Page 56 of Her Psycho Beasts

“We knew she’d be first,”Scythe replies.

“She’s been waiting all night,”Savage says.

When I see who the fuss is about, I understand immediately. A woman strolls towards us with a group of followers behind her. She’s slender and tall, dressed in a reptile-patterned dress that reaches her calves. A black, broad-rimmed hat with a powder blue feather sits upon a glossy raven bob. Her lips are blood red, makeup impeccable on a tanned, beautiful face. Black-heeled boots click authoritatively until she stands before us. But none of this is what makes my stomach violently turn. Elbow-length black silk gloves cover her hands and arms, but only the left bears a golden bangle.

On it are clipped five golden chains, all leading to golden collars around the necks of the four animalia forced to walk behind her.

Like pets.

Three males and a female. The first one catches my eye immediately and explains the blue feather. I’ve never seen a shoe-bill stork in real life and this one stands proudly despite its collar. I stare, mesmerised by its long reed-like legs, its powerful, crocodile-killing bill and its piercing, observant eyes.

Two captives are in their human forms. A dark-haired Indonesian man, and a golden-haired, slender female who carries a platypus in her arms, the fourth collar, around his little brown furry neck. Unfamiliar scents drift into my nose. I’ve never seen a platypus shifter before either.

I try not to gape. I try not to vomit.The Collector. Of the rare and unique. Suddenly, her predatory eyes on Scythe take on a whole new meaning.

Having carefully ignored me, she waves her wineglass, filled with red, and speaks with a deep, seductive drawl. “A pleasure, as always, to see your face gracing The Jewel.”

“Lady Crocodylus,” Scythe rasps in a cold, flat voice that pleases me. “The pleasure is mine.”

Her name brushes along my spine.

The Lady Crocodile sighs wistfully. “Are you finally done having fun at that silly little school?” she smirks. “It’s been very boring without you.”

“I’m sure it has. I’ll return in time.”

“In time,” she repeats, finally turning to fix me with a dominant stare that makes my skin crawl. “Because what you want is there.”

I meet her gaze for gaze. There will never be a collar around my neck. Metaphorical or not. Never again will I be forced to live under the will of another.

Scythe turns slightly towards me. “May I introduce you to my guest, Lady Aurelia Boneweaver.”

The Collector never misses a beat. “Once Aurelia Naga. Tell me, Aurelia, does your father know you are here?”

I allow a smile to curve my lips, allowing my gaze to wander down her neck. None of her mates are here. This is an unmated female. “Oh, I’m sure he does.” I brush an invisible speck of dust from my dress as Savage leans his temple affectionately against my knee. “He keeps abreast of everything, even if it gets him lassoed out of Animus Academy.”

Lyle chuckles under his breath. I’m sure everyone had heard the way the deputy headmaster sent the Serpent King and his court flying out of the academy grounds when he’d come to collect me for my execution.

But The Collector cocks a brow, and when she smiles a viper’s smile, I know she has a retort ready to go. “And…your mother?”

I’m not prepared for that. It’s crass and a low blow. It makes my smile falter as a profound fury roars through my veins. Everyone around me is quiet, waiting for my reply.

“My mother is dead, Lady Crocodylus,” I say frankly.

Her smile widens into something ugly and it disturbs me more than I’d like to admit. Something dark sweeps through me. Like a ghost.

Full body goosebumps erupt all over my skin.

“Well,” Lady Crocodylus says abruptly, “Mace and I have more in common than I thought. It is a shame he is not here tonight.” She smiles again and turns back to Scythe, dismissing me. “You must join us at the tables. I have…” She turns around and gestures to the animalia on chains behind her. “New blood to barter tonight.” She smiles as if showing us a new stock of merchandise before inclining her head, dragging her eyes down Lyle’s body and leaving.

“She has a Komodo fucking dragon,”Lyle’s voice is tight in the group chat.“Where the hell did she get him?”

Scythe’s icy blues bore into me, and it’s almost like he’s trying to tell me something.“A few months ago, on a trip to Bali. She shows him off quite often.”

“And the platypus?”I ask.

“Oh, she’s had him for decades. He must be in his forties by now.”

I get to see what Scythe meant about her showing off the Komodo dragon barely fifteen minutes later when a great applause rises from their corner. I turn in time to see the shifted beast, swallowing down awholebilly goat between its big jaws. It’s entirely gory, and the snakes, tigers and hyenas clap and laugh as they watch.

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