Page 175 of Their Lethal Pet

Just… clean air and the scent of our nest.

Orcus’s essence also resides here, his creation having required a lot of manifestation magic. But that feels new. Potent.Masculine.

I return to the tower, my nose twitching as I inhale the ancient spell tainting the in-between plane.

It’s not overwhelming. Not new. And definitely not masculine.

So who put this here?I marvel.And when?

Because our worlds have never intersected, but the manifestation elements are clear in the way the spell seems to move. Very few beings can create such power.

Unless there’s someone or something in this realm that’s more powerful than a Mythos Fae.

I turn corporeal again, ready to ask the King and Queen about other entities, but pause when I see them all staring at the screen.

It appears to be some sort of footage. Orcus is the closest, his wings tucked at his back, his arms folded.

Flame is beside him with a towel around his waist—one I’m guessing was given to him when he shifted back into his mortal form.

Sabre, Cage, and Cain are all on the opposite side of the room where Cain appears to be holding a remote.

And Helia is between them in the center of the room, her dark eyes scanning the screen.

“This is from the night Serapina Everheart arrived at the compound,” Helia informs me, apparently having sensed my reappearance.

I’m not sure what she is, but power emanates from her. It’s not as strong as Orcus’s aura, though. So she can’t be the one responsible for the manifestation spell. But she might be able to help us determine who is behind it.

Because I suspect that lingering incantation has everything to do with our girl’s disappearance.

“All the compounds have surveillance,” she continues. “The trains, too.”

“Why does this matter?” I ask, confused as to why we’re watching something that happened two years ago.

“Because I want to see which version of Serapina arrived at the compound,” Orcus replies without looking at me. “Alina said the photo in the file wasn’t her sister. So when did the switch happen? And is it related to what we just witnessed?”

I disappear for all of five minutes, and the Alpha regained his sense of control. It’s impressive, given the circumstances. But it’s also just like Orcus.

He’s furious yet devastated. And those two emotions lead to a very important result—determination.

I understand that reaction because I feel the same way, and I’m sure Flame does as well.

“That’s Duke Nightingale’s son on the platform,” Cain says through his teeth, his dislike of the man evident in his tone. “He used to be in charge of the Nightingale Compound.”

“Used to be?” Flame echoes.

“He was recently removed from the position.” It’s a flat statement, one that has my eyebrow inching upward.

“Meaning he won’t be available for a chat if we need to ask him some questions?” I ask.

“Something like that,” Cage mutters, his distaste for the man rivaling Cain’s.

There’s only one reason these two men who hardly know each other could consider thisson of a Duketo be an enemy—he hurt their mate.

I don’t bother asking for details. They clearly handled the issue.

And I have a far more important one to handle now—finding Alina.

But I agree with Orcus that this information might be helpful, if the two are related.