Page 325 of Psycho Gods

Closed my eyes.

For a terrible second, I felt despair. A piece of my soul was permanently missing, and I was never going to get it back.

I struggled to inhale.

My throat seized.

I opened my eyes. Golden sunshine and the peaceful sounds of nature helped chase away the panic attack.

I pressed my hands over my heart.

Warmth strummed inside my chest as five mate bonds filled what once had been broken.

I didn’t lose a piece of my soul, I gained five new ones.

I was going to be okay.

I exhaled shakily and soaked in the rich colors of the present.

Time passed at a lazy pace. All was exactly as it was supposed to be.

“Aran!” Malum yelled angrily as he walked toward me across the hills.

He cut a fine figure, his wide shoulders and impressive thighs on display in his loose button-down shirt, tan riding pants, and knee-high boots.

It was a good look for him.

The scarlet flames on his shoulders appeared significantly less fearsome with a miniature pony whinnying and neighing as it ran beside him. It cut him off as it sprinted toward some ducks.

I laughed as he stared at the small creature with exasperation.

As he got closer, I arched my brow expectantly.

He panted like he’d been sprinting and said, “I panicked when I woke up and all the men were there—but you weren’t. I thought we went over this yesterday? It’s not safe for you to fly yet. You’re still missing a lot of feathers. We need to visit the angel realm and have you checked by a doctor.”

Endorphins made my head light, so instead of arguing, I smiled at him indulgently. “I’m fine. Also, if you recall, I fell asleep before I agreed to anything.”

He glared at me.

Flames multiplied across his shoulders.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I can feel the missing feathers when I try to fly fast, but if I go slowly and use the air currents, I’m one hundred percent in control.” I patted the space beside me on the blanket. “Have a seat and chill. The weather’s divine.”

I retracted my wings so he’d have space.

Malum stared at the pastel cloth with trepidation, then gingerly lowered himself beside me.

I yawned and draped my arm across my eyes.

I’d woken up with the overwhelming urge to fly.

“It is nice out,” Malum said gruffly.

I moved my arm and squinted at his stiff figure. “Lie back and stay a while. Why are you so rigid?”

“What do you mean?” he asked with confusion.

I yawned again. “Have you never just lain down under a tree and enjoyed the stillness of this landscape? For sun god’s sake, it’s like living in a painting.”