Page 46 of Her Psycho Beasts

There’s a stuttered, “M-Mr Kharkorous, sir,” before Scythe closes his door. Lyle opens my door and I quickly get out, interested to see more of Scythe’s business from the front lines.

Marduk parks behind us, Minnie practically leaping out of the car to speedwalk towards me, her big blanket-hoodie in Yeti’s arms. “Lia,” she says, looping her arm around mine and craning her neck to look up at the many stories towering above us, their windows lit up with warm yellow lights. “This must be one of Scythe’s properties.”

I freeze as I register this, until my eye catches on Scythe being met by a woman and man in professional hotel pant-suits. He hands the man a wad of cash. Shit, if that’s the case, Scythe has to be wealthier than even my father. Not many of the mob bosses ownhotels, especially ones as big as this. Then again, dragons always have a penchant for attracting money and Scythe has a big old nasty one on his team.

We follow Scythe into the hotel, which is a beautiful white and gold affair, definitely five stars and definitely on the pricey end. Porters rush forward to help us with our luggage, but Lyle and Scythe wave them away, insisting they take it up themselves.

Just past the lobby, Minnie and I see the sign pointing to the club at the same time. As nervous as I am about tonight, I’m also excited just to be out and about. This is exactly the type of thing I’ve been missing all my life, I just wish the rest of our animas were here to enjoy it with us. But we’d be united with Sabrina soon enough.

We all pile into the lift and head to the fortieth floor, which requires a fingerprint from Scythe to access. Minnie and I exchange a giddy look and she mouths, “Penthouse” at me.

And a penthouse it is.

When the elevator doors slide open, we’re met with an expanse of black and gold that stretches out in either direction with the far wall made entirely of glass. A huge TV is mounted in front of a set of leather couches and a dining table.

“The Devi pack can take the east side,” Scythe says, gesturing to a corridor branching to the right. “The rest of us will take the west.”

“Lia and I are taking one room though,” Minnie pipes, tugging at my elbow.

“That’s right,” I say firmly, reaching for my bag. Lyle tugs it back, frowning.

“Lia and I haven’t slept together in ages, Mr Pardalia!” Minnie protests.

It’s Yeti and Marduk’s turn to glower at the two of us.

“It’s just one night,” I say defensively, snatching my bag out of Lyle’s grip. He relents. “You five can have a boys sleepover. It’ll be fun.”

Minnie snorts, before swinging us around to choose from one of the six rooms. We choose the one with the gigantic gilded framed mirror and immediately start unpacking. The men make a big fuss and bother, with Yeti loudly declaring that he’ll take the room “right next door so I can heareverything.” And Lyle loudly taking the room on our other side and telling us we only have two hours to get ready.

We slam our door shut and laugh.

“Mostly, I’m excited to see Sabrina,” Minnie says, setting out all my makeup brushes. If she’s nervous about what she has to do, she doesn’t show it. But it’s always been her style to cover her fear with positivity and chirpiness. Sometimes I wish I was more like that.

Tonight I need all the help I can get to look as nonchalant as possible.

I hang up the dress we’d picked out, my stomach doing a little flop at the thought of rescuing our friend. At the risk. The danger. Scythe doesn’t seem bothered by any of it, but he never seems fazed by anything. “I just hope she’s alright,” I say quietly. “I hope they weren’t awful to her.”

Minnie audibly swallows. “It all ends tonight.”

She quickly helps me get ready, trying to be thorough so I don’t look like I’m trying to go to a high school formal.

We flat iron my hair so it’s pin straight and silky, hanging long down my back. We’d gone for the sexiest dress, chosen by Sabrina from the village, of course. It’s blue to match my eyes, and the entire left side is cut out down to my shin, with criss-crossing cord. It’s very obvious I’m not wearing underwear, but Scythesaidthat I am here to create a distraction. A spectacle.

Electricity bounces through my veins, and suddenly I’m sweating. What is up with me tonight? I should be cold in the fresh, almost-winter air, but I’m flushed. Perhaps my body knows I’m going to see Savage tonight.

Savage.

The thought of seeing him again fills me with a kind of pure joy I’ve never known before. I bounce on the balls of my feet, suddenly inspired. Suddenly reckless. I grab Minnie’s hand and whisper eagerly in her face, “I need to hype myself up. Let’s go take a look at the dance floor.”

Her beautiful brown eyes widen. “Wait…are we allowed to do that?”

“We’re grown ass adults by law!” I hiss, turning around to check my ass in the mirror. “By the Wild Goddess, I think we’re allowed to do whatever the hell we want.”

“But Mr Pardalia said we should stay out of sight and?—”

I’m already shaking my head. Vigorously. “This might be my only opportunity to get into a club for the next few years I have to be at the academy. I’mnotmissing this chance. Think aboutit, Min. We’ll both be much better if we get rid of this nervous energy.” I rush to my bag and pull out my back-up dress, a stretchy black mini that will likely be a midi on my little tigress. I brandish it like a weapon.

Minnie smooths her hands down the dress, thinking deeply. I know she’s feeling the same type of stomach butterflies I am because her face splits into a grin. “Well, Lady Boneweaver, if you’re game, I am.”

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