Page 169 of Their Lethal Pet

“Here we are,” King Cain interrupts as he reenters the room, carrying some sort of pocket device. “Helia, I’m going to split your screen.”

The woman on the video sits up in her chaise, causing the light to create a unique sort of purple glow against her black skin.Or is that her actual skin color?I wonder, admiring the violet sheen.

However, her glimmer disappears as her screen ismoved to one side, her image smaller now as a document of some kind populates the space beside her.

“Serapina Everheart,” King Cain says. “She was selected as an Offering two years ago but went to the Nightingale Compound, not Monsters Night.”

The Nightingale Compound?I repeat in my head.What is that?

“The breeding compound,” Orcus says, the words a statement, not a question.

Breeding.My stomach twists violently.What…? What does that even mean? Bred by monsters?

Bredformonsters, Orcus replies into my mind, his tone holding a dark note to it.The Nightingale Compound is where humans go to procreate.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

ALINA

“Yes, the breeding compound,”King Cain says, confirming Orcus’s statement. “There were twelve Offerings that year from Nightingale Village. Only two went on to Monsters Night. The others were sent to the compound to create more ideal mates.”

King Cain clicks his little device, bringing up more information. But I’m too lost in his statements—as well as Orcus’s mental comments—to read the words on the screen.

My sister went to a breeding compound? To create… create more… potential Offerings. Is that… is that as bad as I think it is?I wonder, feeling deathly ill.

Flame’s arm flexes around me, his voice suddenly in my head as he tells me it’s going to be okay.

But nothing about this isokay.

My sister…

But how…? How did she…?

I don’t understand.

This doesn’t makeany sense.

I… I…

“Indeed, that’s where Alina and her sister were made, too,” King Cain says, the mention of my name bringing me back to the conversation. “They were placed with humans in the village to be raised with greater care, as their genetics marked them as ideal Offerings.”

“This is what I was telling you about last week with the placement program—ideal Offerings are given to certain humans for child-rearing,” Queen Helia adds. “Some of those humans are later rewarded for their efforts as well by being given access to the Elite City.”

“Yes, it seems that happened with Alina’s guardians.” Another screen pops up that shows my parents.

Except… except they’re saying these are not my real parents. But myguardians.

“Their village death day was a little over a decade ago. They now live here in the city.” The image he shows is of them on some sort of patio, dressed in similar attire from Monsters Night.

“I see.” Orcus’s tone gives nothing away, but I feel him in my mind, caressing my thoughts and assessing my emotional state.

I have no idea what he finds inside me because I’m not sure how… orwhat… I’m feeling.

Dizzy? Yes.

Nauseous? Also yes.

Confused? Absolutely.