Page 78 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

Now with the girl as our slave, it was blissfully silent.

I could hear everything.

The silence was like taking a deep breath at sea level after years of living in the mountains.

It was satisfying.

Freeing.

If Arabella kept the world quiet, then I’d gladly keep her as our slave forever. That I’d get to torment her was just a bonus.

I relaxed my shoulders and pumped forward with my legs.

Enjoyed the freedom of working up a sweat.

Water splashed in our wake as we chewed through miles like they were nothing.

In war, strength was important, but speed was necessary because stamina made all the difference in battle.

As we ran around a bend, a woman’s familiar scratchy voice carried on the wind and said, “Go, best friend!”

Sadie was nearby. I hated that bitch.

From the way John swore, he agreed.

I’d been sick with rage when I’d listened to Aran and her have sex in the shower. It didn’t matter that Arabella was a girl; I knew what I’d heard. Every slap. Every moan.

At the time I’d convinced myself that it had sounded off. That they were faking it.

Afterwards, Orion described they were looking into each other’s eyes tenderly and I realized I’d been deluding myself.

They’d fucked. Hard.

I dug my nails deeper into my palms and let the pain calm me.

Arabella hadn’t cared that Sadie had mates. She also hadn’t missed the opportunity to make out with Orion a few days later, then had been all pressed against a nymph at the party.

Based on how Orion described Arabella’s looks, it made sense.

Orion said she looked stunningly innocent with wide blue eyes, plush lips, and messy blue hair, but also that she seemed sad. She was taller and stronger than most women, but her muscles were lean, and her bones were long and willowy. There was a delicateness about her, like she was so angry she was fragile.

He said the combination made him want to protect her. Shelter her from the world.

I’d scoffed at his artful description.

It sounded simple to me.

She was pretty, and she knew it, just another woman using her looks to get what she wanted.

As we finished rounding the bend, Sadie cheered, “Wow, you are really moving. Do you need water? Are you sure you shouldn’t take a break? This can’t be good for you.”

“I hate you,” Arabella laughed back with a yell, then lowered her voice and asked Corvus, “Why can’t we just go for a long walk like the shifter legion?”

I scoffed and answered, “Because we’re not weak, pathetic little bitches.”

She huffed. “It seems a lot smarter to focus on our mental health during a psychological competition. Just saying.”

Corvus’s voice cracked like a whip. “You’re training with real men. Stop whining, or is that all you women know how to do?”

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