Page 207 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

“Okay, Malum.” Sooty lashes fluttered as she made a face and said sarcastically, “Whatever you say.”

I ignored the instincts telling me to wrap her up and protect her.

Heal her.

The thoughts were distracting and driving me near madness.

“No,” I said roughly, then coughed as I tried to clear my throat. I tried to soften my posture. “Scorpius, Orion, and I need this party to let loose and recover from the competition. You don’t get to take this away from us as well. Stop pouting. It disgusts me.”

It didn’t disgust me.

That was the problem.

Lately, everything about the blue-haired woman filled me with interest. Respect. It was becoming slightly obsessive.

Arabella’s lips thinned into a snarl.

I inhaled deeply.

Her scent was icy and dangerous—like pure adrenaline.

She was intoxicating.

Dark-blue eyes flashed black, and she blew out a cloud of enchanted smoke as she scoffed, “It must be exhausting being so aggressive all the time.”

Her words echoed in the silence.

Wrapped around my neck like a rope.

Tightened.

Did she know how much I struggled to interact with her? I was trying to be softer. To be nicer.

But I wasn’t built that way.

She’d always been disturbingly good at analyzing a situation.

Sweat dripped down my nose as flames crawled along my arms. The achy, feverish feeling intensified.

Arabella tipped her head back and twirled her pipe with her tongue.

Her countenance was blasé, expression tired, face bored, like she hadn’t just eviscerated me with her words.

“Nice try. You’re still not going.” I took a step closer into her personal space as flames danced faster along my skin. “And if you try to leave without us, you’ll just be hurting yourself.”

She shrugged. “But it will hurt you too, and that makes it worth it for me.”

I grabbed her wrist before she could so much as flinch toward the door. I hated how cavalier she was about self-harm.

Her skin was freezing.

A harsh contrast to my overheated flesh.

The fire in my blood was roaring and begging to be released. The fever intensified.

I wanted to warm her. Chase the chill from her flesh. Protect her.

I shook my head and breathed in strength.

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