Page 77 of The Mourning Throne
And that—
Morgan didn’t like that.
He had half a mind to turn the car around.
Surprises—any surprise—where Lex was concerned, wasn’t good news.
And the closer he got, the less he liked the sudden shift in the quiet. The less he liked Lex’s newly forming grin—glittering, teeth bared, as if daring Morgan to ruin the fun.
It wasn’t until they pulled into the parking lot—bright fluorescent signage screamingSAL’S PET SHOPabove beigecement and a row of economy sedans—that Morgan clocked the implication.
“No,” he said flatly.
Lex didn’t answer. Just unbuckled, opened the door, and left it swinging in the breeze.
Morgan sat there for a long beat, the car still idling.
He didn’t move.
Not until he saw Lex saunter through the sliding doors like a prince returning to a kingdom he hadn’t bothered to learn the name of. That walk—too light, too smug—made Morgan’s stomach twist.
No.
And yet—he got out anyway.
The air inside was stifling. A synthetic assault of artificial bacon, sawdust, and piss-disguised-disinfectant. The overhead lights buzzed faintly. Something yapped in a metal pen. Somewhere else, a parrot screeched, “Hi!” in a voice too human.
Morgan spotted Lex by the metal kennels.
Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, rocking on his heels with a satisfied little smirk. He didn’t look out of place. If anything, he looked too comfortable.
Cruelty had taught him to camouflage better.
Morgan approached, slow. “Lex.”
“Morgan,” Lex said without looking. “What size do you think he is?”
“I thought we had acat.”
Lex gestured to a large crate markedXL — Breed Examples: Great Dane, Bullmastiff.“He’s obedient.Jumps when you speak. Whines when you pet him wrong. I think he’s part spaniel. Not cat.”
“Lex…”
“You’re notseriouslygonna argue with me in front of the damn chew toys, are you?”
“I don’t think you know what you’re doing.”
Lex didn’t look up. “Says who? You?”
“Yes.”
Lex turned then. Not fast. Not sharp. Just steady. Certain. Like he’d already made peace with whatever came next.
“Why?” he asked. “Because it doesn’t align withyourvision?”
The vein in Morgan’s eyelid twitched. “Because you’ve never done this. Your show last night was proof enough.”
“You only care when you’re the one holding the knife.”
