Sadie pursed her lips and smiled at him like he wasn’t creepy.
Before I could point out how weird he was, John pulled my head to the side and grabbed my cheeks.
His dark eyes were imploring as he said, “Tell me it’s true. You’ve never had sex with her?”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve never even kissed her. She’s my friend, nothing more.”
John smiled, dimples on display, and he patted my cheeks. “That’s my girl.”
I flushed.
He winked and released me.
“What a relief,” Malum said calmly as he got to his feet. His bronze legs were streaked in red, and shards glinted in his skin.
I pointed at him. “What is wrong with you? Why would you do that?”
Pink stained his cheeks, and he had the audacity to shrug like it was nothing.
“We’re going to the medical barracks. Now.” I grabbed Malum’s wrist. Our skin sizzled as ice melted against heat.
I shivered, but it wasn’t from the cold.
Pain exploded down my back.
John grunted as he grabbed my arm, and the rest of the men gathered around me as we RJE’d from the party.
I blinked, and we were back in the forest.
Malum burst into laughter and leaned forward to kiss my forehead.
I yanked away and stomped down the path to get a doctor.
Snow fell around us and the chilly air felt pleasant after the heat from the party.
“I like your outfit,” Malum called after me.
I shook my head and didn’t look back.
Men.
Chapter 37
Journal Prompt #2
TRUTH JOURNAL TO HELP FACILITATE RELATIONS AMONG THE CRIMINALLY INSANE
If you were in love, how would you communicate your feelings to your partner?
Corvus Malum
Since we’re all lying awake in bed (I can hear you muttering insults under your breath, Arabella) and we’ve had an illuminating night, I thought it would be a good time to answer the second prompt.
I’m also a little intoxicated and want to talk to my mates.
Love is a weak, pitiful emotion that doesn’t apply to devils. Since I’m an Ignis, I’ll answer this question as it applies to my fated Protectors and Revered. I’d communicate my feelings by protecting them with my fire and killing for them. I’d touch them constantly because I crave physical contact.
I will do everything I can to keep you safe, Arabella, even if you hate me for it.
Aran Alis Egan
Thank you, Mitch, for sharing your feelings. That was very brave of you.
This is supposed to be hypothetical, and once again you’re making it weird.
I would hang out with my hypothetical lover all day and talk to them. I would wrestle them and tell them inappropriate jokes. We’d nap beneath a tree and laze the day away. I would trust them and tell them everything that bothered me. We would be inseparable and close.
They would taste like freedom and would be handsome and strong and would burn the world for me and would get turned on just from looking at me and would be… I forgot where I was going with this.
Side note: If this is about helping prisoners, why is everything so romantic? Are they trying to make them fall in love? Do you guys think Dr. Palmer has a prison pen pal she writes to? Do you think they have sex? How does that work? Do they do it through the bars?
I’m still drunk. Please ignore what I’m saying.
Corvus Malum
You’ve never wrestled with me.
My feelings are hurt, and I am struggling to not burn my bed into ashes at the thought of you not caring for me.
I do not think the doctor has a lover.
She is a frigid bitch.
Aran Alis Egan
You’re sexist Mitch. But seriously screw your misogyny.
I hope Dr. Palmer has a beautiful lover who worships her and is inspired by her strong personality.
They’re probably making love as we speak.
Corvus Malum
The woman is a bitch.
Every time you call me a misogynist, I want to scream flames. Yes, I used to hate women because my mother abandoned me, said nothing about my abilities, and let me murder my family as a baby. I thought women were weak, manipulative creatures because that was the only experience I’d had with female devils growing up.
It's become clear these last few months that I was wrong.
I opened up to you in the strategy room, and it meant something to be able to share my past with you. You looked at me like you understood exactly how I felt.
Arabella, you’re one of the strongest, most infuriating people I’ve ever met. I do not think less of you because you’re a woman. Jinx is also highly competent, and I respect her.
Even your short, loudmouth, stupid, idiotic friend is not really that bad. I will refrain from killing her because she has never had sex with you.
After Scorpius heard you kissing her, I was planning on staging an accident next battle and murdering her because I can’t stand for you to choose her over us. I knew I needed to get rid of her if you were ever going to be our mate.
Please ignore this part. I am very concerned what you will think when you read it.
The important part is, I respect women more since I met you.
Aran Alis Egan
YOU WERE GOING TO MURDER SADIE, MY BEST FRIEND, OVER A PRANK KISS??? WHAT THE FUCKING SUN GOD IS WRONG WITH YOU??? WHO DOES THAT???
I also loved talking to you in the strategy room.
Sometimes I wonder if we’re not as different as we seem…but I am still furious about Sadie.
Corvus Malum
I still might kill her if she ever touches you.
The important part is that I am not going to murder her anymore.
Let’s talk more in the future. I want to know all about your past.
Aran Alis Egan
HOLY FUCKING SUN GOD, YOU STILL MIGHT KILL HER!?!?
ERROR
This is an automated enchanted message that the owner of this journal’s pen is out of their immediate vicinity. They are not ignoring you, don’t panic . The High Court wants you to remember, you are enough and criminal insanity does not define you.
Orion Malum
Don’t stab him with the pen, sweetheart. You’ll hurt yourself. If you knee him in the balls, that will hurt him the most. Once when we were kids, a horse kicked him in the dick, and he cried. It was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.
I would show my mate affection by watching them every second of every day.
I will stalk all of you for eternity.
Scorpius Malum
Corvus, stop wrestling with Arabella and let her kick you in the balls.
Also, if you set this bunk on fire, so help me sun god, I will stab you with the butcher knife I stole from the kitchen. Do not test me, I sleep with it under my pillow.
In regard to this prompt, I would communicate my feelings to my mates by hurting them in a pleasurable way. I would dig my nails into their skin until they bled, to show them how much I care. I would make them scream with pleasure as I drove my cock inside them.
I will not cross out what I said, because unlike some people, I stand by my words.
Aran Alis Egan