Page 50 of Their Lethal Pet
She swallows.
Then she nods.
But I can tell by the glimmer of uncertainty in her gaze that she doesn’t believe me.
I don’t blame her. If I were in her position, I wouldn’t believe me either.
Trust takes time.
It’s also best acquired through actions, not words.
Orcus’s surveillance request is going to have to wait. Once Alina is settled, I’ll sweep the room for listening devices.
First, I’ll see to Alina’s comfort.
We’ll start with food.
Afterward, I’ll help her remove this archaic dress.
And then, I’ll brush her pretty hair. Because this tousled mess on her head looks very uncomfortable.
“Let’s find the menus,” I tell her. “I’m starving.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
ALINA
A Shifter Fae.
The term rolls around in my head as I study Flame’s profile, his long eyelashes fluttering as he blinks.
Flame, Orcus, and Reaper.
They haven’t actually confirmed their names or even really introduced themselves to me. But I’ve gathered their names through their conversations with each other.
Flame’s currently talking to Orcus about the room, saying it’s clean.
I’m not sure why this is such an important discussion. The cleanliness of the suite rivals that of the entire city, which is all verypristineto me. But apparently Orcus has strong sanitation values.
Fae, I think, studying him now. His sturdy jawline. Long, dark hair tied at the back of his nape. Strong shoulders. Chiseled cheekbones. Muscular forearms.
He lost his jacket at some point, leaving him in just a T-shirt, jeans, and boots.
Flame is similarly dressed, only his shirt is long-sleeved.
And Reaper is still sporting that sleeveless shirt, histattoos on full display as they writhe along his arms. He seems particularly agitated, his long legs eating up the marbled floor of the kitchen as he paces back and forth near the dining area.
“It’s possible their bugs are undetectable,” Flame says, drawing my attention back to his conversation with Orcus. “But I’m not picking anything up on the scanner.” He hands a small chip to Orcus as he says that, causing my eyes to follow the movement.
“You guys are pretty serious about sanitation,” I muse aloud. “You’d hate my village.”
Orcus frowns. “What?”
I shrug. “It’s full of bugs and dirt.”
He stares at me for a long moment, like he’s struggling to understand my words.
“They’re talking about listening devices,” a voice says by my ear, making me jump. I glance back into a pair of hypnotic silver-blue eyes.
