Page 51 of The Demon's Pet

Since I first kissed him.

I honestly had no idea about Sam. What he wanted from me. Why he’d taken me as his pet when he so clearly disdained me.

Why he’d chosen Griffin as a mount.

I rolled over on my bed as I heard voices not far from the cabin.

“Honestly, Samael. Doghouse? Did you have to?” a light, high voice said. It was familiar somehow.

“She was tired.”

“You know that’s not what I meant.” The voice continued, chiding a little less gently this time. “Sam… you can’t treat just any creature like a pet, truly.”

“Why not? She is one. So is he.”

“Who ishe?”

“Ah, that’s right. You haven’t met Griffin yet. He’s sleeping down in the shade by the stream.”

“And why are you in minotaur country? You know what will happen if we’re caught.”

There was a silence fraught with hidden meaning.

“She was complaining,” Sam said, as if that explained everything.

“You can’t have two pets. Gabe is going to freak out if he finds out about this—”

“That’s why I called you. You can have a pet too.”

The other voice was quiet for a moment, and all I could hear was the rustling of the grass.

“I don’t need a pet,” the voice said.

My brain was racking itself trying to remember who it was. I could swear I’d heard it before, multiple times.

“It’s a winged lion, Os,” Sam said.

That answered my question.

“And you think I would have an interest in that why?” Os retorted.

“He doesn’t have to be your pet. Just claim he is.”

“Why should I?”

“We both know you owe me one after that business with the—”

“Gods yes, fine, just stop talking about it. I assume you’re taking him to the usual place?”

There was silence, so Sam must have nodded or shaken his head.

“Fine,” Os said. “I’ll go with you until that point. Then it’s not my problem anymore.”

Sam was quiet.

“Promise me,” Os said.

“I promise nothing,” Sam retorted. “Do you even want to meet Griffin first? He’s a mount for Cleo currently.”

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