Page 46 of The Demon's Pet

“That’s for fucking sure,” Sam muttered. He turned to look at me, then the doorway. “I don’t need this.”

“He wasn’t going to hurt me,” I said. “He was trying to protect his friends. He can sense I’m—that I have a demon in me.”

Sam whipped around to look at him. “Can you? Well, that’s useful.”

I didn’t know what to say. I liked this guy, despite his threat to me. I also related to him having never fit in where he was born.

But it seemed his people were sad about his execution, rather than gleeful like mine were.

“What do you sense about me?” Sam asked, standing before him with his hands on his hips.

Griffin inhaled the air deeply, and his blue eyes flashed.

“Angel,” he said simply.

“Good,” Sam said firmly. “Your winged form, it can fly?”

Griffin nodded.

“I need a mount for my pet,” he said solemnly. “Can you do that?”

Griffin blinked as if he had no idea what Sam was offering. He ran a hand through his blond hair and looked down at the chains. “You can spare my life?”

“I can do whatever I want.” Sam tapped his boot on the ground impatiently. “But if you want to die, by all means, let us proceed with the execution.”

I was starting to think Sam wasn’t such a bad guy after all.

“I’ll be collaring you,” Sam said. “Just in case. You aren’t a griffin. Not exactly. Until I can determine what, I need to make sure any excess power is stifled. You will be able to shift and keep your strength. What do you say?”

I wanted to tell Griffin that making any deal with Sam was kind of a devil’s bargain, but I understood the desire to not die.

But a mount? Did that mean I would be riding a griffin?

“Not a problem,” Griffin said. “I give the kids rides all the time.”

“I’m not a kid,” I muttered, my hands clenching into fists.

“You’re small,” Griffin said simply, staring down at me. “Bite-size.”

“Sorry I’m not huge like you guys,” I said. Compared to these guys, I was barely taller than average.

“We need to go,” Sam said. “The longer we stay, the more they’ll question me not killing you. We need to be decisive.”

“What are you going to tell them?” Griffin asked. “My family—”

“I’ll tell them you’re no longer their concern and currently the property of celestials.”

“I’m no one’s property,” Griffin said, blue eyes flashing.

Sam shrugged, reaching for his katana as his sheath appeared at his side. “Your funeral.”

“Wait,” I said, stepping forward. “Sam, you can’t just keep saying you own people.”

“Yes, I can,” Sam said stubbornly. “I just did.”

“Griffin, he isn’t as bad as he seems,” I said, causing Sam to glare at me as though I’d just insulted him. “He won’t treat you… like property.”

“How long have you been with him?” Griffin asked.

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