Page 36 of Their Lethal Pet

Except all I see is supernatural creatures prowling about, their good intentions tainting their scents.Too sweet. Toogood.

I frown. “There’s not a single dark soul here,” I tell Orcus, more shocked by that than I am by the impressive architecture. “Not a single being worth killing.”

But Orcus doesn’t appear to be listening to me.

His eyes are ruby in color, his dark orbs completely overtaken by the Alpha within, as he scans the crowd, his nostrils flaring.

“What is it?” Flame asks softly.

“Omega,” Orcus replies, that word underlined in a growl unlike any I’ve heard from him.

Flame and I share a glance.

Orcus’s mother is an Omega. However, his expression and demeanor suggest it’s not his mother he scents now, but another female entirely.

He takes a step forward, then pauses and abruptly turns right, his growl intensifying.

Flame and I immediately take our positions at his back, our centuries of friendship clicking into gear as our protective natures take over.

Orcus’s steps grow faster with each passing second, hisinner Alpha in complete control now. I’ve never seen him like this. However, he’s been acting strange these last few days. I chalked it up to this mission, but now I’m wondering if it was something more. Something related to thisOmegahe appears to be currently hunting.

A potential mate?I question, shifting into a jog as Orcus takes off down a side street.

“And he thought we would be the ones distracted by our purpose here,” Flame says to me conversationally.

I snort. “We’re never letting him live this down.”

“Never,” Flame agrees.

If Orcus hears us, he doesn’t reply. He’s too busy sprinting down the alleyway between buildings.

Flame and I pick up speed, our gazes searching everything while Orcus remains dead set on chasing the Omega calling to his Alpha soul.

Strangely tinted windows,I think, noting the various creatures standing behind them. They seem to be observing our chase with interest.Why are you all hanging out in there instead of out here?I want to ask them.

But there’s no time.

Orcus is practically flying now, his wings clearly threatening to break free from his back. I can sense it in the way he’s propelling himself forward, his ethereal nature blinking in and out of view.

“Fuck,” I mutter, realizing I’m about to lose my best friends. Because if he goes into angel mode, then Flame is going to let his panther out, and I’ll be the only one left running on two legs.

There are lots of things I can do. Alas, flying and shifting are two abilities outside the realm of my possibilities.

My lips part, Orcus’s name nearly leaving my mouth asa delicious scent almost knocks me on my ass.Dark souls. Three of them. Sinful. Decadent. Like chocolate-covered strawberries.

I blink.Thatis new.

Dark souls usually remind me of smoke, not dessert.

My nose twitches, my senses firing as Flame growls beside me. I’m too lost in my thoughts of a mouthwatering meal to focus on the cause of his irritation.

Focus, I try to tell myself.You can eatafterhelping Orcus.

Except every step is bringing me closer to the sweet fragrance of impending death, causing my mouth to salivate withneed.

Energy swirls along my arms, my tattoos slowly unwinding to taste the air around me. Wisps and strands twirl, power unfurling from inside me to stroke everything and everyone in our path.

Orcus disappears through a doorway, only to come to an abrupt halt.