Page 91 of Horror and Chill

All caps. Like she’s screaming through the phone, voice shaking, mask slipping.

I grin, bitter. “She thinks yelling will change us.”

But my chest is burning hotter now, not from the words but from what they mean. She’s protecting him. Warning us for him. Puttinghimfirst.

And that makes me want to tear the world apart.

Garron whistles. “Ooooh, she’s scared. Worried enough to shout at us through text. Cute.” He climbs over the back of the couch and sits down smirking. “I like when she gets bossy. Makes me want to put her on her knees faster.”

“Shut up,” I snap.

Evander finally looks up from the lighter he’s been flicking open and closed. His eyes are heavy-lidded, cold. “She’s serious. Her boss’ partner is dangerous ground.”

“Dangerous ground?” I laugh. “She’s ours. Ours. And now she’s telling us who we can and can’t touch? Fuck that.”

“She’s warning us because she knows exactly what you’re like,” Evander says.

It makes me want to throw him through the wall.

Garron tilts his head, grin widening. “Corwin’s jealous.”

“I’m not jealous,” I snarl, pacing. “I just don’t want her thinking of another man before us. I don’t want her begging forhimto be safe when she should be begging for us to claim her.”

“You hear yourself?” Evander’s voice cuts through, low and sharp. “You’ll burn everything down over a man she barely touched. You kill him, you kill us with him.”

Garron laughs again, eyes glittering. “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Little fire never hurt anyone.”

I whip around, chest heaving, fists aching. “She’s ours. She doesn’t get to put rules on us. She doesn’t get to tell us what to do.”

“She already did,” Evander says flatly. “And you’re losing your mind over it. Which means she’s winning.”

The words slam into me like a punch. I want to deny it, but the truth crawls under my skin.

The phone buzzes again in my hand. Another message.

Little Whore: I SWEAR TO GOD IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HIM, I’M DONE WITH YOU. ALL OF YOU.

My pulse spikes. My jaw cracks from how hard I’m clenching it.

Garron leans forward, chuckling low. “Looks like the princess just drew her line.”

Evander exhales, voice soft but full of warning. “Cross it, and we lose her.”

I can’t stand the thought. Losing her.

But the rage doesn’t fade. It crawls up my throat.

And then an idea sparks.

I type fast.

Me: If we can’t touch him, then give us someone else.

Her reply is swift.

Little Horror: No.

Garron snorts from the couch, sprawled out as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. “That’s not a real answer. We need to push her.”