Page 104 of The Demon's Pet

“We will still have to do the execution today, regardless,” Os said firmly. “And that outfit helps impress the seriousness of the topic on those we interview. Besides, I’m glad we’re wrapping it up soon. We have good ties with the fae, and they don’t like being questioned. It’s best if we just get it over with and leave.”

Griffin grunted, folding his huge arms. “I don’t agree with this. Whatever hurry we’re in, whatever relationship we have with the fae, that creature deserves a fair chance.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Sam said. He put his hands at both hips, checking that both his red and black sheaths were there. “Then I’ll do what I have to. The sooner we leave, the better.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Cleo here is getting ideas about Zadis.”

“At least he’s nice to me,” I muttered.

Os gave me an impatient look. “Cleo… if you aren’t going to listen to Sam on this, listen to me.”

I didn’t really feel like being lectured by any of these people since they didn’t even know what happened between me and Sam last night.

“Let’s just go,” I said, pulling on a blue sweatshirt I’d been carrying on the way to the door. I was wearing simple jeans, Converse, and had my hair tied in a high ponytail that trailed down to my midback.

Sam watched me carefully as we walked into the early morning air. As usual, the aroma of flowers and leaves filled my nostrils, along with a cool mulch scent. Smoke was wafting from the small chimneys of the little homes, and we wove around them toward the main square of the village where the cage with the creature stood.

I stayed back a bit from the others as Sam approached the cage and the fae who were arguing in front of it.

Zadis was gesturing wildly, and the fae across from him was shaking his head. It looked like Zarris, his brother. Seeing them next to each other, I did notice a resemblance in the long, elegant nose and sharp brow they shared.

When they saw Sam, they immediately stopped and waved him over to them.

Behind him, in the cage, the shifting cloud that almost looked like billions of tiny black particles moved in a shape somewhat like that of a tall man.

As it shifted, I felt something unsettling, cooling me and lifting the hairs on my arms.

Meanwhile, Zadis turned to face me, sending me a smile as Sam spoke with Zarris, a stern expression on his face.

Was Sam still mad about yesterday?

I lifted my hand in a wave to Zadis and felt Griffin lean in over my shoulder.

“Look, Cleo, maybe you should listen to at least Os on this,” Griffin said nervously.

“You should,” Os said, patting my arm as he went over to join the conversation with Sam.

Their voices rose, but I tuned out what they were saying to walk around the large iron-barred cage.

I didn’t see how this huge, shifting black shape couldn’t just escape. Then I remembered Zarris saying the cage was enchanted.

As I moved around the enclosure, I felt like I was being watched and looked up to see the dark swarm moving, following me.

“Who… are… you?” said a deep, unearthly sound that only vaguely approximated a voice.

I glanced at Sam and the others, who’d moved a few feet from the cage while arguing.

“What… are… you?” that sound, I thought the creature’s voice, asked again.

I had no idea how to answer.

Griffin was behind Os, watching over him like an angry bodyguard as the men talked. He didn’t appear to hear anything.

I put a hand on the bars and jerked back as the black particles rushed toward me with a hissing motion.

“Sorry,” I murmured. “Not trying to invade your space. I know how that is.”

The black particles seemed to almost buzz in place and pulled in tighter, showing almost the shadow of a tall man. It cocked its head at me.

“Don’t talk to it,” Sam snapped at me, grabbing me with an arm around my waist and lifting me well out of the way of the cage with one easy swing. He set me down. “Do I have to constantly keep an eye on you?”

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