Page 75 of Their Lethal Pet

“Alina?” Flame asks, pausing beside me, his head tilting to the side. “If this is making you uncomfortable, we can go back.”

I swallow and look up at him. “I, no. I’m okay. I… I was just thinking about two of the others I came here with. I’m wondering if they’re okay.”

He studies me, then dips his chin in acknowledgment. “I imagine it’s pretty strange for you, all of this.” He waves around the city with his free hand. “If I’m honest, it’s strange to me, too.”

“It is?”

He nods again. “Yeah. This does not happen in our world.” He pauses, considering that for a moment. “Well, actually, a version of it is happening in our realm right now. But it’s quite different, and it involves other fae, not humans.”

His world sounds interesting. “So your world doesn’t require Offerings?”

He snorts. “No. Not mortal Offerings, anyway. There are definitely a few fae realms with unique gifting practices, and I know some of the Mythos Fae like a variety of tributes, but it’s nothing like this. Our humans don’t even know fae exist.”

Reaper had said as much earlier. “But your kind visits the humans?” I ask, clarifying.

“In secret,” he says. “And there are a few fae who actually live among them, but the humans have no idea.”

“However, you live in the Netherworld.” That’s the realm Orcus mentioned, the name one I committed to memory. “What’s it like there?”

“It’s very different from this,” he says, glancing at the metal architecture as we resume our walk. “We don’t have skyscrapers or greenery like Monster City. Instead, it’s a bit darker. No sun. Only three moons that cycle around a thirty-six-hour clock, not a twenty-four-hour one. The sky is always clear. Lots of stars.”

My brow crinkles. “No sun?”

“No sun,” he echoes.

“How do you grow food?” I wonder.

“We don’t. Our gargoyles conjure it.” He waggles his brows at me. “They’re crafty little creatures who are born in our kingdom, but they come and go as they please. But they pay homage to their birthright by bringing back food. Pretty sure Reaper was raised by them rather than proper parents.”

That last part seems to be uttered in humor.

But I’m too stuck on the wordgargoylesto think about Reaper being raised by them. The term makes me shiver. “Are gargoyles monsters?” I ask.

Flame laughs, his hand squeezing mine. “No, little panther. Definitely not. They’re, like, two feet tall, and they’re harmless.” He pauses for a moment. “Well, maybe notharmless. They’re made of stone. Getting stepped on by one would suck.”

“And they bring you food?”

“Yep. They stock our shelves. It’s basically their way of giving us gifts.” He shrugs. “We don’t need food the way some fae do, so it’s a treat more than a requirement.”

“What about humans in your kingdom?” I wonder aloud. “Other mates?”

“We don’t have humans in the Netherworld,” he tells me. “Only other fae and creatures like the gargoyles.”

“Oh.” My brow furrows. “So when you go back…” I trail off, swallowing. I’d almost said something foolish.So when you go back, what happens to me?

A ridiculous thought.

I don’t plan to go back with them. Heck, I don’t evenwantto go back with them.

Not that it matters, anyway. They’re not planning on leaving anytime soon. Orcus said there are other Omegas in this world. He insinuated that they intend to stay here and hunt them all.

But what happens when they’re done?a small part of me whispers.

Does it matter?

I’ll be in Chicago by then, right?

“When we go back,” Flame says softly, his hand squeezing mine again. “We’ll figure something out.”