Page 170 of The Demon's Pet

“Void walker?” Griffin asked. “So she’s half demon, like Sam?”

“They aren’t demons. They just ally with them,” Simon said. “And it’s common for celestials to be hybrids. The elder gods love to fuck around.” He sighed. “You two have so much to learn.”

Griffin eyed me, appraising whether I was okay. Then he looked at Simon, and for once, he wasn’t defensive. “Maybe over lunch, you could tell us more?”

Simon lit up like it was his birthday. “Oh goody. Lunch!” He moved forward toward Griffin’s neck.

“Normalfood!” Griffin said, and Simon’s face fell.

Then he smiled.

“Well, company is good too,” he said. “Come on. Let’s eat.”

As we followed him inside, I wondered how I was going to get through this.

Sam had every right to want me to be a slayer.

But I didn’t know how to make my heart willing to kill.

I didn’t know if I ever could.

41

After lunch, where Simon was pleasant enough to make up for Griffin’s stunned silence and my inner turmoil, I headed downstairs for a nap in my room.

Griffin was behind me as we took the stone stairs downward, and when I heard him let out a heavy sigh, I decided we needed to talk.

I unlocked my door and held it open for him. “Come in.”

His round, puppy-ish eyes went wide, and he nodded, following me in.

I sat down on the bed, patting the spot beside me.

But he took the chair across from me so he could face me better.

I didn’t like how pale he looked. How drained.

“Are you okay? You seriously don’t look like you’re doing all right.”

He clasped his hands together nervously, looking around at anything but me. “I don’t know is the answer.”

“Talk to me,” I said.

He raised his blue eyes to mine. “You have enough on your plate. Having to become a slayer. Or the Morningstar. Whatever you may be.” He scratched his head. “Apparently, I’m just some kind of dog.” He laughed ruefully, then leaned back in the chair. “I was the pet all along.”

“A bit ironic,” I said. “But you’re no one’s pet now. Don’t let Sam get under your skin. Who cares what the celestials think you are? They don’t get to own you.”

“And they tried to kill you,” Griffin said. “So obviously, they have bad judgment.” He frowned. “You’re too kind to even kill that ghoul.”

I looked down at my hands folded on my knees. “I guess so many have used their power against me that using mine against someone weaker, especially to kill them… it just feels wrong.”

“I agree,” Griffin said. “We should get out of here.” His lips turned up in the corners in a teasing expression that was nonetheless defeated. “We could go find Os.”

“Why did he leave?” I asked. “I was, um, busy, and when I came back, he was gone.”

“He only came to see Sam here safely. He’s not in favor of any of this. He couldn’t believe Mor wanted to stay. He doesn’t know you’re the Morningstar, but I think he has some suspicions, based on how far Sam went for you with Zadis.”

I put my head in my hands. “Everything’s a mess. Griffin, how am I supposed to be some epic killer?”

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