Page 265 of Psycho Beasts

He sneered at my abused form while pointing to my finger proudly.

I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes as I glared up at Dick.

Oh, he knew about my scars all right.

Dick and the cloaked man, apparently High Court members, stared at Z for a long time.

Nobody spoke.

The silence stretched, and I shifted at the awkwardness.

My head was spinning from blood loss, but I couldn’t gather the courage to touch my gaping finger hole.

Just let the blood slowly drip out of me.

I was tired, but maybe I could still use it. Should I fling it at Z or Dick first?

Definitely Dick.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the man that tormented me, standing next to the man who’d somehow positioned all of us in the shifter realm.

“Why did you do it?” Dick asked Z.

Molly sighed, and Z’s smile fell. “Molly and I lost our packmates last year. Without a pack, we’ve lost our resources and have been relegated to training new recruits.” He spat when he said recruits, like it was the most heinous job possible.

“With this reward, we can afford to attract new packmates and can go back to policing the city like we should be.”

Dick’s eyebrows furled, his signature expression before he lost his temper and beat the shit out of a person. Or at least beat the shit out of me.

“I believe the flyer said there would be no reward.”

Z’s mouth dropped with confusion.

The cloaked man pulled out a familiar flyer and handed it over.

Dick read, “A woman covered in scars who is suspected of being a half-breed is expected to have kidnapped her. Contact the High Court.”

He dropped the flyer onto the ground.

Dick’s voice dripped with scorn. “It says nothing about a reward. It says to contact us, which you did. That is all that was needed.”

He looked away from Z, eyes dark with fury, and his massive blue wings unfurled impressively as he turned to me.

I stared up at my monster.

He glared back.

Chapter 46

Sadie

THE THIRD TRIAL

“Fuck you.”

I spat at Dick.

My saliva dripped down his leg and filled me with satisfaction.

---