Page 161 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

“No,” I croaked out roughly. Swallowing thickly, I fell to my knees and turned my face upward to where the representative watched us on a platform. “No, I remove myself from the comp—”

A hand slapped across my lips.

It squeezed my cheeks.

John fell to his knees in front of me, and his dark eyes were intense as he leaned forward. Blood and tears stained his cheeks. Our faces were inches apart.

He opened and closed his jaws like he was trying to pop his ears, then he said, “Don’t you dare.” His voice was gravelly like he’d swallowed nails, and it sounded like he was talking underwater.

Black war paint was smudged down the side of his neck, and his dark hair was messy.

He looked ferocious.

A warrior.

I opened my lips to argue.

John pressed his hand harder against my mouth so I couldn’t say anything.

“You will not sacrifice yourself because you think you’re saving me,” he said roughly.

I shook my head.

Tried to tell him with my eyes that we couldn’t do this. That I didn’t want to. That it wasn’t worth it. To hell with the gods. He meant more to me than a little crucifixion.

John slowly leaned forward and pressed his mouth against my ear.

Underneath the sweat, copper, fear, and pain was the familiar rich scent of sandalwood. I breathed in deeply.

Even with the buzzing in my ear, John was so close that there was no mistaking what he said. “It won’t change anything between us, and I promise I consent. The only question is whether you’re okay to do this. If you want to refuse and fight the gods, then I’ll fight beside you. But don’t you dare refuse because you think you’re protecting me.”

He pulled back and flashed a dimple.

At that moment, I wished I could cry.

I wanted to sob.

John gently pushed matted curls off my forehead, his expression tender.

I kept expecting him to do his Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine and go quiet on me. Instead, he just kept smiling down at me like he’d do anything I asked.

He wrapped his arms around me and pressed me against his chest in a warm hug.

I squeezed him back with all my might as I trembled.

Who offered to defy the gods for their friend?

My body shook desperately.

I didn’t deserve him.

We knelt together on the grass.

“I’m willing to…” I trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. “But everyone’s watching,” I whispered weakly as I glanced back at the stands.

I blinked to clear my fuzzy vision; the entire academy was staring at where we knelt. Watching us.

The three kings stood closest, on the edge of the arena, with scowls on their face.

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