Page 19 of Psycho Beasts

Like he knew how hurtful Cobra’s words were.

Ascher cracked his neck loudly. “Don’t talk to Sadie like that.”

Cobra didn’t look chastised. “Why the fuck are all of you here?” he shouted and panted as he tipped his dark head backward like his rage was overwhelming.

“Sadie is right. We’re a team. We won’t abandon you,” Jax said quietly. His massive biceps strained to hold up his heavy body, but, like usual, his demeanor was calm.

Cobra flung his head forward and hissed. “Really? Because Ascher betrayed us, and literally one fucking day ago, Xerxes was working for the fae queen against us.”

Ascher’s amber eyes glowed in the darkness as his handsome face contorted into a scowl. “I’ve apologized a million times. I’ve explained that I thought I was helping you guys. Have I not fucking proven myself?”

Xerxes rolled his eyes. “I still hate all of you. I’m doing this for personal reasons.”

I scoffed. “Bullshit. You totally think we’re cool.”

Xerxes arched his eyebrow but said nothing.

Maybe I was reading into it, but I could have sworn his lips curved up like we were sharing an inside joke.

Jax twisted to Ascher with a grunt. “You’re going to have to prove yourself. I don’t hold a grudge, but trust has to be earned.”

Ascher nodded. “I will earn it.”

“I definitely still hold a grudge,” Cobra sneered.

“Same. Just a little,” I said honestly as I swung back and forth from the ceiling.

Ascher nodded his horned head toward me. “Princess, I will earn your forgiveness.”

“Can’t wait,” I mumbled as the burning in my shoulders intensified.

One of the two random tattooed dudes who was also hanging next to us spat on the ground. “Y’all are all fucking nuts.”

“Drama queen.” I rolled my eyes at him.

“What the fuck did you say to me, bitch?”

Jax’s, Cobra’s, Ascher’s, and Xerxes’s eyes all glowed brightly.

“Don’t talk to her,” Xerxes said softly.

“Oh fucking please, from what I’ve seen, you’re all gonna be fucking dead by the end of this trial. Fucking wimpy bitches. No alpha beast with self-respect would ever be such a fucking simp toward a girl. It’s an honor to be here.”

He said “girl” like I was the scum under his boots.

I sighed and kicked my legs out harder, trying to shift my weight from my arms. The patriarchy really just didn’t quit.

Jax roared with a ferocity that made all the hair on my body stand up.

I narrowed my eyes at my bound hands and pondered the merits of trying to gouge myself with one of my toenails so I could fling my blood at someone and free myself.

We were in the beast realm; they definitely enchanted the room to stop alphas from shifting. Not blood fae.

After a long moment, I shook my head. It would take way too much work to kick off my shoes and socks.

“Just ignore him,” I mumbled at Jax, who was still growling like a maniac. “He probably just has a little dick.”

Xerxes whined softly, like the sound was stressing him out.

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