Page 193 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

“Oh, please,” I spat, vision getting darker every second Scorpius didn’t release me. “Don’t act like you care.”

Malum leaned forward.

Flames trailed up the side of his neck as he said, “You don’t get to tell me what I feel. I’ve decided that someone needs to care about you, because you clearly aren’t doing it. I agree the whole slave thing has been a little harsh. I’m sorry if I got carried away with it. Even if my anger gets the best of me, I don’t want to see you suffer.”

I gaped at him. Unable to form a single coherent word.

Did he just talk about his feelings? Did he just apologize?

I knew Malum was not lecturing me about emotional maturity, because that would be ridiculous.

There were rocks that were more emotionally aware than him.

“I’m your captain,” Malum finished awkwardly as scarlet stained the tops of his cheeks, like somehow that explained everything. The blush seemed out of place amongst the harsh angles of his face.

The other men shifted at the table and gave him strange looks.

“Slave,” John mouthed as his eyes clouded. He always bristled when the kings called me that.

“You’re not going to call me ‘slave’ anymore?” I asked slowly.

A muscle in Malum’s jaw jumped. “No.” He grunted, and his bronze cheeks flushed redder. “I never meant it like that.”

My jaw hit the floor.

How many connotations of “slave” were there? One.

Was this man for real right now?

I blinked slowly.

He was really trying to gaslight me into thinking he hadn’t treated me like scum since I’d met him. Good thing I’d never lacked confidence in myself.

I knew I was right.

Was I depressed? Yes. Was I never wrong? Also yes. The two were not mutually exclusive.

“That’s exactly how you meant it,” I snarled at Malum. Annoyed that we were even having this stupid conversation.

Flames jumped off Malum’s skull. “Well, I don’t mean it like that anymore.”

“Good for you.” I laughed sarcastically.

I shoved myself backward with so much force that Scorpius had no choice but to release my hands or break my wrists. Cups clattered, and food spilled.

Now that my hands were free, I used them to clap at Malum mockingly.

“We’re trying to help after…” Scorpius hissed and tilted his head in John’s direction.

His insinuation was clear.

It hit me like a physical blow.

I stopped clapping.

Fingers shook.

I pulled out my pipe and shoved it between my lips, and it clattered against my teeth.

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