Page 21 of Soul of a Psycho

“No.” I almost laugh.

I’ve been through way worse than getting my elbow split. Granted, it was never anything that made me bleed. That would ruin the Lyon’s image. But I spent a lot of time in casts.

“How are you going to get a tattoo when you would cry at a cut?” Lana teases Callie, and I tune out as I notice a figure in black.

Cade has donned another hoodie and is accepting a brown paper bag from the lunch lady. Does he not eat here? I turn in my seat, hoping he will notice me and come to sit, but he has his head down, and quickly heads for the exit.

The way something in my chest aches to follow him is painful, like an iron chain being stretched and nearing catastrophe. What is it that has me attached to him?

I’m about to turn around and bury it, along with my last glimpse of him before he rounds the door, but then someone stops him. Another student with moppy brown hair. He pants as he catches up with him, putting a hand on Cade’s back. Cade spins around, and the ire in his eyes almost makes me gasp. I’m transfixed with the way he looks down at the guy, with so much animosity—so muchanger—as if ready to explode. I hold my breath, waiting for him to attack.

But then he blinks, as if he was expecting someone else, and the threat ebbs from his eyes, replaced by a mild annoyance that has him clenching his jaw.

They say something I wish I could hear. Is this guy one of Cade’s friends? For some reason, I never pictured him having friends. Demon’s don’t have friends, do they? Especially not ones that are as innocent looking as this kid. There’s no way he’s a senior.

Cade nods, albeit begrudgingly, and then turns. The guy follows, and then they are gone.

I turn back in my seat with my brows furrowed together, desperately trying to squash my disappointment that he didn’t seek me out.

“Ooh. Barbie has a penchant for bad boys, I see,” Ruby suddenly says, and I look up to see her smirking.

“What?” My cheeks burn as I realize the three of them are staring at me, and clearly saw me ogling Cade.

“He’s hot, right?” Lana says, and that surge of jealousy comes back.

“Yeah, if you want to be sacrificed in a cult,” Callie says, shuddering.

“Oh, please. You and every girl in this room would happily die if he gave the time of day.”

“Not me. I like my skin on my body. Thank you very much.”

“That’s a rumor. If he skinned anyone, he would be in prison.”

“He was in an insane asylum for half of sophomore year!”

My head spins at their rapid conversation.

“Wait—He skinned someone?” I know it’s a stupid question, but that switch blade of his flicks through my mind.

“Allegedly.” Lana looks at me. “He allegedly also tortures puppies, sells organs on the black market, and praises Satan.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him. He scares me,” Callie says.

Lana rolls her eyes. “Everything scares you.”

“No, it doesn’t!”

“What about the ladybug?”

“I thought it was a spider!”

The two of them start to bicker, and I risk a glance back at the empty door. Cade went to an insane asylum? I mean, I knew something was dark about him, but not that odious. I’m about to ask if it’s really true, and if it is, what he went for, when the bells toll.

“Let’s not make this a regular thing, ‘kay?” Ruby slings her bag onto her shoulder and levels me with a look. “I just didn’t want you to kill me in my sleep.”

I ignore the chip on her shoulder and fall in step with her as Callie and Lana go the other way.

“Did Cade really go to a mental hospital?” I ask under my breath.

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