Page 51 of Their Lethal Pet

Reaper.

A second ago, he was pacing beside the dining table.

Now, he’s right behind me, his lips curled into a smirk.

Fae,I tell myself again.A veryfastfae. But not a Shifter Fae like Flame. “What kind of fae are you?” I blurt out, alarmed and impressed by his speed.

“A Death Fae,” he tells me. “Or, in human terms, the Grim Reaper.”

My brow furrows. “The Grim Reaper?” I’ve never heard that term before.

“They probably don’t know that name in this realm,” Flame says as he lounges in the chair beside me. “The Grim Reaper is like an angel of death in our Human Realm.”

“Basically, I escort souls to the afterlife,” Reaper adds. “Which is why my kind is often associated with the GrimReaper. However, Death Fae actually focus on dark souls and devour their essences rather than take them to wherever their souls would otherwise go.”

“Oh.” My nose scrunches as I ponder everything he’s said. “What are dark souls?” He’s mentioned that term a few times, once in reference to Timothy and again when talking to that Emissary about food.

“Those who have committed heinous acts,” he replies, his gaze turning distant as he starts pacing again.

“All souls begin white and innocent, but each sinful deed colors the aura,” Orcus says, his tone soft. “The darker the soul, the worse their transgressions.”

“So your kind eats the souls of bad people?” I ask slowly, piecing it all together.

Orcus smiles. “My kind? No. But yes, that’s basically what Death Fae do. Only, Reaper also likes hunting dark souls in the flesh and introducing them to their fates earlier than expected.”

“Before they can do anything worse and hurt more innocents,” Reaper growls.

Orcus and Flame both glance at him, their expressions exuding an understanding that I don’t quite grasp.

There must be a story here,I realize.A reason Reaper hunts dark souls while they’re still alive.

I shiver.

I don’t think I’m quite ready to hear whatever reason accompanies that need.

“I’m a Mythos Fae,” Orcus says, drawing my attention back to him. “Not a Death Fae.”

“I see.” I glance between him and Flame and the still-pacing Reaper. “And what’s a Mythos Fae?”

“A God,” Flame drawls. “Or a Goddess. At least as far as human conception goes.”

“And most other fae,” Reaper mutters as he pausesmidstep, his gaze drifting toward the foyer. A low growl fills the air, the sound emanating from his chest.

Then a buzzing noise echoes through the room, causing him to disappear and reappear by the door.

My eyes widen in response to seeing him move. Becausethatwas definitely not human.

However, it wasn’t very monster-like either.

Fae,I remind myself.They’re… fae.

And not all that scary.

Well, maybe a little deadly. Especially Reaper. Except he opens the door with a wide grin and joyfully shouts, “Pizza!”

Flame rolls his eyes.

Orcus just shakes his head.