Page 119 of Psycho Gods

I sat down on the ugly boulder and blew into my cupped hands. “How long is this going to take?” Tucking my pipe between my lips, I closed my eyes with relief as I inhaled drugs. “Can we hurry this up? I want to go back and cuddle the twins.”

Malum screamed out more fire.

“You sound like a dying cow,” I said as I held my arms out to get some of the warmth from his fire. I exhaled with relief as I defrosted. At least he was good for something.

Malum fell to his knees, still screaming, and the scene was reminiscent of when he’d lost control on the shore of Elite Academy. Back then I’d been concerned about him and had stepped in to help.

That was before he’d chosen me for the last competition.

Now, I didn’t care.

I studied my abused nails and made a mental list of products. Cuticle softener wasn’t a need; it was a must. A clear coat would do me wonders, and what did a woman have to do around here to get some vanilla-scented lotion?

My fictional lover would have given me a basket with nail care on the first day of being in this hostile environment.

A good man would protect my cuticles.

I grimaced as I looked at the kings—these weren’t good men.

Flames burned hotter as they rolled off Malum and his mates tried desperately to calm him down.

At least I had Sadie because she would definitely have a miniature spa day with me. She was always down.

“Are you even listening to me? What did I just say?” Malum asked loudly, and I realized he’d been speaking.

I gnawed on my lower lip and narrowed my eyes.

“Yes?” I asked slowly.

Malum chucked a boulder—different from the boulder—off the side of the mountain and screamed louder. Scorpius tackled him and started whispering frantically in his ear.

Orion stared at me and mouthed, “Are you doing okay?”

His eyes were haunted, and I had a strange feeling he wanted to ask me something else but didn’t know how to say it.

I was going to ask what he meant, but Malum bellowed and slammed his fist into another rock. It shattered into pieces, and when he stood up, his knuckles were swollen and coated in blood.

The memory of when I’d thrown myself fruitlessly at the wall haunted me.

How come it was the men who had all the power? How come I was just the stupid, useless Revered that needed to be taken care of and stop their murderous rampages?

I wanted to punch rocks and smash them.

I wanted to rampage.

Sun god, the things I would do to people with that type of strength.

I rubbed at my temples and announced, “I’m bringing this up to Dr. Palmer next session. Frankly, your flames are giving me a migraine. Can you turn it down?”

I wasn’t kidding.

The bright flames were blinding on my corneas, and a headache throbbed more intensely.

I closed my eyes.

“You’re hurting her!” Scorpius shouted, then whispered into his ear, “You know what…” His voice dropped lower, and I couldn’t hear.

“Know what?” I asked.