Page 179 of Their Lethal Pet

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I… I don’t know,I reply, hoping they all can hear.Everything is dark.

But my sister is still here. Her arms are around me as the world continues to rumble.

I can feel her… and my mates.

Not a dream,I think.Unless…

It’s not a dream, Alina. Now focus and tell me everything,Orcus demands.

I was in a garden,I whisper to him.There was a woman. Or something like a woman. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. She said her name is Demeter, but my sister called herMother.Then she touched me and…

And I don’t know.

I can’t define what just happened.

So I show him instead.

His growl is furious in my head, making my legs quiver as I fight to hold myself upright.

We’re coming,he promises me.No matter what you do, do not let her touch you again. She might try to hurt the baby.

My eyes widen.What?

Trust me,he says.Wherever you are, I want you to hide. Do you understand me, Alina? You need tohide.

His words send a shiver down my spine, my throat suddenly dry.

Because there’s true fear in his tone.

And the warning about what Demeter might do to our child… is very real.

Okay, I say to him.I… I’ll hide.

Only, I have no idea where to go because I can’t see anything.

“Alina,” my sister breathes.

“Shh,” I hush her, needing to focus on my other senses.

Where to hide, where to hide,I think, closing my eyes to calm my mind.

We’re somewhere dark.

Old.

Warm.

I inhale, my nose instantly curling at the familiar scent of burning. But underneath that, I recognize the hint of fir trees. Not from Flame, but from something else.

From home,I realize, my lips curling down.It smells like the mountain side.

Except it reminds me more of my cabin than being outside.

I toe the ground, my tennis shoes helping me to note the texture. Soil or carpet would have some give. Wooden floors or tile would not.

The latter applies here.

We’re inside somewhere,I tell Orcus.Maybe near the village. But I’m not sure.

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