Page 37 of Her Psycho Beasts

Scythe nods and looks back at Snake Spawn. “That is why it will be best to draw as many of them out of the house as possible, with Aurelia’s public appearance.”

Snake Spawn blinks nervously. “What do you mean bypublic, exactly?”

She’s given up her silly mouth-gaping responses and is using her brain now.

“Have you heard of The Jewel of the Jungle?”

She makes a small noise of amusement in her throat. “It’s like a club, right? My father never sent me to a fight at that location, so I know they don’t host those, but underworld figures meet there.”

Mace Naga had been sending his daughter to cage fights under her invisible shield since she was a teenager. He was like the rest of the crime lords. He might hate a person, but he sure knew how to use them.

Scythe nods in approval. “Yes, we meet there, discuss business?—”

“Engage in peacocking, drugs, general debauchery and showing off,” I finish for him.

Scythe almost smirks. “It’s our version of meeting at court.”

“Right,” she replies slowly, looking between us. “So you think I should…present myself there because…”

“Because they’ll all drop everything to see you!” Connor says excitedly, kicking his feet. “This is a brilliant idea!”

There is a beat of shocked silence once again.

“I don’t like it,” Lyle says, his animus sending out a rough wave of possessive energy around the Spawn.

“You can’t keep her to yourself,” Scythe replies, making me hate this conversation even more.

“We’re sending her right to the very people who want to take her,” Lyle snaps.

“We’ll all be there,” Scythe replies evenly. “Including Savage.”

The bastard knew the effect that would have on the spawn. She sits up in her seat, her breathing caught in her throat so it’s a squeak when she says, “Savage will be there?”

“He’s scheduled to meet us there, yes.”

“Then I’m there too.”

Lyle sighs. “Think about this, angel. Don’t be pressured into it.”

“I’m not,” Spawn says. “If this is part of the plan to save Sabrina, then of course I’ll do whatever it takes.” She looks around at her friends, all who nod as if they, too, are willing to risk their necks. Complete nutters.

“With Xander flying us, we’ll get there quickly.” Scythe nods at me. “Marduk, Minnie and Yeti are coming too. They’re our strongest felines.”

“Wait, what?” Aurelia cries, clutching her seat. “I don’t want Minnie mixed up in this!”

The little tigress smiles bravely at Aurelia. “You’re not the only one willing to risk your neck for a friend, Lia.” She straightens her shoulders as Yeti places a hand on her thigh. Her heart beats even faster as she declares, “I’m the strongest feline anima they know.” She nods to Lyle and Marduk.

The others gape. Raquel is the only one who grins and I’m guessing the word got around on the telepathic wolf network pretty quickly after Minnie stopped all the Serpent Court bullets from killing Spawn, Savage, Scythe and Lyle.

Spawn looks to Lyle for confirmation.

“It’s true,” the lion says. “I’ve never seen anyone come close to me until now.”

Yeti and Marduk can barely suppress their pride. Minnie’s cheeks turn pink as Spawn beams at her. My stomach churns.

Stacey, normally the quiet lioness of Spawn’s gang, clears her throat. “So the plan is to blast the Clawsons apart until you find Sabrina?”

“Almost,” Marduk says, with a dreamy sort of smile and I just know he’s imagining it as we speak. “Between the three of us, we have enough power to get her out…if, of course, the owners of the property are drawn out.”

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