Page 43 of Psycho Beasts

“Be careful, Princess.”

Jax moved his arm to carry me, but my gloating stopped because he didn’t put Cobra down. Instead, he just maneuvered both of us so we were each supported by one of his arms.

“Are you sure he’s yours?” I snarled at Cobra.

Emerald glowed. “Are you sure you’re both not mine? Because, Kitten, it seems like you are.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but stopped when someone screeched my name.

With a startle, I looked around and took in the fact that I was in an opulent foyer.

A massive antique crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling and cast a soft yellow glow across the dramatic double staircase that four teenage girls and Aran were sprinting down.

Blushing, I shoved myself out of Jax’s hold and brushed myself off.

For some reason, I acted like a complete fool around the men, especially Cobra. He scrambled my brain and made me forget what I was doing.

I vowed to be better.

“Oh my sun god.” Aran gasped as she took in our beaten appearances.

“I’ll have healing paste delivered to your rooms,” the butler said.

He had a stuffy, calm demeanor, and his face didn’t so much as twitch as he took in our haggard states.

“Thank you, Walter.” Xerxes bowed his head.

In response, Walter bowed his even lower. “No. Thank you, Master. It is an honor to have you back.”

A soft burned scent drifted off of Walter as he bent low, signifying that he was a beta.

Instantly, my stomach cramped at Xerxes’s words about being a rich prick.

He kept servants.

My back and chest smarted with the phantom pain of a belt, and memories of Dick flashed through my mind like a bad movie.

I didn’t want to embarrass Walter by calling Xerxes out, so I settled on passive-aggressively glaring at him.

He didn’t seem like an ass, but I guessed you could never tell with men these days.

Unaware of my righteous indignation on his behalf, Walter vibrated with excitement as he led us to our bedrooms.

His stiff steps were quick and efficient as he gave a tour of the mansion. “There are showers in every bedroom, and I’ll deliver the healing supplies. Anything you need, please let me know. The girls have already settled into rooms. I will alert the kitchen staff at once to the number of guests.”

My stomach plummeted once again.

More servants.

Instead of verbally ending Xerxes’s life—I’d deal with him later—I concentrated on the girls.

Jax had his arms around Jess and Jala, and Jinx was arguing with Cobra about something. From the animated hand gestures, Ascher appeared to be taking Jinx’s side.

In front, Xerxes walked with Walter and kept patting the old man on his shoulder.

Beside me, Lucinda and Aran had tears of worry in their eyes. Well, Lucinda had tears; Aran narrowed her eyes at me angrily.

I smiled at both of them. “Seriously, it wasn’t that bad.”

---