Page 114 of Psycho Gods
“Thanks. You’re a good friend.” I stared down at my covers and cradled my wrist.
Warren sighed as he climbed up into his bunk above mine. “What are we going to do?”
“What we always do.” I gingerly reopened my book with one hand and started reading. “Survive.”
Chapter 18
Aran
TRAINING
Matutine (adjective): rising in or just before the dawn.
DAY 10, HOUR 5
“Wake up. It’s time to train.”
I cracked open an eyelid to find Malum shaking my shoulder. Excessive drug use at the party last night made my skin feel clammy.
My head throbbed.
The bronze king glared down at me, silver eyes glinting eerily in the darkness. Scorpius and Orion flanked him on either side.
The clock on the wall read 5:00 a.m.
We’d returned home from the party at 4:00 a.m.—I was going to kill them.
Who did this to a person?
“No.” I turned over. “Go away.” Closing my eyes, I burrowed deeper into the warmth.
A hangover pounded through my skull and made me regret ever trying to find a will to live.
Fingers tangled in my curls and pulled as Malum whispered fiercely, “It’s crucial to the war effort that we master our powers. Every day we waste could be another soldier’s death. The High Court is waiting for us to be able to perform.”
I rolled my eyes. “You just want to force me to mate. Don’t act like it’s any other reason.”
There was an awkward pause.
Malum dragged his hands over his face like he was tired. “I don’t care about that—”
“Please,” I said sarcastically.
Who did he think he was fooling?
He sighed loudly and, sounding defeated, said, “I just want you to be safe and…well. If that means you won’t bond—so be it. But we still need to try to master our powers. One thing I won’t do is put you in needless danger.”
I took a moment to let his words sink in.
Then I shrugged.
“If it’s just about training, then let the soldiers die,” I mumbled. “I hope the ungodly win.” I squeezed my eyes tight and wished everyone around me would stop trying so hard to save everyone else.
Every man for themself was my life motto.
I’d always said this.
“You don’t mean that.” Malum’s voice was rough from sleep, and I shivered.