Page 80 of Their Lethal Pet

When we reach a particularly large tree, my animal pauses and I know what he intends to do a split second before he does it.

He leaps onto a branch, his tail swishing with victory as all four paws connect where he expected. Then he practically smirks in response to Alina’s startled yelp. Because that yelp is now paired with a look of awe.

Show-off,I tell him.

He preens again, pleased with impressing his chosen mate.

Alina giggles, the sound one I commit to memory. It’s the second time she’s made that sound tonight, and each occurrence has made me feel like a king.

I love that she’s happy. No sign of fear. No sign of stress. Just… pleased with our walk. Withme.

“Well, if you’re going to rest up there, then I’ll just rest down here,” she says, picking a spot beside the tree trunk to drop my clothes before plopping down beside them.

She leans back against the bark, her legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles.

“This is perfect,” she breathes, seemingly pleased. “I only wish I had a book or something.”

My animal’s ears twitch at that.A book?I would ask her if we were mentally linked.What do you like to read?

I’m guessing this realm hasn’t offered her much in the way of literature.

From what Orcus observed, the humans are still educated—primarily to appease potential supernatural mates—and the academic levels vary by village.

I’m not sure how many villages he found while peeping about the world, but it was enough for him to notice trends. Such as teaching habits amongst the humans.

Alina closes her eyes, her face the picture of peace.

My animal watches her closely, his tail lazily swaying off the branch while he rests his big head on his front paws.

Minutes pass and her breathing evens out, indicating that she’s fallen asleep.

It’s quick. But it suggests she needs the rest. I’ll give her a few more minutes to fall into a deeper sleep, then I’ll jump down, shift, and carry her home. She can nap against my chest.

My cat remains alert, observing our little panther while she rests.

The rise and fall of her chest is hypnotic, and the way the breeze teases her long, dark hair has my jaguar itching to play with her silky strands.

It’s perfect.

A beautiful moment in time.

I sigh inside, content.

This is?—

My jaguar stills, his ears straining as the whisper of footsteps catches our attention. Our nose twitches, a familiar scent making my beast growl as we pounce onto the ground.

Strigoi.

It should be impossible. The portal to the Netherworld closed last night, and Strigoi were not on the invitation list.

Yet, I know that smell. They reek of the Morpheus Realm.

It’s a metallic fragrance, one denoting their vampire nature. Only, these are no ordinary vampires. They feed ondreams.

Like the dreams of mymate.

My beast growls again, louder now, and prowls forward. I shift as we walk, needing my voice. By the time I reach the path they’re hunting on, I’m back in my human form.