Page 252 of Psycho Beasts

“Do you feel alive?” I asked tentatively, unsure how my best friend seemed to be okay even though physically she clearly wasn’t.

“Not really, but I don’t feel dead.” Aran shrugged, then winced at the movement.

Everyone stood up and looked around, taking in the fact that all of us were covered in Aran’s blood and shards of glass.

We had less than an hour till the ball.

A maid, who stood next to Xerxes, holding supplies, gestured up the stairs and said, “The don delivered lots of formal wear yesterday so you could choose what you liked best. It’s in your closets.”

Xerxes stared down at the sheet he’d had the maids place over Walter’s dead body.

I could read the question on his face. It was the same one I was asking myself.

How were we supposed to go to a ball after everything that had happened? How were we supposed to act normal after all this?

Jax cracked his neck. “Everyone is attending. The girls and Aran. We’re sticking together.”

We all nodded in agreement, although I grimaced down at Aran’s gaping wounds.

Ascher gestured at Aran. “We need to get her a hoverchair. She can’t walk.”

Xerxes said something to the maids, and they scurried off.

“Sit here and stay,” I ordered the Ortega brothers, my limbs shaking from the strain of commanding them.

The world wobbled around me, but I forced myself to act normal as I turned to Ascher. “Please carry Aran to our bedroom. I need to clean her up.”

He nodded and picked her up gingerly.

Lucinda went to hold my hand, but Cobra picked me up before she could grab it.

“You’re almost done, Kitten. You can do this,” he whispered down at me. “Deep breaths,” he coached.

Annoyance sparked.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” I said weakly.

Cobra chuckled even though his eyes were tight with concern as he carried me to the bedroom.

The shadow snake on my back sent me images of support, like I was a weakling who needed his help.

“Fuck you,” I growled and sent back violent images. “I don’t need your help.”

“No, Kitten,” Cobra whispered as the snake sent me images of love and warmth. “I fuck you.”

He winked as he turned on the shower and set me down on the toilet next to it. Ascher gingerly set Aran on the floor next to the tub.

Cobra left the room, but Ascher lingered.

“Are you sure you don’t need help?” Ascher asked as he narrowed his eyes at my sweat-stained face and trembling muscles.

I would never forget how he’d dug the bullets out of Aran for hours, working tirelessly to save my best friend.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice catching.

Ascher’s tattoos rippled across his torso as he dragged his fingers along my hairline and leaned over me.

“Princess, you understand I would do anything for you?” His amber eyes were dark with intensity as he stared down at me.

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