Page 236 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

I’d tried to go after him and apologize.

Luka had blocked my path and said, “He got what was coming to him.” At his words, my limbs had gone numb.

Orion had nodded and whispered, “Are you okay, sweetheart?”

Before I could say no, Scorpius had sneered, “Those men were scum. Do not let it get to you.”

“Don’t waste your energy on them,” Malum had said gruffly.

I’d turned to him with surprise. Arched my brow at him.

Had he really been trying to console me?

The tops of his sculpted bronze cheekbones had flushed maroon. He’d pulled at the neck of his shirt, and he’d looked away.

I’d been so surprised by how the kings were treating me I’d forgotten all about the blue-haired men.

I hadn’t known what to say, so I’d put my head down and smoked my pipe.

Now, as air slapped against my cheeks, I noted dispassionately that it was windier than usual.

The ocean crashed against the shore and sprayed salty water. Droplets peppered my clammy flesh.

I inhaled enchanted smoke.

All the competitors stretched on the field and waited for Lyla.

Vegar said something to Zenith, and Luka nodded in agreement. The three of them stretched on the grass beside me.

Loud music played, and bones crunched. A femur snapped beneath Scorpius’s feet.

I blinked.

Rubbed at my eyes.

Wind whipped my unbraided curls into a frenzy.

Mother lit me on fire.

I lay back on the grass and stared up at the sky. Dark clouds drifted in front of the eclipse and cast the realm into darkness.

I closed my eyes and rolled them back in my head until my brain went fuzzy and it felt like I was spinning.

The planet rotated beneath me.

“Are you ready, Aran?”

I opened my eyes.

My three teammates stared above me and waited for a response. I wasn’t sure who had spoken.

“Yeah.” My voice cracked, dry and rough because I hadn’t spoken a word in three days.

I stood in the middle of a party.

Blue flames swallowed me.

John gripped my tattooed hip.

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