Page 106 of The Demon's Pet

“Griffin, I’m a celestial,” Os said. “One of the most powerful beings in existence. I can protect myself and Cleo, though I appreciate your care.”

Truly a diplomat.

Griffin nodded again, still seeming unhappy about the situation. But Os was determined to take off with me and linked his elbow through mine, pulling me down a path between houses. We met up with a path that wrapped around the outskirts of the village, and Os decided we should walk and talk there.

“Listen, Cleo,” Os said. “I know Sam is rough, and I may be the only celestial to believe this, but I do believe his heart, however broken it is, is in the right place.”

I didn’t say anything. I wanted to go back and talk to that black swarm creature. I wanted to know what a void walker was.

But I also wanted to hear Os out first.

“I know that life on the haven side of the veil was not ideal for you. It wasn’t like life in the sky realms, where I was raised. But still, the protection that exists in the havens—”

“What protection?”

Os gave me a smile that was less than pleasant. “Sorry, was your village ever pillaged by demons? Invaded by vampires?”

I swallowed, shaking my head.

“That’s because of the protection celestials provide in patrolling your havens and protecting the veil.”

“Oh.”

“After the great divide, humans were free game for all the supernaturals who emerged to take the earth back. Shifters were the most treasured of the humans, and they were taken up behind the veil, sheltered by the celestials who were descended from the gods who created shifters.”

“I see.” I was still better off in this world.

“So I’m glad you’re free and no longer being abused. I’m sorry your haven wasn’t functioning as expected. But this world… someone like you, someone raised in a celestial haven, will be a target. Rarely seen here. Sheltered—”

“I’m not sheltered.”

“How do vampires kill?” Os asked, letting my arm go to walk in front of me confrontationally with folded arms. “What do you do if you meet an ogre with bloodlust?”

I blinked.

“You’re strong, Cleo, or Sam wouldn’t have taken you with him. But you don’t understand this world, and until you do, it would be best if you listen to Sam.”

My hands clenched into fists. “I don’t trust him. How can I? He murders for a living—”

“It’s his job, yes,” Os said. “To be honest, I do not know him that well. He joined up with our squad this past year, and I hadn’t met him before. But he has been honorable, isn’t snobby toward certain creatures like Gabe is, and always keeps things interesting.”

“Hm.”

“And I’ve never seen him kill someone wrongly,” Os said. He let out a sigh. “This might be the first. This creature… I do pity it. I don’t know how it came to be here. But now that it has killed a family, including fae children, it can’t be allowed to leave.”

“Look, I get it,” I said. “I’m in danger. This is a new world. Sam’s my only guide right now. But…” My cheeks flushed, hard. “Things are complicated.”

“He made a move on you, didn’t he?” Os asked, letting out a disappointed sigh. “I’m sorry, Cleo. I thought better of him.”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “No, I sort of… made a move on him.”

“And he said yes?” Os’s eyes went wide, a darker purple in this light. “I’ve never seen him do that before, and he’s been propositioned by literally every creature, it feels like.”

And now I knew why.

I knew Sam’s secret.

Did Os?

---