Page 320 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

They could see right through me.

John wiggled his eyes suggestively. “So, tell me about this room we’re in.”

I laughed and told him about my theories. I told him we were competing over a hot nurse.

“No way,” John shook his head. “If anything, we’re both fucking him. That’s the only thing that makes sense.”

A sharp jolt of pain lanced my spine.

I ignored it.

As we walked toward the lawn, adrenaline and fear mixed until I practically vibrated with energy.

When we made it to the arena, the student section chanted, “Let’s go, academy legion.” They stomped their feet in unison like this was a sporting event and not literal hell.

Every day, I hated people a little more.

The other legions sat beside them and scowled at us. The angel with heterochromia spat on the ground, and he mouthed, “Sinful blood.”

I rolled my eyes and turned away.

In the middle of the field, six people waited for us.

My breath caught. Jinx looked impossibly small pressed against Jax’s side like the child she was.

Anger made my chest throb from the force of my heartbeat. My skin felt too tight for my body as a whiplash of emotions boomeranged through me.

If I were Malum, I would have exploded into flames.

She shouldn’t be here.

Sun god, she’s only thirteen years old.

This was so wrong.

Lothaire’s voice echoed, “Welcome to the showcase round. To begin, each competitor is to climb to the top of a post. Further instructions will be given at the top.”

No one moved.

All of us looked around at one another warily as the silent question hung loudly in the air. Were they going to make us jump?

“Now, competitors!” Lothaire shouted, and we each moved reluctantly to a post.

I focused on my nails, and a now-familiar zap of energy traveled down my spine. Sharp ice daggers erupted from my nail beds.

The kings similarly brandished their claws. Ink dripped from the demons’ hands and formed into a row of eight shiny black daggers. They tossed two each to John and Luka, who nodded their thanks.

Across the field, the shifter legion was in a huddle arguing over something. How is Jinx going to climb?

The only power she’d ever manifested was when her jaw had dropped open in the beast realm and her scream momentarily paralyzed people. Also, she apparently could make people forget things.

None of that would help her climb the wooden post that towered hundreds of feet into the cloud cover.

Physically she was scrawny and weak.

Before I could walk over and try to help, Sadie shifted into a saber-toothed tiger and tossed Jinx onto her back like a doll.

The shifter men ripped off their shirts and gave them to Jax. He tied them into a rope, then wrapped it tightly around Sadie’s neck and Jinx’s body.

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