Page 26 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

We’d suffered for years and hadn’t complained half as much.

A sudden burst of excitement bubbled up my chest as I realized what this opportunity meant.

We would teach Arabella the meaning of true torment. I would teach her what it was like for your soul to ache every waking minute of your life.

It was the perfect plan.

When Arabella learned a tenth of the pain we lived with every day and Lothaire found our missing mate, then we’d get rid of her.

Even enchanted tattoos were just marks on flesh.

And flesh could be removed.

Our missing mate would never suffer the injustice of being tied to the lying bitch before us. His Ignis would not allow it; it was the least I could do for my missing Protector.

Everything would work out.

The sun god had named us and marked us as his kings for a reason.

It meant something.

Symbols of what we were: the eye on Scorpius’s throat and “Vidimus” on his shoulders; flowers along Orion’s collarbone trailing up to his jaw and the “Venimus” on his back; a sword on my neck and “Vicimus” across my shoulders.

Orion’s tattoo translated to “we came.”

Scorpius’s—“we saw.”

Mine—“we conquered.”

The ancient saying and art on our skin reflected the powers that lived within us. Like the colorful markings of a poisonous animal, they were a warning to others.

We were destined to do the unthinkable for the greater good.

Arabella mumbled something derogatory under her breath.

I swallowed down the urge to growl at her like a wild animal.

Instead, I said calmly, “You’re our slave, and your father isn’t here to protect you. I wouldn’t be saying shit under your breath if I were you. Especially since he can’t be around at all times to protect you. And you’re stuck with us.”

Scorpius chuckled. “You’re going to wish you were never born.”

“Too late,” Arabella whispered.

An unfamiliar pang twisted in my chest. Orion rubbed at his forehead like he had a headache as he stared down at Arabella with a sad expression.

Hardening my heart, I tugged him behind me.

I crouched so we were at eye level. “This is how it’s going to go.”

I clicked my tongue. “We own you.”

Click. “As soon as Lothaire finds our mate, we’ll cut the brand from your flesh and sever this bond.”

Click. “You won’t interfere with our mate bond forever, and you’ll never know our secrets. Not while I live and breathe.”

Instead of cowering like I expected, Arabella sat up, and her eyes shone bright with excitement. “Cutting off the tattoo will sever the bond? Then I’ll cut it now.”

Sun-god-damn it. I’d let my anger get the best of me, and I’d wanted to hurt her so badly that I’d inadvertently revealed our plans.

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