Page 116 of The Demon's Pet

Griffin nodded. “It hasn’t spoken to anyone else. Maybe Sam, but when they converse, it’s in a different language. But he says he’s almost ready to execute. He just needs ‘one more data point.’”

“That sounds like him,” I said, laughing. “By the way, you want to spar later? I need to release some tension, and I assume that’ll be even truer after seeing Sam.”

Griffin’s eyes widened. “I couldn’t hit you.”

“You won’t hurt me,” I said. “We’re both shifters. It’s good practice.”

Griffin shook his head. “I don’t know. I know I’m big, but I’m not much of a fighter. Like, I do win the fights I’m in, but I hate fighting.”

“I love fighting,” I said. “I don’t love hurting people or killing them, though. Sparring is fun. You should try it. You just don’t hit at full strength.”

Griffin still looked immensely turned off by the idea, so I let it go. Instead, I grinned and nudged him in the side with my elbow.

“Looking pretty good in those fae robes, huh?” I asked.

Griffin went even redder, clearly mortified. “I look like… I don’t even know what I look like. I’m not a fae. I have no idea why Os insisted on it.”

“Maybe he wanted to see you in them?” I asked, wiggling my eyebrows at him. “For his personal benefit?”

“Os doesn’t like me,” Griffin said somewhat sadly. “He doesn’t even remember me.” He straightened, appearing to shake off whatever emotion almost overcame him. “But it’s fine. I’m just happy to be by his side.”

I wasn’t sure I could say the same about Sam. Happy wasn’t really the emotion I would use to describe the way I felt around him.

Things felt too real for that.

As we reached the main square, and I saw the huge cage, the creature, and Sam behind it, my blood began to pump rapidly.

Sam’s eyes met mine, and instantly, my heartbeat picked up, racing against my chest. Tingles went down my arms to my fingertips, and Sam gave a knowing smirk as he moved his gaze away from me and back to Zarris.

Griffin and I reached the cage just as Zarris began to yell at Sam openly.

“You don’t get to investigate. You do what we ask. You believe us! The fae and the celestials are allies. You do this, or I—”

“I’mgoingto do this,” Sam said flatly. “If you want it done your way, then do it yourself. I have my own methods.”

Zarris scowled. “You are offending us deeply by even asking this creature his side of things.”

Sam straightened, towering over Zarris with his broad-shouldered build. Huge wings flew out from his back, black and shading everything around us with their immense size. “You offend me by treating me like a dog you can order to kill for you.”

Zarris shrank as Sam approached, wings still spread menacingly. “You eternals. Always flexing your power.” He gulped. “Your father will hear of this.”

Sam threw his head back in a laugh, then faced Zarris with an expression that was dead serious. “You know nothing of my father.”

Zarris looked ready to run, so I ran over to Sam and put a hand on his arm. Rather than calming, he jerked out of my grasp.

“Stay out of this, Cleo,” he said, pushing me back and stepping in front of me protectively. His curls gleamed with gold in the afternoon light.

“Griffin said you wanted me here,” I retorted.

Sam turned to face me, blinking as he realized I was right. He glared at Zarris. “I will do this execution, you bloodthirsty animal. But I will do it on my time.”

“Soon—” Zarris insisted.

“On. My. Time,” Sam said, folding his arms. “Or you do it yourself.”

“Fine,” Zarris said. “But I’m not happy about it, and the other celestials we work with are going to hear about it.”

“Let them do your dirty work, then,” Sam muttered. “I’m an angel, not an exterminator.”

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