Page 158 of The Demon's Pet

“No. It’s gold.” She grinned. “That tells me you have immense power. It’s the highest level of demon. But there are other high-level demons who aren’t the Morningstar.” She peered at me. “You come from a celestial haven, correct?”

I nodded.

She ran her eyes up and down me, appraising me. “And you’re a wolf shifter, so I have to ensure your new collar doesn’t restrict it?”

I nodded.

She focused back on the collar, picked up a tool I didn’t recognize, along with a hammer, and worked on it for a few minutes. Then she stood and walked over to hand it back. “You can keep this on until I have your new one. It should provide protection from you destroying anyone or anything with the worst of your powers, for now. I’ll start working on a new collar as well. And a sword, in case you need one. Since you don’t have your slayer sword yet.”

“I need a sword?”

“Of course,” she said, looking at me as if I were stupid. “Everyone needs a sword when working with Sam. Even if you aren’t the Morningstar, there is plenty of work to be done. Plenty of creatures who need killing.”

I swallowed. “Sam did say he wanted a favor one day. But I don’t want to kill anyone.”

Nic took in a shocked breath, and Betty turned to face me with a gasp.

“You don’t want to kill?” Betty asked. “But you’re a slayer. I can feel it in you.”

I shook my head, raising my hands. “I’ve never killed anyone. I don’t want to. I won’t be needing a sword.”

Betty shook her head. “In this world, it’s kill or be killed, little wolf. You’ll soon see that. I will make the sword, and Sam will train you to be ready to use it. You’ll be a slayer we can all be proud of soon enough.” She smiled at me like she was telling me I’d get good grades in school or something.

I genuinely felt sick even thinking about killing someone. I’d been so busy thinking about escaping the haven and the alphas that I hadn’t even thought of what would happen when I got to a destination with Sam.

What he would want from me.

Nausea rose in me, and suddenly, the room felt too hot.

“I’m sorry, I have to go outside,” I said, stumbling to the door and pushing it open. I sucked in a breath of cool, foggy air and tried to process what Betty had told me.

That I was a slayer. I wasn’t a low-level demon. I wasn’t a succubus. I was something special, and Sam had known all along.

I supposed it made sense, since he wouldn’t have stuck his neck out for me otherwise. But a slayer?

Did all high-level demons have to slay? Sure, I loved fighting and martial arts, but to actually end someone?

I didn’t know if I could do it.

Deep down, I knew it was selfish, that people like Sam had borne the burden for me in that way.

But he liked it, so what was wrong with it?

Nic came out to check on me, and it was odd to see him with legs in the open air rather than black mist below the waist. He was tall and peered down at me curiously.

“Is there anything I can do to help? I will serve you in any way I can, Morningstar.”

“Why do you call me that?” I asked. “Why does everyone keep talking about it?”

“You should ask Master Sam,” Nic said. “I think now that you are safe and in a more private location, he will tell you all you want to know.”

I gritted my teeth together. “He better.”

I walked to a nearby stone bench and sat down on it.

“Betty will be done soon,” Nic said. “You’ll feel better when you see what she makes for you. She’s the best. Until you get your own slayer sword, that is.”

“Will she be making me that one too?” I asked.

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