Page 39 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

He rested his head back on his fancy leather headrest. “Exactly. For now, your daughter is alive and healthy. What’s the problem?”

For now.

Nothing he said was ever an accident.

I didn’t like this.

Dick continued calmly, “I will send you the paperwork for the Legionnaire Games. Please read through the clause on page three about interactions with competitors. Familiarize yourself with it.”

“Stop.” I gritted my teeth. “Stop talking like I have no say.”

“But, Lothaire?” Dick furrowed his brows. “You have no choice.”

“Screw you.”

He leaned forward in his chair and said sharply, “We’re on the same side. Don’t forget what we’re fighting against. Do you want another massacre on your conscience? Because this one won’t have any survivors if we don’t act.”

He stared at me.

In the darkness of his eyes, I saw the ungodly ripping apart a realm.

“I hope,” I said quietly, “that you die painfully and get shanked up the ass.”

Dick beamed like I’d complimented him. “The gods appreciate your service. Such delightful wit. I’ll be seeing you soon.”

He stood up and lunged across his desk to pat my face condescendingly. His fingers were so cold the tips smoked with blue flames. Pain screamed along my nerve endings.

Wrenching away from him, I activated the RJE device, and the world exploded as I flung myself through the universe to escape his presence.

I was alone in my quarters at the academy.

Staring at the mirror on the wall, I pressed my fingers against my unmarked cheek. Ripping my gaze away, I staggered onto my knees and collapsed.

I was pinned by my thoughts: Arabella’s enslavement, the Legionnaire Games, Dick’s secrets, and the endless capacity of the gods to manipulate and ruin the lives of men.

I opened my mouth, and no sound came out.

Inside I screamed.

Chapter 6

Aran

HIM

The beginning: Shackles—Day 5, hour 2

The bed was too squishy.

I sank into the soft feathers like the mattress was consuming me. Somehow, slavery was the least of my problems.

I pretended I was drowning.

It was fun. Kind of.

Lothaire still hadn’t come back, and the room still vibrated with noises from the party. After Orion had murdered my dance partner and dragged me back to the room (he was clearly having an episode) I’d fallen into a nightmare-filled sleep.

When I’d woken up, all the blinds were open, and the room glowed with red light.

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