Page 191 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

John looked back and forth between us with his eyebrows raised.

“Why do you care?” I struggled against his grip aimlessly. Why were his fingers so damn strong?

Scorpius’s lips pursed into a thin line. He paused, then murmured, “Because I’m the reason you finished last. I’m the reason you and John were punished.”

I frowned.

“Yep.” I nodded as I thought about it. “It really was your fault.”

Silence.

Eye tattoo twitching, Scorpius snarled, “You’re supposed to disagree. It was your own inability to move quickly that made you lose.” He yanked my hands across the table closer to him. “I can’t believe you’d blame your unconscious teammate for your failures.”

I scoffed.

“Please,” I said. “You just admitted that you were the problem. Who takes a nap during a challenge that could cause death?”

I yanked back and knocked over a glass of ale.

Scorpius’s jaw dropped, but he didn’t release me. “Sorry that I’m blind and have extremely sensitive hearing.” He squeezed hard. “My ears still fucking hurt.”

“Does your face hurt?” I asked with concern.

He furrowed his brow. “No. Why?”

“Because it’s killing me,” I said snottily, grateful that Jinx used that comeback every time Sadie complained about something.

Silverware clattered.

Vegar sputtered water and choked while Zenith slapped his back.

Instead of defusing the tension like I’d planned, my joke had caused Scorpius to still like he was frozen.

Hurt flashed across his face.

Wait. Does he think he’s ugly?

He had to know he was disturbingly handsome. Right?

I slumped in my seat.

“I was joking,” I said with a sigh. It was hard work being such a good person. “I’m fully aware that it’s no one’s fault but my own. I took too long during the competition, and then I didn’t refuse the punishment like I should have.” My voice cracked. “I never should have…with John.”

I trailed off, unable to say it.

Any softness on Scorpius’s face melted away, and I was left with the cruel, blind king who bullied me.

His fingernails pressed harshly against my skin.

Malum burst into flames beside him.

Orion scowled.

John sat up straighter beside me.

Malum pointed over at the sacred tree. “You’re telling me you wish you were also strung up on the tree right now?”

I spoke without hesitation. “Absolutely. That would have been the right thing to do.”

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