Page 117 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

As we passed the tables of the other legions, Sadie flung herself out of her seat and gave me a sloppy kiss on my cheek. “You look like shit, Aran. What the heck!” Her raspy voice filled with concern. “I thought you were supposed to be all-powerful.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why do you look completely fine?” She didn’t have a single bruise or cut on her. She looked great.

Sadie whispered dramatically, “Rumor is they spiked the food to halt our healing, but for some reason it doesn’t work on me.” She pointed over to the table where Jax’s dark skin was a crisscross of stitched-up wounds similar to ours. “I think it must be my blood powers or something. Someone said it has to do with our souls. Maybe it’s the thing with me and the moon goddess?” She shrugged. “I guess I’m just special.”

I tipped my head at Jax in solidarity.

From the mangled state of the other competitors at the other tables, it seemed like Sadie was correct. Two of the assassins were missing from their table, and the leviathan men looked like somebody had died.

Something itched at the back of my brain. Something was different about Sadie, but I didn’t feel like the moon goddess was the reason.

My head ached, and I stopped worrying about it.

Turning back to my friend, I stared down at her. “Whatever it is, I’m glad it didn’t work on you.” Gratitude that at least she wasn’t suffering welled in my heart.

Sadie was okay.

The scars covering her exposed chest were testaments to what she’d already been through, and if anyone deserved to catch a break, it was her.

“Yeah.” Sadie smiled and pointed to the tree. “Plus, we didn’t end up like that guy.”

“Who is…” I trailed off as I realized why I recognized the figure on the tree.

It was a man from the leviathan legion.

The competitor who’d refused to jump.

My jaw dropped. “They only said you’d be removed from the games, not that.”

“Oh, he’s removed all right,” Sadie joked.

Holy sun god.

Guilt stabbed my gut. That could have been our fates if we hadn’t jumped, and I hadn’t even been worried about Sadie when I’d woken up.

I’d been so concerned with my pain and dealing with the kings.

“Sorry for being a shitty friend,” I whispered and pulled her against me with one arm. Since John’s arm was still thrown over my shoulder, it ended up being a weird three-way hug.

“You’re not,” Sadie mumbled as she pressed her face into my sweatshirt.

John dwarfed us both with his larger size.

Warmth exploded in my chest because I was sandwiched between my best friends and we were all okay.

I squeezed.

Then our three-way hug shifted as Sadie kicked John in the knee and he elbowed her spine. I pretended not to notice.

“I love you guys,” I whispered. “Like seriously so much.”

“Aw, Aran,” Sadie said sweetly. “I love you more than anyone else ever could.”

John made a noise in his throat. “Please, bitch. I love her the most.”

Comfort washed over me like the rays from the two fae suns.

I’d stupidly assumed that because John was a guy, he wouldn’t be able to express his emotions.

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