Page 47 of Her Psycho Beasts

I loop my arm through hers and let out a cackle. “Lady Tigress, let’s do this.”

Minnie throws the dress on, puts on a red lipstick, touches up concealer, and with that, we’re better than ready.

It’s quiet outside our room and I think the men are eating or sleeping or line dancing or whatever it is beasts do when they think their reginas are doing private women’s business.

Even so, for us to sneak in and out successfully without the disaster-o-meter hitting the red, I envelope us in my invisible eighth shield and lock us down tight so scent or general regina juices can’t alert our men.

Arm in arm, we hold our heels in our other hands and tip toe the fancy tiled corridor towards the lift. It’s all quiet in the living space, so I’m almost certain there’s no one?—

Xander is sitting on the couch, directly facing us, glowing eyes fixed on me, his black headphones on his ears. A small frown creases his black brows. I hold my breath, certain we’re done for. Minnie does the same, squeezing my arm tight. Xander can’t see through my shield,buthis ears are god-level.

The dragon closes his eyes and tilts his head back as if to rest on the couch. Either he’s tired from his flight or he doesn’t give a fuck that we’re escaping.

Something tells me it’s the latter. I let out a sigh of relief and tug Minnie towards the lift. We don’t see anyone else, so I call the lift. It pings when it opens, but Xander says nothing.

Grinning at my victory, I enter the lift. Only once the doors close do I cast the shield off and turn to high-five Minnie.

I cast the shield around us again just before the lift opens up to the ground floor, immediately washing us with the sounds of the club beyond.

“This is it!” Minnie whispers as we head towards the two massive security guards standing by the entrance.

Chapter 23

Scythe

Seven years ago

There are no rules at The Jewel of the Jungle. While nearly all the beasts practice the Old Laws, following certain etiquette and customs, really anything goes. Plain and simple. There’s something decidedly honest about that, I think, as I lead my brothers towards the black, glittering facade of the exclusive club in a tight corner of the CBD.

“Who areyouto dare seek entry here?” sneers one of the four hyena guards standing in a line before the grand archway of snarling stone beasts.

I know what they see: three boys, big and tall for their age, but still young. Still stupid. Savage stands there in a white singlet and black track pants, a blue feather stuck behind his ear. Xander in an all black suit, glowing eyes, snarling face. And me: Pretty. Silver. Broken.

What they don’t see is the rage. The cold, bitter power that grows day by day within my heart. Within my soul. They don’tknow it. Not yet. But soon, they will all be well acquainted with my power.

Xander and Savage hold up what they have in their hands. One of the hyenas turns aside and vomits right into the garden bed.

The other, now pale-faced and tight-lipped, waves us through the stone archway.

Xander passes them bundles of notes as he passes through. I learned the customs here on my father’s knee.

And on the knee of a great many beasts.Pretty things can’t listen,they thought.Pretty things can’t learn.

I will show them they’re wrong. I will show them that when vengeance comes, it’s with ice and steel.

It’s barely sundown, so the music is still low and only the leaders and independent agents of the territories occupy the massive black and red space, sitting around a table, conducting business. Behind them is a small tank of water where an albino baby dolphin is forced to swim, his tail bound in an obsidian chain leading to a stake in the bottom of the tank.

My stomach twists in violent protest.

We do not react, I tell myself.We respond.

The leaders of the territories quieten when they see me stalk in. I make my way, slow and measured, right up to their table. One seat is empty.

This is the moment I get to decide who I am. This is the moment I get to declare to the world that no one will ever again hurt me or those I love. Each horrible moment, each terrible decision in this lifetime, has led me to this place. To this time.

Now, I cement my reputation.

“I am the new apex of territory three,” I announce. “The cassowaries of the five-toe flock are gone.”

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