Page 291 of Psycho Gods

Orion nodded and whispered, “I think so.”

John flashed his dimples and punched my arm. “Really. That’s all you have to say?” My bicep went numb, and I lost feeling in my fingers.

I punched him back with my good arm as hard as I could, and he laughed.

“And I’m the Queen of the Fae Realm. What do you want—a medal?”

John grinned at me and ruffled my hair. His smile slowly dropped as he stared at me.

“Are you really missing a piece of your soul?” he whispered.

I nodded.

He looked horrified.

I took a deep breath. “That’s why our soul bond is corrupted. The betrothal jewelry probably sensed I was broken and tried to forge the connection to help me. It’s probably what overrode the bond sickness. I’d assume it’s corrupting your souls or something, but I don’t know.”

I expected the twins to recoil with disgust.

Both took a step closer.

“So we’re helping you,” John said with awe in his voice.

They both looked at me like they were enraptured and not at all disturbed by what they were learning.

“We’re never letting you go,” Luka said with steel in his voice like he could read my thoughts.

Malum breathed harshly, “So you’ve been mutilated?” Both Scorpius and Orion looked at him with concern.

I stopped breathing.

My heart beat erratically.

This was what I’d been waiting for; these were the consequences that had my thoughts racing and fear filling me ever since Jinx had revealed the truth.

I’d known it was coming.

“Yes.” as I pushed my shoulders back and sized up Malum. “Which means I’ll never be your perfect Revered. I probably won’t be able to help you control your fire in any way. I’ll corrupt you—just like I corrupted the twins.”

I paused. “I’m useless to you.”

Molten silver flashed.

Scorpius made a harsh noise under his breath, and Orion’s eyes widened. A muscle in Malum’s jaw jumped.

“Is that so?” he exhaled, and fire came out of his nose.

“I’ll never be your perfect Revered,” I said softly. “You don’t have to pretend anymore. I know I drive you crazy.”

Malum transformed into a creature of bronze and malice. “You’re right,” he said.

White teeth flashed.

My heart stopped beating.

It was a cold, dead, useless thing in my chest.

Malum smiled cruelly. “We don’t have to pretend anymore.”