Page 257 of Psycho Gods

I wanted to turn and run. I forced myself to keep moving forward with everyone else.

We only had forty-four soldiers left.

With the current casualty rate, the twenty-two men left to secure the perimeter had a ninety percent chance of death.

Fumbling with my mittens, I pulled out my pipe, shoved it between chattering teeth, and inhaled greedily.

Immediate calm descended as warm smoke filled my lungs.

The ball of fire burned hotter.

A hand patted my back gently. “Keep moving,” John said as he hunched behind me. His voice was unmistakably hoarse, even in the howling wind.

I hadn’t realized I’d stopped moving.

I was bent over, smoking.

Instead of walking forward, I turned to John. “Are you okay?” I asked as I looked back and forth between him and Luka pointedly.

The twins were shrouded in glittering darkness, a tangible force that wrapped around them.

“We’re fine, stop worrying about us.” Luka’s voice was unfamiliar and rougher than John’s. “Please.” He huddled closer so he could be heard over the wind.

It was obvious the twins were in physical pain.

They held themselves differently. They hunched forward slightly, like they were protecting an injury.

They’d left the camp, and something bad had happened to them.

When they’d returned from whatever secretive place they’d gone, their lips were pinched tight and eyes glossy from pain. They’d walked differently.

A small part of me was still angry at them for disappearing again. A larger part of me was just plain worried.

They were putting on a brave face, but something was horribly wrong. I was terrified it was my fault.

“Focus on the battle, Aran.” John punched me gently in the arm. “Nothing’s going on.”

I exhaled a cloud of smoke. “I don’t believe you.” My words were swallowed by the blizzard.

“We don’t have time for this, we have a war to win,” Scorpius snapped, and his tone left no room for argument. “We need to move.”

I inhaled smoke and trudged forward as the kings and twins resumed their protective positions.

Horse cawed as he settled onto my shoulder.

He nuzzled my face, his wispy form barely holding shape under the storm’s onslaught.

We moved as a unit in silence.

Soldiers off to war.

Time folded in on itself.

I blinked.

We entered the courtyard and Malum’s flame dissipated.

Rina told me to put my pipe away and put my black hood on.