Page 306 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

Scorpius swore loudly, and the demons grumbled.

Malum sat up and said, “We need to go. Now.” He clapped his hands loudly. “Everyone, wake the fuck up. We need to leave.”

He turned his head like he was searching for something in the room.

When he landed on me, steel eyes filled with pity. His expression was shattered. “Are you feeling better?” he asked softly as red stained his cheeks.

I swallowed thickly.

Why was it so hard to breathe?

John released his hold on the necklace, and I tore my eyes away from Malum and asked John, “What did you need to tell me?”

John shook his head tiredly. “Later. Not now.”

I reached up to grab him and pull him closer because I could tell from the sad expression on his face that it was important.

I needed to know now.

“Let’s go, Aran,” Malum’s deep whiskey voice interrupted my thoughts. He stood half-naked and stared down at me and John. For some reason, he seemed angry again.

For a moment, I was distracted by the deep V line that framed his bronze hips.

“Why are you suddenly mad?” I blurted out.

He clenched his fists, and flames shot from his knuckles. “You were keeping secrets. You should have told us about your back. About what your mother did. I would have never…” He trailed off.

“Set me on fire?” I asked softly.

Everyone in the room stopped getting ready.

Six men gave me their rapt attention.

I sighed heavily. Exhaled with a long puff of my pipe.

My limbs tingled.

I felt numb.

My vision distorted.

I shrugged like I didn’t care about anything. “But you did.”

Malum’s harsh features shattered like I’d punched him in the face, and he whispered, “I didn’t know.”

“Would you have cared?” I laughed harshly. “Really, would you have cared? Because a few weeks ago, you were calling me your slave. Two months ago, you were calling women nothing but holes.”

Clothing sizzled as Malum’s sweatshirt caught on fire.

“I don’t feel that way anymore about you,” Malum spoke slowly like he was trying to force each word out. His jaw clenched and jumped as his voice alternated between rough and soft. “I respect you.”

I scoffed. “Good for you. What do you want me to say? Thank you for telling me you view me as a person? Please. I already killed my mother. There’s nothing else to talk about. You’ve made your choices. Leave me alone.”

I was standing outside my body.

It felt like I was watching someone else speak for me.

Malum clenched his fists, and his steel eyes filled with an unnamed emotion. Something flashed across his face.

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