Page 47 of Their Lethal Pet

She’s too unique. Too perfect. Tooours.

We’ll do whatever we can to ensure she doesn’t reject us. I don’t even need to talk to Orcus to know he feels the same way.

Reaper, however, may feel differently. He would never force himself on Alina. But his mating instincts vary from mine and Orcus’s. I’m not even sure if he feels a pull toward Alina. He might be completely indifferent.

Although, the way he went after those dark souls makes me wonder. He usually revels in his kills by drawing out the meal and prolonging the torture. However, he ended those assholes in a blink, then instantly shifted his focus toher.

Alina.

The gorgeous little rebel in my arms.

She’s looking around in a daze, an adorable frown marring her brow. There are supernaturals everywhere, most of them smiling and talking animatedly to humans. There are a few mortals who appear frightened, their eyes darting from side to side as creatures of the night speak to them in gentle tones.

This certainly isn’t thefuck festI pictured when Orcus told me and Reaper about Monsters Night. The scene now reminds me of the bride mixers that Lucifer has hosted for his eligible Hell Fae. Everyone is being courteous, not pushy. Just chatting like one would on a date.

Only, this is no ordinary dating game. These creatures will claim their potential mates by the end of the night and drag them back to their home realms. Fortunately, most of the humans look accepting of that fate.

Unless they’re drunk on pheromones, too,I think, glancingdown at Alina. She probably wouldn’t protest if we took her back to the Netherworld in this state.

But I suspect that once her sense of reasoning returned, she would very likely hate us for it.

Which makes prolonging our stay here a benefit.

Because I want a willing mate, not a resentful one.

Her pretty eyes dance around, taking in the unique scenery as we make our way back to the city center.Times Square, I recognize. Except it’s nothing like the Times Square of our Human Realm. No billboards. No flashy lights. Just large tree-like buildings littered with glass windows.

Clean energy.

Clean streets.

Cleaneverything.

The tower Jones leads us to is no different. He’s at the front of the group, giving Reaper and Orcus a grand tour, having explained the city layout while we walked. I’ve not listened to a word, but I start paying attention now as we move through a security checkpoint.

“This is just a precaution,” he explains. “Queen Helia values the privacy of her guests, so only those invited into the Queen’s tower may enter.”

“And are those who enter also permitted to leave?” Reaper drawls, his tattoos whirling along his arms in clear agitation.

My panther paces inside, feeling that unease and forcing me to take in every angle of the lobby.Cameras. Everywhere. Guards, too.

Power hums through the three-story room, causing the hairs along the back of my neck to dance. I’m starting to understand why Hades insisted his brother take me and Reaper with him to this realm.

However, Orcus remains the epitome of nonchalance,his shoulders relaxed, his spine straight, his hands loose at his sides.

Of course, he has the ability to create a portal on a whim and take us home in a flash.

I suppose if I possessed that talent, I would also feel pretty at ease in this situation.

“You are allowed to come and go as you please,” Jones answers Reaper, his grin displaying a pair of dimples as his double eyelids flicker strangely. “But you will be asked for an eye scan before you leave, just so security can identify you upon your return.”

“Hmm,” Reaper hums, taking in the men near the scanning machines.

I can already hear him saying,That’s never going to happen.

Because I feel the same way.

But we’ll jump that hurdle when it appears.