesh. That reaction is part of what makes her ours. She simply knows what to do, just as Flame knows how to see her through it.

By the time I’m finished, her skin sheens with a thin layer of sweat.

But never once did she ask me to stop.

Because our mate is a warrior in disguise.Our lethal pet.

I kiss the mark I’ve created, her blood sweet on my lips.

Then I turn the blade on myself, drawing a different symbol on my palm. It’ll forever remain there, just like the tattoo on my cock.

Forever Alina’s.

Which is why the marking I create on my hand is anA.

And the one I left near her mound is anR.

When I finish, I lick the metal clean, then let it vanish into my shadowy strands. “Ready, pet?”

She’s panting as she nods. “Yes.”

“Good.” Because there’s no going back now.

This female is mine.

I just need to say the words…