Page 97 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

“Love you!” the girls yelled over the phone, and we all yelled it back.

My cheeks hurt from smiling.

Ascher, Xerxes, and Cobra played the card game while Jax and Sadie braided my hair.

It was homey.

Peaceful.

Cozy.

I leaned against Sadie and inhaled her alpha scent of cranberries. The men’s scents of chestnuts, frost, cinnamon, and pine filled the room.

They smelled like shopping with Sadie in the icy forest of the shifter realm. Back when we’d laughed so hard that Sadie had fallen off her Yukata Horse into a snowbank. The biggest threat in our lives had been monsters from a portal.

Those were the days.

Life had been blissfully simple.

“Time’s up.” Scorpius’s voice cut through the tranquil ambiance and reminded me that life was anything but picturesque.

All three of the kings stood in the doorway, scowling. I thought they stayed back in the bedroom?

“Pay the tax.” Jinx stood in front of them with her hand out.

Sadie bristled. “How dare you speak to Aran like that? You don’t get to order her around.”

I sighed and pulled myself to my feet. I’d explain the whole enslavement to her later. That wasn’t a conversation for tonight.

Now that my hair was all fixed, exhaustion was hitting me like a brick.

“It’s okay.” I patted Sadie on the back and turned to the rest of the room. “Thanks for everything. Good luck tomorrow.”

“Of course, baby.” Sadie pressed a smacking kiss onto my cheek. “Come back whenever you want. You’re always welcome in our room.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

I rolled my eyes at her dramatics.

Malum exploded into flames.

“What was that, baby?” Cobra’s voice carried as I hurried out of the room.

I trailed the men down the hall.

With every step away from my best friend, emptiness flooded through me.

Scorpius scoffed, “Did you enjoy your dalliance with a mated woman? You’re such a whore.”

That word followed me.

I was reclaiming it. In a coquette, vintage sunsets, sparkly fae wine, soft music kind of way.

“Obviously,” I drawled. “Also, I’m flipping you off right now.” I didn’t bother to raise my fingers. It was too much work. “Now I’m sobbing violently,” I said sarcastically.

The blind king scowled.

I snickered at my little prank.

Malum ranted about how I’d never get to visit Sadie again, and Orion tried to touch my arm gently.

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