Page 295 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

Xerxes grimaced and averted his eyes. “Try to put weight on your feet. You just have to make it off the arena, and then you’ve survived and it will all be over.”

Liar. It was never over.

Xerxes omega-whined. “Please, Aran. If not for yourself, do this for Sadie.”

My feet touched the ground as he slowly removed his grip.

For a second, I stood straight, then the sparkling field rose to greet me. I smiled at how pretty it was.

Closed my eyes.

Xerxes caught me inches before I face-planted.

He didn’t yell, swear, or get upset like I was used to with the kings. Xerxes picked me up and whispered encouragement as he set me back on my feet.

I nodded.

And fell back over.

Ten tries later, sweat poured down my face uncomfortably and burned my wounds.

“Okay, lock your knees now,” Xerxes said calmly as he took a step away from me.

I snapped my aching legs straight and clenched my butt cheeks tight.

Long seconds passed.

I stood upright and grinned triumphantly.

It was all in the ass.

Xerxes beamed like I’d done something miraculous, and he gestured across the field. The edge of the arena was a long way away.

“Okay.” Xerxes clapped his hands together. “I’m going to go forward and clear the glass. You just follow my path. One foot at a time.”

I shook my head to clear my delirium. I wet my chapped lips and winced as the moisture burned.

“You don’t have to,” I croaked. Awareness that I’d been acting deranged made me flush. “Uh, sorry about yelling stranger danger,” I said awkwardly.

Xerxes lost his composure.

His princely features darkened, and he snarled, “You’re a queen, Aran, and from what I’ve seen, you’re going to make a great one. You must learn to expect people to serve you. Own it. Don’t apologize.”

I grimaced. Men being nice to me made me feel weird.

It creeped me out.

Xerxes wrapped his tattered shirt around his hand and used it to clear a path through the glass.

“Keep your legs locked,” he ordered. “One step at a time.”

I stared at him with exasperation.

“Now. Right leg,” he barked out.

I obeyed.

Salt burned my lips. Blood burned my eyes and coated my feet, making my steps slippery.

---