Page 79 of The Psychopaths

Instead, something primitive in me purrs at the marking of territory. At her deliberate insertion into my carefully ordered world. Her smile follows me out, making my skin prickle with warning. Aries needs handling, and I need space from her intoxicating presence.

Aries is standing at the glass when I arrive at his cell. His gaze is hooded in darkness as I give him a quick assessment. Does he seem stronger than he did a week ago? Did seeing Lilian change something?

“Brought you dinner, Brother.” I keep my voice deliberately casual as I slide the tray through the slot. “Hope you don’t mind. I borrowed some stuff from your room at the Mill House. Seems I’ve acquired a new roommate.”

“You brought her here? Why?”

I laugh, enjoying how he flinches at the sound. “Because I can. Because I want to. She’s currently making herself quite comfortable in my bed.”

“She’s trying to play you.” The words come out through gritted teeth.

“Is she?” I lean against the wall, studying his reaction. “Or is she finally getting what you were too afraid to give her? Someone who isn’t afraid of wanting her?”

I watch as his hands clench into fists.

“You’re obsessed. She sees through you.”

“Does she?” I smile, knowing it’ll push him further. “Funny, she didn’t seem to mind when I kissed her. When I touched her. When I?—”

“Stop.” Raw pain edges his voice. Perfect.

“Afraid to hear how responsive your precious stepsister is? How she arches into my hands? How she begs for?—”

“I’ll kill you.” He lunges at the glass.

“No.” I step closer to the window, dropping my voice lower. “You’ll sit in this cell and imagine everything I’m doing to her. Everything she’s letting me do. Everything you were too cowardly to do yourself.”

A small gasp from behind me makes me freeze. I turn to find Lilian standing down the hall from the observation window, fury in her features. Her presence here means she’s disobeyed my direct orders.

“I told you to stay upstairs.” My voice comes out deadly quiet.

“And I chose not to listen.” Her chin lifts defiantly as she closes the distance between us.” Guess you’ll have to punish me.”

Behind me, Aries makes a sound of protest. In front of me, Lilian stands her ground, daring me to follow through on my threat.

Two siblings. Two forms of defiance. And my control is hanging on by a thread.

Time to show them both exactly who’s in charge here.

Lilian

My heart stops when I see him.

Aries. My Aries. But not as I’ve ever seen him before.

His usually perfect hair sticks up, unwashed and unkempt. His face, now covered with a soft beard, is gaunt, cheekbones stretched and sharp beneath pale skin. The simple sweats he wears hang loosely on his frame.

None of those things, though, hurt me as much as his eyes. Those eyes that always held careful distance now burn with a desperate intensity I’ve never seen before.

“Aries,” I whisper, my palm pressing against the glass.

Behind me, Arson watches. I can feel his presence like a physical weight, the tension in his body as he observes us.

For a moment, he says nothing, allowing me this moment of connection.

I step closer to the glass, drinking in every detail of my stepbrother’s imprisonment. Despite everything—his condition, the cell, the circumstances—he still carries himself with that innate Hayes dignity. Still stands straight-backed and proud, even in captivity.

“Are you okay?” I mouth the words, unsure if he can hear me.

---