Page 85 of The Demon's Pet

Zadis moved closer to Os, putting a hand on his shoulder and leaning in, his voice taking on an ominous, serious tone that he hadn’t used at all with me. “The fae don’t allow those on our land to keep prisoners. If he has her against her will—”

I heard Griffin snarl and step forward, but Os merely put up a hand, waving him back, utterly unperturbed by Zadis’s approach.

“It is official celestial business,” Os said, turning to glare at the much-taller Zadis. “And it would be best for your personal health and safety if you didn’t even fucking look in her direction.”

I was shocked by the crassness of Os’s language, but Zadis wasn’t, though he took a step back.

“Even you won’t tell me what to do in my village, Os,” Zadis said. “Especially while under our hospitality.”

“She isn’t for you if you want to live,” Os said. “I can tell you that much.”

Zadis sent me a look as he headed back toward the road that led into the village. “We’ll see about that. She’s not for Samael either, if I have anything to say about it.”

When he was gone, Griffin turned to me. “We should probably get back.”

“Sam left us a note to check in on you,” Os said, sitting on the log and heaving a sigh of relief as he did so, like a balloon letting out air.

“I could have taken him,” Griffin said stubbornly.

“It’s not your job to protect me, Griffin,” Os said sternly. “We’re just doing this for Sam’s benefit. He wants you as part of his… Never mind. You’ll see soon enough.”

Griffin frowned at that.

“We can’t make things too awkward with the high priest’s brother while we’re here taking care of this,” Os said. “We don’t always work with the fae, but we get along. No need to escalate tensions.”

“He escalated tensions when he brought Cleo out to the woods. Alone. And asked her to shift,” Griffin said.

I shrugged. “I don’t mind. I like shifting. And Sam left me with nothing to do.”

“It’s dangerous here. Don’t you get that?” Os asked, his purple eyes flashing like high-grade amethysts. “Did Sam not warn you?”

“He did,” I said. “I just don’t see anything dangerous about this place. They bond with one another. They care deeply about equality and would never have omegas. It’s better than the place I was raised. And no fae has called me an idiot or forced a kiss on me, unlike…” I trailed off as I realized neither of them knew about those things Sam did.

Flushing violently, because apparently my redness was going to be permanent, I folded my hands in my lap.

“I’m going to kill him,” Griffin said, standing.

Os grabbed him by the wrist and easily jerked him back down to sit on the log, though Griffin was much larger.

“Damn, celestial strength is scary,” Griffin said, rubbing his wrist.

“I’m sorry,” Os said, looking genuinely apologetic as he brushed long, purple hair back over his shoulder. “But Sam has his reasons for everything he does. He saved Cleo’s life.” He looked over at me. “When did he force a kiss on you?”

“Back… in my village.” I didn’t want to say in the stocks because I didn’t really want to explain.

“Hm. And has he done anything since?”

My cheeks were impersonating tomatoes. “Not against my will.”

“If he does, come talk to me,” Os said. “He shouldn’t force you.”

I nodded.

“I still want to kill him,” Griffin said.

“Os is right,” I said. “That was a weird situation.” And I’d liked it. “He already said he wouldn’t do anything to me now.”

Os sent me a grin. “And you don’t like that?”

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