Page 187 of Their Lethal Pet
I can’t allow this intense magic to win.
My purpose is to create life. To protect life. To thrive in a world of renewed existence.
My feet land on the ground with an unexpected thud, my spine straightening as the world blinks into view around me.
The Viscount—or what’s left of him—is a bloody mess on the floor in front of me.
Serapina is gaping at his remains with wide eyes.
Then those eyes grow even wider as she looks up. I follow her gaze, my stomach twisting as the Goddess from the garden strides forward with a murderous expression.
Her focus is on me.
Her intent very clear.
I turn and run, my instinct to flee overriding everything else.
But just as I reach the door of the room, it bursts open to reveal my fae. Orcus leads the charge, his wingswidespread. He looks at me, his expression melting into relief, only to realize I’m being pursued.
A roar rips from his mouth as he flies at Demeter, tackling her to the ground. Reaper is right behind him, a scythe in his hand.
But Flame comes for me.
He doesn’t say anything, just scoops me up into his arms and starts carrying me away.
“No!” I shout. “I have to see. I have to… Flame!”
He’s not listening to me.
But a shout of agony has him pausing, the sound having come from Orcus.
Flame looks down at me and I stare up at him. He’s trying to make a decision. One I can hear in his mind. “Go,” I demand. “Go to Orcus.”
He growls.
I growl back.
Then he sets me on my feet and runs back into the room.
I follow him, my mind racing as I search for Orcus. But it’s my sister that catches my eye. She’s on the outskirts of the room, watching the battle rage through narrowed eyes.
Orcus is missing a wing, the appendage lying on the ground near my sister’s feet.
He’s bleeding.
But all I really see is a blur of blood, black feathers, and blinding light as he and Demeter try to take each other down.
Reaper is nowhere to be seen.
And Flame is in his jaguar form, snarling as he tries to figure out how to join the fight.
Fae, this isn’t good,I think, uncertain of how to help. I freed myself from the binds, did something to theViscount’s form, but I… I don’t know how I did that. Or evenifI did that.
“This needs to end,Mother,” my sister says coldly as a blade appears in her hand.
I blink at it, not understanding where or how the item materialized in her palm, but it’s there nonetheless.
And she’s lifting it toward her own neck.
