Page 75 of Psycho Gods

John threw his arm across my shoulder, and I slumped against him grateful for his support.

“Finally, let’s all go eat. I’m starving.” Sadie rubbed her hands together and led the group out the door as the shifters fell into a protective formation around her.

The thought of food made me sick, but I followed her lead. It was the first time the angels didn’t bristle about a grounder telling them what to do.

They followed silently.

Everyone was withdrawn after the battle.

Time distorted.

Fatigue crushed me downward as I slumped at the table and stared at my full plate. My fork was frozen in ice and stuck to it.

The diamond bracelet on my wrist vibrated with warmth, and I barely felt it.

Conversation buzzed like white noise.

Everything was cool-toned, and I drowned in shades of blue-gray, shivering because there was no warmth.

I was a revenant.

All the lines had blurred.

Two days ago, I’d taken an enchanted sword to the stomach. One day ago, I’d woken up from a healing coma with smooth, unblemished skin and an unrelenting urge to cry.

Frost had covered my pillow. Five men had waited in various positions around my bedside.

The twins had hugged me, Malum had glared, and Scorpius had scoffed while Orion had stared at me with unblinking eyes.

I’d ignored the kings.

I still avoided them as I slumped forward at the table.

A woman’s sad eyes before she stabbed me had unlocked a new version of the haze.

I curled my arms around my stomach like I was protecting an invisible injury and I inhaled enchanted smoke, but my heart wasn’t in it as I twirled my pipe between my numb lips.

Someone swore softly, but I didn’t bother to look up.

Dejection was in the air.

Soldiers chatted and ate, but there was a new sullen tension in the cafeteria. Anticipation for war had twisted into gloom, and conversations were more hushed.

People startled easier.

Murdering thousands would do that.

Monsters had that effect.

Before the battle, we’d agreed to give everyone two weeks off to recover before the angels used the map to find the coordinates of the nearest compound.

In the meantime, a combat room was open to practice sparring, the cafeteria was open for meals, and the strategy room was waiting for us.

Just thinking about the windowless room made me sick.

I didn’t want to ruminate on the war because I needed time to pretend I wasn’t a killer. A part of me recognized there would never be enough time.

Muscles spasmed in my stomach as I remembered I was the last thing people saw before ungodly ripped them apart.

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