Page 272 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

Arabella dragged her hands over her face, then smacked Sadie on the shoulder. “Really?” she asked her with exasperation.

I didn’t like that she touched her.

I liked that she glared at her.

Good.

Hopefully Arabella would realize how much of a bitch she was. The memory of them fucking in the shower made my hands fist, and I focused on my breathing.

Before one of my mates could lose their cool and attack the woman for ogling me in my weakened state, Sadie’s mates pulled her behind them and blocked her view.

The shifter legion launched into a furtive, whispered argument that I was too drained to care about. One of them hissed, and knives were drawn.

Let them kill one another.

“Are you okay, big guy?” Orion mouthed as he touched my cheek gently. “That was terrifying.”

I nodded and tried to stand up straight so I would appear strong for him.

I doubled over and coughed out clouds of ashy smoke.

“We need to get him back to the room so we can take out the dagger safely,” Scorpius snarled and walked faster as he supported me.

A mess of curly blue hair came into my field of vision. “Uh, sorry about that.” Arabella rubbed her arms. “I panicked and knew that my daggers were made of ice and just thought, what the heck, might as well, and then before I knew it, I was—”

“Stop apologizing,” Scorpius snarled at her.

Arabella’s jaw clicked as it slammed together, and her shoulders slumped.

She nodded and turned away to go back to the shifters as we limped toward the academy.

A loud whimper echoed.

Must protect. Must keep her safe. She is mine.

We jostled to a stop, and I swallowed a moan of pain as my muscles cramped from the sudden movement. Orion lunged forward and grabbed me to keep me upright as my mate turned.

Scorpius’s voice was laced with venom. “Come with us. Now. Stop walking away.”

Arabella jogged and stumbled toward us. “Sorry,” she gasped. “I forgot.”

She stared up at me with wide dark-blue eyes.

She looked heinous, like a war prisoner who’d spent months being tortured for information.

The Legionnaire Games were tearing her to shreds.

An unfamiliar emotion made my throat close and my breath shake.

It hurt to look at her.

Protect her. Do better.

She studied me like she was looking into my soul, and I felt my face heat. Lately my blasted cheeks were constantly on fire.

I closed my eyes from embarrassment.

I tried to help support myself as Scorpius and Orion resumed dragging me toward the academy.

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