Page 44 of The Demon's Pet

Sam sent me a glare. “Whatever this is, they don’t want anything to do with it.”

“They don’t seem fond of celestials either,” I said.

Sam shrugged. “Not everyone sucks celestial asshole as much as the wolves. Most of them put up with us as a necessary evil and stay out of our way as much as possible.” He put out a hand, motioning for me to stay back. “Whatever this thing is, the cougars fear it.”

“I can—”

“Until you’re further trained, you’re of no use to me,” he retorted, cutting me off. “After this execution, I’ll have time to explain more. Stay put.”

I looked at the shack just as a low moan reached us. I heard something brushing the walls of it, rustling like… feathers?

Then a roar shook the entire clearing, making needles fall from the trees.

Whatever was in that shack, it was giant, and it was furious.

Sam crept closer and put a hand to his hip, where his sheath appeared out of nowhere. Smoothly, in one motion, he drew the katana he’d used to kill Zane.

It was shiny and clean, as if it had never killed anyone.

Sam put a finger to his perfect lips, pinned me with a look, and then moved in front of the doors and yanked them both open.

10

Sam went inside, and another huge roar shook the clearing, making more pine needles fall.

No one came out of the treehouses. No one wanted to see Sam put this thing to death.

What kind of creature could it be to be called an abomination and cause these powerful shifters so much fear?

Despite Sam’s warning to stay back, I crept around in front of the doors and peeked through the crack by the hinges, trying to see what was inside.

There was a huge animal with a golden pelt, a leonine body… and wings? Giant white wings lashing out against the sides of the shack.

I heard the jingle of chains and saw what was keeping this animal from tearing all of this down. His paws were chained. His head was that of a lion, matching his body, and his wings… looked like celestial wings.

“A griffin,” I murmured. “I thought they were a myth.”

Sam looked over at me and frowned, a twitch in his jaw the only sign he was super pissed at me for disobeying. “Get back, pet.”

I ignored him, coming closer to the giant chained beast as its wings flapped again, trapped against the low ceiling and walls.

The creature’s eyes were deep, clear blue and solemn and angry at the same time.

Sam moved forward, reaching out a hand, and the griffin snapped at him, showing off giant white fangs and massive teeth.

Sam scowled, made a closing motion with his hands, and the griffin’s mouth snapped shut as if held by invisible chains.

So this was the power of the ninth realm. If he simply wanted it to be, it was so.

I envied him.

“Calm down, boy,” Sam said. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

The huge animal moved nervously, looking like it would have lashed out again if it could.

“I need to go talk to the elders,” Sam said, making a motion as if to say the griffin could open its mouth again. “This isn’t an abomination.”

“It has wings,” I said. “Doesn’t that mean you have to kill it?”

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