Page 316 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

I cared for her as a teammate; that was it. It would never be anything more.

I squeezed my arms and pressed a kiss to the top of Orion’s soft blond hair. The men lying in my arms were all that mattered in my life.

Nothing would change that. Ever.

I wouldn’t let it.

Chapter 45

Aran

THE SHOWCASE

Rebirth—Day 58, hour 10

I was sandwiched between the twins.

We followed the rest of our legion as we walked toward the arena.

The rocks from the island were sharp beneath my callused feet. Water lazily drifted out with the tide, and a few white clouds meandered across the maroon sky.

It was a calm day.

If it weren’t for the occasional glass shard glinting off black rock, I would have believed the storm had been a figment of my imagination. A horrible nightmare.

It was easy to imagine that I was trapped in a psych ward somewhere drawing on the wall muttering about legions and the gods.

Pain lanced across the wounds covering my back as if to punctuate how real it all had been. Bruises and cuts throbbed with every step I took.

John’s arm was draped over my shoulder, and he fingered the necklace he’d given me.

I narrowed my eyes up at him. Was he my best friend in the psych ward? Or maybe he was my rival and we both had a crush on the same male nurse.

Sun god, I hoped the nurse chose me.

Luka glanced down at me every few steps. His gaze flitted over my face and John’s arm.

John nudged me. “We got this, Aran. Everything’s going to be fine.” He squeezed me to offer encouragement.

“Are we locked up in a room together?” I blurted up at him.

John didn’t falter he just flashed his dimples. “I hope so, that sounds pretty hot.”

Luka frowned and said nothing.

I sighed and let it go. Pulled my pipe out of my pants and closed my eyes while I inhaled greedily. Drugs flooded my lungs, and my hands trembled at my sides.

Pretending wouldn’t change reality.

With every step I took toward the arena, the noose around my throat tightened until I gasped desperately for air.

I asphyxiated.

It wasn’t funny anymore.

Squeezing my eyes as tight as possible, I stopped walking and whispered, “I can’t do this again.”

I fell to my knees.

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