Page 71 of Their Lethal Pet

Swallowing.

My Omega. My purpose. My heart.

“If I’m right about you”—which I have to hope that I am—“then your Omega instincts will likely start to show themselves now that you’ve found a compatible Alpha.”

Her soul would have been in hiding, locked in self-preservation mode. But now that she’s with me, her inner Omega should feel safe enough to come out and play.

“We’ll know in the next few days,” I tell her. “It could be small things, like feeling possessive over me”—something I think she’s already shown some evidence of, but that could also be chalked up to wishful thinking—“or the urge to nest.”

“Or going into heat,” Reaper calls from the kitchen. “Personally, I’m looking forward to that part.”

Alina glances at him, then back at me. “What does that mean?” she asks in a whisper.

“That you’re going to be horny as fuck and beg us all to satisfy you for days,” Reaper answers, having appeared right behind the couch, his lips near her ear.

She jumps, then squirms in an adorable way that betrays her flustered state. “Stop doing that,” she scoldshim.

“But I brought you another treat,” he tells her, holding out a cupcake.

“Where the fuck did you get that?” I ask him. Reaper can conjure weapons of every kind, his sole purpose in life being tokill. “That better not have poison in it.” Because that would be the only type offoodhe should be able to magically produce.

He gives me an affronted look. “I wouldneverhurt our pet. What kind of Death Fae do you think I am?”

“A psychotic one,” I tell him.

His lips curl. “True. But no, this isn’t poisoned. I simply stole it from the kitchen downstairs.”

“When did you…?” Flame trails off. “You know what? Never mind. I don’t even want to know how you found akitchenor when you managed to sneak off there.”

Reaper simply shrugs. “Our pet is hungry so I went hunting. Cupcake?” he offers her again. “It’s strawberry. Reminds me of you.” The Death Fae has literal hearts in his eyes, creeping me out a little.

“Um.” Alina gingerly takes the cupcake from his long fingers. “Thank you?”

He smiles. “You can thank me properly later.”

“Reaper,” I growl.

“What?” he asks me. “You have your way of wooing her; I have mine. And if I do say so myself, my way is much more direct.”

He vanishes again, leaving me rolling my eyes in his wake.

Reaper’s completely gone now, suggesting he’s shadowed off to explore the kitchen in more depth. Hopefully, he doesn’t make too much trouble. We still need to meet with the Monster City Queen, and I would prefer we not piss anyone off before that happens.

I run a hand over my face and blow out a breath. “Ishould try to follow up with that Emissary about when the Queen might be available to meet.”

“Try phoning the concierge,” Flame suggests. “They’ve been uncharacteristically helpful for a Human Realm hotel.”

“Probably because it’s run by supernaturals, not mortals,” I reply before looking at Alina once more. “Are there any other questions you want me to answer before I make this call?” We’ve already discussed a lot. But I want to make sure she’s okay before I step away.

She’s still studying the cupcake Reaper gifted her, her tongue peeking out to lick her bottom lip. “I… I have a lot to think about.”

“Yes,” I agree. “And you can ask any questions you want, anytime you want. We’ll always answer truthfully.”

She nods, but I can see that she’s retreated a bit into her own mind, her eyes still on the pink icing.

I glance at Flame, asking him with my gaze to keep an eye on her.

He dips his chin, his quiet way of saying,On it.