“This is an enchanted truth journal. In order to avoid species rights violations, the High Court gives them to inmates incarcerated at the Olympus realm’s maximum-security prison. It is supposed to help unfeeling sociopaths build relationships.” She glared at us. “I think they would be beneficial for you four.”
Arabella crossed her arms. “Are you calling us—”
“Yes,” Dr. Palmer said.
Arabella slumped petulantly, and I couldn’t stop my chuckle because she was so adorable sometimes.
Dr. Palmer forged ahead. “Your answer to the prompt will appear in one another’s journals. That way you can discuss back and forth the implications of your answer and build a connection.”
Arabella made a sound of disbelief.
“I understand your doubts.” Dr. Palmer stared at me as she spoke. “At the very least, it should begin a discourse among the four of you, which it seems like you need. Communication is the key to forging any type of connection.”
“Sounds like a pseudoscience,” Scorpius muttered under his breath loud enough for everyone to hear.
The doctor turned purple.
I patted the book on my lap. “We’ll take them.”
Dr. Palmer narrowed her eyes. “This is not up for debate. All four of you will answer the prompts whenever you have free time.” Her tone was clipped with annoyance. “The pen is enchanted to only write down the truth.”
She looked down at the books pointedly.
None of us touched them.
Dr. Palmer frowned. “Also, I’m mandated to inform you that if you try to use the pen as a weapon, it is enchanted to electrocute you.”
It took a second for her words to process.
Arabella opened her book. “Cool,” she said as she stabbed the pen into my thigh.
She was electrocuted.
I lunged and grabbed her twitching form, just barely saving her from falling off the couch. I gaped down at the woman in my arms.
I’d never met anyone so reckless.
Keeping her safe was near impossible. Sun god, she’s a hazard to herself.
“She just stabbed Corvus,” Orion whispered with horror, and Scorpius barked with laughter.
After painfully long minutes where I worried over the physical but mostly mental health of my Revered, she stopped twitching and grinned.
“That was sick.” Her curls stood up around her head as they crackled with electricity.
I snatched the pen out of Arabella’s hand, and a shock leaped where our fingers touched. “Don’t be a brat,” I ordered.
She smirked, and for a second, her gaze caught on my lips. Her pupils expanded, and lust sparked between us.
Abruptly she winced and jolted.
Strange.
Blood trickled down my leg and pride welled in my chest at the force of her stab. I liked that she wasn’t a weak, simpering fool; it was extremely attractive how strong she was.
Scorpius couldn’t stop laughing, and Orion grinned over at her.
Dr. Palmer’s mouth was wide open. The alarm went off, signaling the end of the session, but she didn’t react. She seemed stunned by Arabella’s violence.
We RJE’d away before she could come to her senses.
Entering our barracks, I stared down at the book in my hands labeled, “Journal to Help Facilitate Relations among the Criminally Insane,” and my spirits soared.
Chapter 21
Journal Prompt #1
TRUTH JOURNAL TO HELP FACILITATE RELATIONS AMONG THE CRIMINALLY INSANE
What does a toxic relationship look like to you? How does this relationship make you feel?
Aran Alis Egan
This is fucking stupid, but I can’t sleep, so I’m going to write in this to make it clear how much I hate you.
A toxic “relationship” （this is not a relationship） is whatever I have right now with you three, in case it was not obvious enough.
You’re the worst people I have ever met in my life. You’re unfeeling bullies who hurt others for fun. You need help.
Just thinking about the three of you makes me feel murderous. Other than that, right now I feel nothing but a mountain of nihilism with a smidgeon of self-deprecation.
Side note: Sun god, these pens have a serious truth enchantment. I couldn’t have put it better if I tried.
Corvus Malum
Thank you, Arabella, for taking this seriously.
I will also share my thoughts so we can repair our relationship （you’re right, this is not a simple, pathetic “relationship,” you are my soulmate, which means I would die and kill just to make you smile）。
A toxic relationship to me means Arabella, Scorpius, and Orion are all dead. I failed them. I attend their funeral and am so overcome with grief that my flames explode around me and I murder hundreds of thousands of people.