Page 94 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

He hung limp like he was dead.

“Ew, what the heck.” I poked at Warren’s boneless body.

Jinx smiled with her teeth. “You must pay the tax.”

Behind the young psychopath, Sadie and her mates were sprawled on the floor, playing a card game. On one side of the room, three of the beds had been pushed together to create one massive sleeping arrangement.

Sadie shot up with a squeal and ran over.

Jinx blocked me as I tried to pass. “Pay the tax. Ten gold pieces.”

“I don’t have money on me.” I huffed and debated the merits of drop-kicking a child.

“No one passes without the tax.” Her eyes darkened as she lunged at me.

I jumped backward. I’d never forget the way she’d unhinged her jaw and screamed at the don back in the beast realm. Not only was it weird, but I’d never heard of any species that did that.

According to Sadie’s sources (allegedly the moon goddess herself, but I had my doubts about that), Jinx was a half-breed.

The explanation made sense, but it also didn’t. It felt too much like a perfectly crafted story. My gut told me something else was going on with Jinx.

Something was off about her.

I asked Sadie with confusion, “Do you really have a tax to enter your room?”

“Of course not.” Sadie sighed as she rubbed her face. “Jinx, sweetie, we’ve talked about this.”

“Pay. The. Tax. Also, I’m not your sweetie. Don’t push your pathetic abandonment issues onto me.”

Sadie blew her a kiss. “Whatever you say, cupcake.”

Jinx snarled like a rabid animal.

I took a step toward the door. “Uh, maybe I should go?”

Cobra sauntered across the room and pushed a bag of money forward. “Here’s twenty gold pieces.”

Who carried gold around with them? Everyone in the realms used the enchanted credit system.

Jinx’s scary expression transformed into a beaming smile. “Thanks, snake man.” She skipped off with the money and put it into an overflowing velvet pouch.

Sadie groaned and smacked at Cobra’s jeweled hand. “You have to stop paying her, or she’ll just keep doing it.”

The snake shifter shrugged. “She’s a business woman. I respect the hustle.”

“No. It’s extortion.” Sadie rubbed at her forehead.

“Exactly. She’s going to do great things.” Cobra looked over with pride at Jinx, who was now counting out a large stack of gold coins.

Warren, the perverted ferret, was no longer playing dead and had a gold piece in his mouth.

Sad.

I’d really hoped he was dead.

“So why are you all awake?” I asked as Sadie threw her arms around me in a hug and dragged me into the room.

“I’m just so excited for tomorrow I can’t sleep, and all the men agreed to stay up with me.” Sadie clapped and jumped up and down. “Plus, Jinx never sleeps, so party room, am I right?”

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