Page 182 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

I was clearly in a delicate state.

Did no one have any respect for the mentally ill anymore?

Jinx rolled her eyes as she cut a piece of steak into impossibly small pieces. “Well, when do you want to do it? Should I wait to criticize your performance when you’re deceased from indecision?”

Jax leaned over and cut Sadie’s steak for her. She tried to push him away, but he just glared at her missing finger and continued to cut until he was finished.

Sadie turned her attention to Jinx and said, “Don’t be mean to Aran. She’s clearly going through a lot right now.”

Jinx huffed and fed the ferret a piece of meat.

I could practically hear the insults she was calling me in her head.

I made a face at Jinx. “Aren’t you supposed to be simpering and apologizing for wiping our memories? Also, I just went through extreme trauma. Show a little respect for your elders.”

Jinx rolled her black eyes. “Nice. Deflect the conversation to cover up your own shortcomings. Very mature. Also, the John guy’s been making moon eyes at you since the competition started. Stop trying to milk it.”

“It was horrible and demeaning.” I gasped with outrage. “It was very upsetting for both of us.”

Jinx scoffed. “Sure, keep telling yourself that.”

“Don’t listen to her.” Sadie threaded her four fingers through mine and held my hand.

I squeezed Sadie’s hand. “Don’t worry, I’m not.”

Jinx fell silent, and I concentrated on trying to eat some vegetables, but everything tasted like ashes.

My stomach cramped.

The table fell into a comfortable silence.

The entire hall was more subdued than usual, and there was an awkward tension in the air. I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes staring at me.

I studied my plate.

Sadie held my hand under the table and squeezed three times in quick succession. I squeezed back four times.

We both knew what we meant.

I concentrated on the feel of her warm fingers against mine and her comforting presence beside me.

“I agree with Jinx about your performance during the competition,” Cobra said out of nowhere.

I choked.

The snake shifter leaned closer and glared at me. “I thought I was going to have to go back and rescue you because you were moving so slowly. You wasted a good minute just staring at your teammate.”

My jaw dropped. “Sorry that the lack of sound barrier made me slow,” I said sarcastically. “Not all of us are part snake.”

Cobra nodded. “Apology accepted.”

“I was being facetious.” I ground my teeth together.

He narrowed his eyes. “Well, you shouldn’t be. You should practice not wasting time in the middle of a life-or-death situation. It is—”

Sadie banged her utensils onto the tabletop and cut him off. “Everyone needs to start being nicer to Aran. It’s pissing me off!”

“I am being nice.” Cobra pointed his knife at me and scoffed. “I’m talking to her, aren’t I?”

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