Page 368 of Halfblood Deceived

Diana and Aella nodded.

“Well, that’s all that matters,” Rebecca said.

Lupita lifted a tiny brown finger. “No more ghosting us, Diana.”

“And please try not to blame yourself for something you are not guilty of,” Reese said, their blue eyes happy and melancholic as they flicked to Aella. “I got the same advice from your sister a while ago. And she was right.”

Aella smiled.

“I don’t blame you, Diana,” Vaz said. “I could feel your pain when Brittany used you to hurt us.”

“I don’t blame you either.” Rod beamed. “And to be honest, I’ve gotten smacked way harder.”

Jordan huffed. “Not hard to believe with that mouth of yours.”

“I’ve spoken with Jessa, we all have,” Reese said. “She doesn’t blame you either, Diana.”

Aella nodded. “We know. She told us when we visited her. Right?”

“Right,” Diana agreed.

Lupita lifted her chin, eyes narrowing on Diana. “I know Brittany made you say rude things to me. Because I’m sure you find me charming.”

Diana chuckled. “I do.”

Mac wrapped an arm around Lupita’s shoulders. “Brittany is the only tasteless imbecile who can’t appreciate your brilliance.”

Lupita smiled at Mac. “Damn right.”

“So enough with feeling guilty over that,” Trinity concluded. “If you wanna feel bad about something, feel bad about the ghosting.”

Aella chuckled.

“I’ll try,” Diana promised. “And no more ghosting. I promise.”

“That’s the spirit!” Tim exclaimed.

Trinity gave Aella a head-to-toe look. “Your secrets are your own, and we don’t mean to pry, but how the Hell did you get hotter?”

Aella predictably turned scarlet. “I’m not—I didn’t. Uh…”

Lupita chuckled. “I’m afraid you did, mamacita.”

Rod stage-gasped. “Wait. Did you and Zeydan finally get together?”

Aella blinked. “Um… yeah?”

“Ah, so it’s the glow of sex then,” Lupita said.

Mac flicked her ear. “Speedy!”

“What?” Lupita protested.

“The glow of good sex,” Tim corrected, black eyebrows wiggling. “Bad sex doesn’t make one shine with happiness.”

Reese smacked the back of his head. “Don’t you have an inner voice that tells you to keep your thoughts to yourself?”

“He doesn’t,” Vaz told them. “I’ve checked.”

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