Page 76 of Their Lethal Pet

I blink at him, but he’s staring straight ahead, his focus on something toward the end of our street. I’m about to ask what he means byfiguring something out, when his mouth curls into a stunning smile, his excitement palpable.

“Oh, fuck, this is amazing,” he says, beaming. “I was wondering what Central Park would look like in this realm, but I would never have guessed this.” His steps quicken, causing me to almost jog along beside him. “It’s like a jungle.”

My eyes widen as thejunglecomes into better view, the trees stretching impossibly high into the sky. “Wow,” I breathe, gaping at them. “I… I didn’t know trees grew like this.” Back home, they were all tall, but they were nothing like this. I can’t even see where theyend.

“They don’t do this in the Human Realm in our dimension. This has to be influenced by magic or something.” He looks around as though trying to find the source. “Are you okay with exploring a little more?” he asks, glancing at me.

I nod. “Yeah.” I wouldn’t mind seeing these trees up close.

His smile is infectious again as he pulls me toward what appears to be an entrance carved into the middle of a massive tree trunk.

Wow,I think, studying the smooth wood inside as we pass through it.This is… almost magical.

Or maybeunnaturalis the better term.

Except, everything around us feels dreamy. It’s stunning. Green.Alive.

There are flowers inside, too. All of them decorating the colossal giants around them, the colors a vibrant splash against the green and brown.

Colors I can see because of the twinkling lights all around,I realize, noting the fluttering flickers dancing in the air.Are they bugs? Or something else?

None of them come close enough for me to see, their focus seeming to be on highlighting the flowers.

“This place is giving me Midnight Fae vibes, only it’s a lot more colorful,” he murmurs. “My animal is begging me to set him free and go for a run.”

His exhilaration has me smiling right along with him. This all feels like a fantasy. Unreal. Like I’m dreaming.

Maybe I am.

He’s a gorgeous fae, holding my hand, pulling me into this alluring, otherworldly jungle of trees and exotic flowers.

In the middle of a city.

But he said something about a park. “Central Park?” I repeat, thinking out loud. “They have this in your world?”

He chuckles. “No. Well, yes. They have Central Park. But it’s nothing compared to this. It’s a beautiful green space in the middle of New York City. However, this is like the Amazon, only even more intense.” He tilts his head back, his eyes falling closed. “And it smells amazing.”

I try to scent whatever it is he’s enjoying, but all I pick on is the heady aroma of nature—trees, flowers,fresh air.

That last bit makes me frown a little.

Because it reminds me of Orcus.

I glance behind me, like I expect him to be there. The scent increases just a little as I do it, except I don’t see him. And he doesn’t exactly seem like the type to hide.

“Everything okay?” Flame asks.

“I…” I return my focus to him. “I thought I sensed Orcus.”

Flame’s lips twitched. “Yeah, you probably can. Omegas and Alphas are linked like that, typically through scent.” He releases my hand to stretch his arms over his head, causing his shirt to ride up a little. “When we mate, you’ll be able to sense me, too. And we’ll be able to talk via our minds.”

My eyebrows lift.When we mate?

But he doesn’t seem to notice my reaction, as he’s too busy rolling his neck and showing off all that masculine strength. “I’m going to have to come back out here for a run.”

That’s a much safer topic, I decide, clearing my throat. “Why can’t you go on a run right now?” I blurt out, latching on to this conversation so I don’t lose myself to my thoughts.

“Because it would require me to undress and shift,” he says, shaking out his arms. “And I’d be leaving you alone.”