Page 128 of Psycho Gods

I wanted to crawl under her skin and learn every nuance.

My fingers curled around a turquoise curl that stuck out from her messy hair and hung over the edge of the couch.

Arabella was also shockingly pretty.

Her arching cheekbones and lush lips haunted me. Dark lashes fluttered over wide navy eyes that were rimmed in dark circles and highlighted with a slashing scar. Sleek muscles tapered into curves.

“Something did happen in the battle,” she whispered, and Dr. Palmer clicked her pen in anticipation.

Arabella wet her lower lip, and I swallowed a groan, unable to tear my eyes away from her.

Now that I had gotten used to the idea, I was more than content with the House of Malum having its first female Revered. It was not a sign of weakness but rather showcased how strong we were because we would take care of her.

Our Revered was someone softer and kinder who needed Protectors and a powerful Ignis to shield her.

It made sense.

Before us the realms had not been kind to her.

Now she had us, and we would not be kind to the realms on her behalf.

Sure we’d fucked up badly at Elite Academy and we still had to make it up to her. There was a reason the sun god only chose devils for his kings. Unlike angels, we couldn’t be constrained. When we wanted something, we didn’t stop until we got it.

Period.

Going forward, we would shield Arabella like no mate had ever been shielded before. We hadn’t been lying when we’d called ourselves her hounds.

We were hers to use.

She just didn’t know what that meant yet, but she would.

Cherry-red lips parted. Arabella nodded like she was fortifying herself, then blurted in one breath,

“I-got-stabbed-in-the-stomach-with-an-enchanted-sword-and-would-have-died-but-didn’t-because-I’m-the-fae-queen-and-can-only-die-by-having-my-heart-ripped-out-and-eaten-like-I-did-to-my-mother-which-is-weird-because-actually-I’m-an-angel-so-I-don’t-understand-how-I-can-be-queen.”

Arabella collapsed back like it had physically hurt her to speak, and she waited for a response.

Preoccupied with what she’d revealed, she didn’t notice she’d slumped against my side.

I noticed.

Dr. Palmer’s eyes widened.

I tucked my arm around Arabella’s side protectively and glared at the therapist, daring her to say something upsetting.

I didn’t like what she’d done, but I didn’t want her to have to relive it.

My left hand rested against Arabella’s forearm, and cold wafted off her sweatshirt. Her skin must be freezing if I could feel the chill through her clothes, especially since it was uncomfortably warm in the cramped office.

Lately ice trailed behind her wherever she went, and I didn’t like it. None of the other angels radiated cold like my Revered did, and I was worried something was wrong.

When we’d first arrived at the war camp, Jinx informed us that Arabella’s mother was renowned for her power. It had driven her to madness and the angel governing body refused to grant her wings.

Needing to do something to help, I tucked Arabella closer to me as I created a small fire in my right palm, then laid my flaming hand on her lap.

Subconsciously, she huddled closer to me and the flame.

With Orion leaning against my right and Arabella pressed against my left, I felt like I was flying.