Page 172 of Their Lethal Pet

I close my eyes, willing her into existence.

“Alina,” I hear her say.

It’s all so real.

Like she’s standing right beside me.

I sigh, frustrated that my mates haven’t replied. And irritated by the screen depicting a different woman.

Actually, no, I’m furious.

All this information. All these lies about the Day of theChoosing, the unnecessary stress of the ceremony, the fact that my parents are not really my parents, that they faked their deaths and left me to grieve with Sera.

To create monster mates.

Everything…everythingis for Monsters Night.

This world… it’s a horrible place. I want to leave. For my mates to whisk me away to their home world, where humans are not subjected to such hideous fates.

But I need to find my sister first.

And that means opening my eyes and reengaging with this conversation. To demand that thisKing Caintell me where to find Serapina.

My spine straightens, my mouth opening to issue an order as my eyes flutter open.

Only for that order to die on my next breath as I stare into the familiar eyes of my sister.

She’s gaping at me.

Which makes me gape at her.

“Are you real?” she whispers.

“What?” I ask, glancing around the garden we appear to be in.Did I fall and bump my head?I wonder.How…?

“Alina,” she says, making me realize I actually did hear her voice my name once before. Because she really was standing next to me when she said it. “Are you real?”

“Yeah,” I tell her. “I… I think so?”

Unless this is a dream.

A very realistic, very messed-up dream.

Sera takes a tentative step forward, her hand lifting to brush my arm. When her palm makes contact with my skin, her eyes widen. “Oh my monsters,” she breathes, yanking me closer. “You’re here. You’re really here!”

Suddenly, she’s hugging me, her strength surrounding me in a way that can’t be a dream. Because I canfeelher.

“Sera…” I whisper, my eyes falling closed.

“Lina,” she whispers back, squeezing me harder.

I embrace her in kind, thrilled to feel her in my arms again.

My sister.

My family.

MySera.