Page 45 of Her Psycho Beasts

Lyle has his arms around me, but because my newly healed stomach is still tender, he can’t grip onto me like he wants to.

And then Scythe orders over his shoulder, “Put your arms around me, Aurelia.”

My heart gives a little jolt, and I tentatively raise my hands. My instincts have always screamed that Scythe does not like to be touched. I’ve known that since the first day I met him in Halfeather’s dungeon. The memory-dreams I’ve had of him confirm this instinct. He’s been touched without his permission his entire life. I didnotwant to number amongst those peoplewho did something to him against his will. The very thought makes me sick.

He’s given me permission now, but he has no choice.

“Aurelia,”Scythe rasps in my mind.

I’m so startled by the admonishment in his tone that I whip my arms around him so quickly that I crush my lungs against him and start coughing awkwardly.

He’s warm and hard and there is definitely a six-pack under my clenched hands. My cheek rests against the muscled plane of his left shoulder blade, and it feels more intimate than I deserve. Yet my anima coos and preens at the feel of him, wanting to snuggle in further. Wanting to remove his business shirt and rub my nose into his inked skin.

I’ve left no space between me and Scythe’s back, so Lyle runs his hand down the length of my thighs to grip me just above my knees.

I’m flushed, breathless, and very happy with my position in life right this second.

Xander had launched into the sky like the complete asshole he is, and the feel of beingona flying creature and at its mercy, rather than being the flying creature itself, is completely alien. I hate the feeling of not being in control, and the wind is so much harsher on my human skin than my feathers. It feels like ages being at an incline until he gets to the height he wants, but once we level out, I let myself take a look around.

It’s a sea of darkness, on this clear night, empty air stretching out in every direction with the twinkly stars above. In my heart, I feel the call of sweet freedom like a soothing balm to my tumultuous insides. I’ve not spent too much time flying at night for safety reasons, but it really is a special thing to be this far above the troubles of the world, in a space barred admission to so many others. It’s no wonder dragons think so much ofthemselves. Being a bird is brilliant enough, but to be this beastly of a creature and yet so graceful in the sky?

Magical.

The dark countryside is awash in silver-blue by the bright moon. I’m tingly right down to my fingertips, positively giddy, and not at all cold like Minnie and I expected. It’s like my blood is heating up by the second, and my budding excitement has me wanting to seeeverything.

“That take-off was an asshole move,”Lyle says into the group chat.

“I’d watch my mouth right now if I were everyone,”Xander growls back.

“Really, Xan?”Lyle says.

“How long will the flight be?”I interject.

“Two hours,”Scythe replies.“So settle in. And I want silence from everyone.”

“Lia?” Minnie screams at that opportune moment. “Are you alright?”

“Yes!” I call back, tuning slightly to avoid yelling in Scythe’s ear. “Are you alright?”

“Yup!” she shouts. And I can tell from the pitch of her voice that she’s having a good time.

We pipe down after that and I try to get some rest, but Lyle’s circling thumbs on my thighs and Scythe’s breathing back is all very distracting.

Just under two hours later, Xander begins wheeling to make his descent onto a pitch-black grassy plain. I can see the lights of the Central Business District far into the distance enough that I know it’ll be a bit of a drive to get there. Xander is surprisinglysmooth in his landing, a small thump jolting us against each other before settling.

Lyle has to help me get up because my legs are stiff and locked. He levitates us both down to the ground so I don’t have to try and scramble down Xander’s leg like Scythe so easily does. Our feline friends levitate themselves down too, Minnie laughing all the way.

Three black SUVs are parked on the dirt road nearby, two wolves waiting. My heart leaps at the scent of wolf on the wind, except it’s not Savage who waits for us but other males, who hand over keys to Scythe and Marduk and clothes to a bad-tempered, naked Xander.

“Mobster cars,” Minnie whispers to me.

I nod back seriously.

We pile ourselves and the luggage into the SUVs and it takes an hour and a half to hit the big lights of the city. Scythe’s driving is smooth and efficient as he handles the manual gearstick with his tattooed hand and I try not to stare too much where I sit with my legs tightly pressed together from the passenger seat.

My nervousness steadily increases as we get deeper into the city and hit the nightlife district. It’s nine o’clock, and the night is in full swing. I’ve never actually been clubbing, or out at night in the city, and I try to absorb everything all at once. Dance music makes the air jump, human women in pretty, tight dresses shriek and toddle on their stilettos, while human men laugh and wait in long lines to get into clubs. While that is the human side of the city, the animalia side is another matter. The males are bigger and walk in packs, the tension like a tight rubber band. Security is alottighter, with both massive bears and feline guards standing in groups and animalia law enforcement in their purple uniforms. I see more than one animus go flying through the air, tossed out of a club by a feline guard.

Scythe drives into the long driveway of a glossy, towering hotel, where valet boys in blue and silver uniforms jump to attention. Scythe parks and steps out.

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