Page 162 of Psycho Gods

Suddenly, I felt death’s familiar presence lingering in the shadows of the towering pines. He was still haunting me.

He’d appeared when I was a child. The world had flatlined into shades of gray, and I’d woken up with an unnatural chill and an emptiness in my soul.

Death stalked me.

“You’re catastrophizing. It’s not death that makes you feel empty.” Jinx’s voice was loud and crisp in my head.

I stumbled with surprise and barely kept myself upright. Snow gathered on my eyelashes, and my eyes burned from the icy wind as I looked around the forest. Jax carried Jinx on his back as they walked down the path away from me.

The blizzard intensified.

“Then what makes me feel this way?” I asked back tiredly.

Silence.

“Take a deep breath.” Scorpius stepped forward from the shadows. “It might feel like you’re trapped, but you’re not. I promise.”

“How do you know?” I asked.

He held out his hand. “Because you’re not alone anymore.”

I reached forward and took the lifeline. Calloused fingers grounded me.

The numbness receded.

“Thank you,” I whispered up at the blind king as we walked together down the snowy path.

“Anytime, Aran.”

Chapter 27

Aran

SHOPPING

Betise (noun): an act of foolishness or stupidity.

DAY 20, HOUR 7

I hadn’t slept since the funeral, and exhaustion had transformed me into a jittery mess of adrenaline.

Slumped over in the cafeteria, face hovering inches above my full plate, my breath came out as a frosty puff.

My food froze.

I was suffering from sleep deprivation.

“Have a bite of my fruit,” John said as he pushed a non-frozen mango toward me and rubbed my back comfortingly.

“Thanks,” I said as I took it from him.

Luka’s fingers tangled in my long curls, and he scooted his chair closer, so our legs were pressed together. He didn’t comment, just grabbed more of my hair like he was holding on for dear life.

Malum glared at me across the table.

I leaned over and gave John a soft kiss on the cheeks. “Thanks again,” I whispered. “For looking after me.”

He smiled tenderly back and said, “Of course. No need to thank me.”