Page 16 of Psyop Kings

A wave of irritation ripples through me when she grabs my bicep, dragging me away. I lose Caius’s gaze, which thankfully breaks the eerie spell he was trying to put me under.

As we walk, I decide to try to sneak in some questions. “Do you know Megan Benson?”

Isla cants her head in my direction. “Haven’t heard of her. Is she famous? Can’t be too famous.”

“No, uh, she’s a friend of mine. Went missing this week.”

Isla lets loose a sinister, hair-raising laugh. “Maybe she’s their new moth.”

My mind begins to whir with possibilities. I want to argue and state Megan is not a moth, but to people like her and the Crownes, it’s exactly how they’d see her. What if CUP is a front for something dark and evil? What if these people kidnapped my friend to…what?

Turn her into a butterfly?

I almost laugh at the insanity of it all. If I thought the school and police didn’t care about someone like Megan, these people certainly wouldn’t. They’re in a whole other galaxy than her.

Chasing rabbits.

But that’s why I’m here.

To chase down any leads.

Even if they feel insane.

“What do you mean?” I ask as we skirt around another group of finely dressed people. “Moth?”

She downs the rest of her champagne and sets it down on a tray as we pass. “Never mind, Romy. Come meet Ryan.”

A man around her age grins as we approach. He’s fit and handsome, but I don’t like the way he openly leers at me in front of his wife. She practically thrusts me toward him. He grabs me by my shoulders and assesses me like I’m a choice piece of meat.

“Well, hello, beautiful.” His smile widens, revealing rows of white veneers. “My wife has impeccable taste in…friends.”

His warm fingers bite into my shoulder and I have the urge to squirm out of his grasp. Thankfully, he loosens his hold, though doesn’t release me fully.

“Let’s get you something a little stronger.” He winks at me. “Don’t worry, Isla always takes good care of her friends.”

It hits me with sudden clarity that Isla has brought me to her husband as some sort of prize or offering.

Gross.

“I, uh, think I’ll pass,” I say, my cheeks blazing hot, “on whatever this is.”

The man, Ryan, releases my shoulders and his grin falters.

“I’m just looking for my friend,” I continue. “Megan Benson. I have a picture in my purse.”

He stands there, watching me with mild irritation at having been turned down. However, he waits patiently for me to fetch the photo of her. Isla, having realized I’m not into their threesome party, has already prowled off to look for someone else.

“Can’t say she looks familiar,” Ryan says after a quick glance. “Sorry.”

Defeated, I slink away from the man and into the crowd. I decide to stop being discreet and flat out start asking every person I come in contact with if they’ve seen Megan. Most people are polite, but a few are rude, not bothering to answer me whatsoever.

Maybe they know something…

Or maybe I’m just getting in the way of their good time.

I feel the cold stare again. Without having to see him, I know Caius Crowne is watching me. What if Ryan or one of the other partygoers told him what I was doing here?

Before I can figure out who I’ll interrogate next, a giant man crowds me from behind.

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