Page 269 of Psycho Beasts

It appeared to be some type of thin golden wire, about the size of a hand. “It’s a halo, a way of communicating. Just tap the air in the middle, and it will connect you to me.”

The monster from my childhood held it out to me.

My fingers trembled, but I reached forward and grabbed it from him. The metal was cold against my fingers.

We stared at each other.

Not knowing how to go forward, while knowing we’d never go back.

“Stay in touch, Sadie.” Dick’s ruddy complexion didn’t seem so menacing as he backed away.

He stopped beside the cloaked man, who hadn’t spoken a word, just stood still, eyes roaming across the ballroom.

There was a loud bang, smoke, and both of them disappeared.

I stared down at the halo in my hands and slipped the gold circle over my wrist.

I’d have loved to say I’d always known, that I’d felt the truth in my bones and had a sense of the bigger picture.

But that would be a lie.

Then the reality that my finger was still lying on the floor, the High Court was gone, and Z and Molly had betrayed me crashed over me.

Across the ballroom, a circle of guns surrounded the people I cared about.

Blood loss hit me hard, and I grabbed onto the dais to stop myself from face-planting onto the floor.

As the absence of the High Court sank in, the room buzzed with tension and energy.

Molly had the grace to look at me with regret, while Z narrowed his eyes like he couldn’t fathom where his plan had gone wrong.

“Ahem,” the don cleared his throat.

The buzz stopped, and the room fell dead silent.

“I don’t believe I gave orders to draw guns?” the don said slowly, and instantly weapons were put away.

Cobra hissed loudly.

Three alphas and one cinnamon-spiced omega flew across the floor, falling around me.

Jax roared when he saw my finger on the ground, and Cobra’s skin turned black with snakes.

Xerxes omega-whined, and Ascher fell to his knees, swearing.

I couldn’t do anything other than grab the dais as I tried not to pass out.

Slowly, the men turned away from me with glowing eyes and stared down Z. Their intent was clear.

“Nobody moves,” the don ordered, and the command in his voice was as potent as an alpha bark but much more terrifying.

The whole ballroom froze—every shifter paralyzed by the command.

Everyone except one person.

“HOW DARE YOU!” Aran screamed, careening around the corner as she headed directly at Molly and Z.

Paralyzed from the don’s words, I could do nothing but watch as my friend lifted her arms in front of her.

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