Page 45 of Their Lethal Pet
“Queen?” Orcus repeats. “Queen of what?”
“The Queen of Monster City, sir.” There’s a pause before Jones adds, “She sent me here to personally welcome you all to Monster City.”
CHAPTER TEN
FLAME
My beast growlsfrom deep within, not liking thisEmissaryone bit. He’s an outsider. An intruder. A creature of unknown origin. And everything about him smellswrong.
Alina shifts slightly in my arms, her dark eyes showcasing a myriad of emotions.
She’s not scared, but she’s not comfortable either.
The bruise on her throat becomes more apparent as she stretches her neck in an attempt to see around Orcus and Reaper. I nearly growl at the sight, ready to turn around and rip her assailant’s head from his body.
But that would require setting my little panther down and leaving her temporarily unguarded.
Not an option.
Not with the potential threat standing a mere ten feet away.
His green eyes blink, displaying a pair of double eyelids that are distinctly inhuman. Although, the rest of him is every bit mortal-esque. Two legs. Two arms. Standard torso. However, the green eyes paired with his dark skin is astriking combination. As is the shock of white hair on top of his head.
“Our Queen wishes to meet with you,” Emissary Jones goes on, his odd gaze flicking to me before returning to Orcus. “She’s arranged a suite for you in her tower, should you opt to remain in our realm for an extended visit.”
My jaw ticks at the request. Mostly because this doesn’t sound like a request at all. It’s a veiled offer to play nice with the local politics. A way of saying,Yeah, we know you’re here. We also know you don’t belong here. But we’ll let you stay, if you agree to our terms.
“And if we opt not to extend our visit?” Orcus asks, his tone bored. However, I can feel his power whirling around him, preparing to strike should the need arise.
Jones doesn’t respond right away, his gaze instead choosing to take in the corridor—including both of the dead bodies and the bound human weeping a few feet to my right.
“It is actually illegal to kill humans in Monster City,” Jones says conversationally, his focus shifting to Reaper.
The Death Fae merely shrugs. “Black souls are fair game in our realm.”
Jones gives a short nod. “Yes, well, you’re visiting our realm. The rules are different here.”
“So the Queen wishes to bestow judgment upon us?” Orcus interjects, his tone telling me he has one eyebrow arched at the unknown supernatural. It’s a challenge.And what? You think we’ll just… cooperate?is what he really means.
However, Jones simply laughs in response. “Oceans, no. The circumstances are understandable.”
Oceans?That’s a new one. Maybe this guy is some sort of water creature.
“That said, understanding often requires a conversation,” he goes on, his tone no longer amused. “Soshould your realm wish to maintain good status for future returns, I would very much recommend taking the Queen up on her offer.”
And there it is—the political reason for this “request.”
Orcus’s jaw has to be clenching right now, something I can’t see from behind him but know he’s doing. Because hehatespolitics. That’s why he leaves Hades to run the Netherworld. His brother has a natural knack for handling conversations like this one.
Meanwhile, Orcus is more of an enforcer type. Just like me and Reaper.
We don’t dance around with fancy words and bullshitconversations. We act. We fight. Wekill. Hence the reason Reaper delivered justice to those assholes without even blinking. And I would have done the same to the bastard on the floor had Orcus not pointed out Alina’s right to choose her assailant’s death.
“Where’s the Queen’s tower?” Orcus asks, his voice carefully controlled.
“Toward the center of the city,” Jones replies with a smile. “I would be happy to escort you there.”
Another demand veiled as an offer, I think, not liking this guy one bit.
