Page 310 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

All my teammates sat ramrod straight and stared at the vampyre with varying expressions of anger. None of us celebrated.

Why are they mad at him?

At the shifter table, Sadie beamed as she hugged Jax and Cobra at the same time. Xerxes and Ascher clapped each other on the backs.

At the table next to them, the angel with heterochromia glowered angrily. His feline features hardened into a predatory expression. All the angels glared over at me like it was somehow all my fault. At the other table, the devil legion glared over at the kings like it was their fault they lost. The leviathans and assassins slumped forward with disappointment.

I inhaled enchanted smoke.

Students whistled and clapped louder as they gave us a standing ovation.

Only one person looked similar to how I felt.

Jinx stared at me.

Her forehead was wrinkled, and her eyes were sad. Her skinny shoulders were slumped forward like she was buckling under an invisible weight, and she looked much older than her thirteen years.

I tipped my pipe toward her.

Unease curled in my stomach.

Lothaire continued and said, “The gods have requested that all members of the shifter and academy legions compete in the showcase tomorrow. This includes substitutes.”

Jinx pretended to tip an imaginary hat my way at his announcement.

She didn’t look surprised.

My eyes widened as I stared at her sad face. What did he just say? She was only thirteen.

Anger lit within me like Malum’s flames, and the world snapped back into clarity.

I sat up straight with outrage.

The heavy doors to the great hall slammed open, and Luka walked in.

My heart pounded in my chest.

John’s twin was back.

They were both here.

Lothaire nodded as he walked past him and exited the room. The vampyre called over his shoulder, “The showcase will start at ten a.m. tomorrow morning. For now, feast and relax.” Then he was gone.

The shifter legion jumped to their feet to protest Jinx’s involvement, but servants streamed into the room with plates of food and blocked the path like they’d planned it.

Lothaire knew the shifters would freak out, so he left. Coward.

Plates, utensils, and food were delivered to tables, and the aroma of honeyed ham was overpowering.

Amid the commotion, students watched Luka with wide eyes as he sauntered to our table.

Everyone looked back and forth between the twins.

Luka pulled out the open chair beside Zenith and sat down. “What did I miss?” he asked casually.

“What the fuck?” a male student shouted as the room erupted in conversation.

Someone else said, “Wait, are they the lost twins from…” The voice trailed off, and I missed what they said.

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