Page 29 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

I raked my hand across my shaved head and breathed roughly.

Everything was a tangled mess.

Orion frowned as Arabella rubbed at her sternum where she’d been pushed, and he moved toward her with wide eyes.

“Please don’t take another step closer,” she whispered to Orion as she stepped away from him. Her eyes were wide and filled with pain.

She clutched at her stomach protectively.

The pink cherry-blossom flower petals on Orion’s neck began to drift down his collarbone. They swirled and spun. It only happened when he was close to losing control.

The girl was triggering him.

“Find your center,” I ordered my Revered and wrapped my arms around his chest. His elevated heartbeat pounded against my palm.

“What’s happening?” Scorpius tilted his head with confusion.

I squeezed my Revered tightly and said, “He’s losing control.”

Scorpius’s eyes widened.

Orion rarely lost control. I did.

Scorpius pressed himself against Orion’s back so he was sandwiched between the two of us.

Together we cocooned him with our strength.

Physical contact with one another was the only thing that allowed the three of us to squelch the chaos that lived inside us.

Scorpius whispered in Orion’s ear and talked him through breathing exercises.

I clung to my Protector’s words and focused on my breath, embarrassed that I needed the grounding as much as Orion did.

Lightning struck the walls, and sparks crackled.

The three of us embraced.

We breathed together.

Arabella stared at the stained-glass window and smoked like she was giving us privacy.

When the petals finally stopped drifting across Orion’s neck, I reluctantly pulled away from my mates.

Scorpius kept his head resting on top of Orion’s. Mollified that Scorpius was still protecting our Revered, I turned to deal with the problem.

“Hey.” I snapped my fingers. “Look at me.”

Arabella turned around slowly but kept her eyes on the wall behind me.

I stalked closer to her.

“Are you purposefully doing this to us?” I snapped with agitation. “Is this a game to you?”

Arabella inhaled, then slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke. “Sorry I didn’t respond, I was purposefully ignoring you.” She smirked. “The only thing I’m doing right now is trying to find a scrap of will to live.” Her dark-blue eyes stared at the wall. “And I’m not finding it.”

She picked at the scab on her lower lip until it dripped blood. Her fingers smeared it around her lip as she twirled her pipe.

Before I could stop myself, I reached forward and buried my fingers in her ridiculous blue curls and yanked her face toward me. “Look at me.”

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