Page 53 of Their Lethal Pet

Something about his tone feels sensual. Or maybe it’s his words. I can’t quite determine the cause, but my skin heats a little in response.

Then my mouth explodes with flavors, making me forget all about his words.

Oh my monsters…

I’ve never tasted anything like this. So savory. So rich. Sogreasy.

I… I’m not sure if I like it, love it, or hate it. It’s just so different. Exquisite yet nauseating. Flavorful and too much at the same time.

It’s only a small bite, but I savor it, my mind struggling to decide how I feel about this creation.

Only for the moment to end too soon as I automatically swallow.

Reaper stares at me expectantly. “Well? What do you think?”

I swallow again, the cheese a bit thicker than I realized. “I…” I clear my throat. “I don’t know.”

His eyebrows shoot upward. “You don’t know?”

I grimace. “It’s… it’s flavorful?” I state lamely.

He snorts. “Flavorful, she says.” He flashes a look at Orcus and Flame that I don’t quite understand. It’s too quick for me to even guess because in the next instant, he’s focused on me once more. “That’s fine. When we go toChicago, we’ll try pizza again and you can tell me what you think then.”

I gape at him. “Chicago?”

“Yes. You mentioned wanting to find it, right? I assume that means you want to go?” He takes another bite of his pizza while he waits for me to reply.

But Orcus interjects before I can even attempt to puzzle through a response. “Reaper.” It’s just one word—the Death Fae’s name—but it’s enough to scatter goose bumps down my arms.

Because he uttered it with a growl.

Something inside me squirms in response, his dominance a palpable presence that leaves me unsettled.

“What?” Reaper demands, his eyes locking with the other man’s. “She mentioned needing to find Chicago, presumably to go there. We’re obviously going to take her, yeah?”

“Our only plans right now are to meet with this Monster City Queen and satisfy this realm’s political protocols,” Orcus replies, that growl still rumbling through his words.

But Reaper appears to be unfazed, because he simply snorts. “Right. Political bullshit aside, Alina’s an Omega.”

Orcus remains silent, his gaze narrowing slightly.

What’s an Omega?I wonder. Orcus mentioned it before as well, but I have no idea what it actually means.

“Look, all I’m saying is, if our pet wants to visit Chicago, then Chicago is on our agenda. Ergo, it’s fair game for discussion.” He picks up his pizza to take another bite, completely uncaring of the tic that seems to have formed in Orcus’s jaw.

Flame clears his throat. “How about we focus on our meal for now? Alina needs to eat. Then I’m sure she would like to shower off all that hairspray and makeup.We can discuss further plans after she’s properly cared for.”

He gently nudges my plate back toward me and gives me a soft smile before returning to his own food.

Reaper and Orcus say nothing.

Meanwhile, my stomach growls, and I realize I don’t have much of a choice here. I need to eat, just like Flame said.

So I do.

But with each bite, I keep marveling over Reaper’s comments regarding Chicago.

He wants to help me find Chicago? Why would he do that? Do I want that?