Page 339 of Halfblood Deceived

“Just checking,” Evan said, smiling smugly.

“You can’t be objective, Luce,” Andreas said, giving Evan a dirty look. “He’s your favorite for some mysterious reason.”

Diana counted with her fingers. “Cuteness, coolness, and zero percent assholery. Unlike others.” She gave Zeydan and Andreas a look.

“Kindness, too,” Aiko said in a low voice, but they all heard her anyway.

“Not you too, Aiko!” Lex protested with a pout. “What does he have that I don’t? We’re nearly identical!”

“Cuteness, coolness, no assholery, and kindness, too,” Diana, Aylana, and Aella chorused.

Aiko covered her mouth to muffle a giggle. Gabby outright cackled.

Aella noticed Isaiah looking around the table with clear confusion. Just like she did that first time, she shared a meal with all her crazy friends.

“That’s right, peasants,” Evan said, picking up his cutlery. “I could sweep your females off their feet if I were 5% less gay.”

“In your dreams,” Sebastian said just as haughtily, turning to give Aylana an appealing look.

Aylana hummed. “I don’t know. I do like blonds.”

Sebastian gasped. “Take that back!”

“Hey, I’m blond,” Kerian said, winking at Aylana.

Aylana closed one eye. “Yeah, but something tells me your assholery levels are a bit high.” She lifted her right hand as much as she could.

“Off the bloody charts,” Kamilla confirmed.

Dyson hummed and made an agreeing gesture, tilting his head slightly.

Kerian mock scowled at him. “You are only agreeing because Milla is your favorite.”

“I have no favorites,” Dyson said in such a serious tone that Aella might have believed him if she didn’t agree with Kerian. “I am impartial.”

Kerian harrumphed. “Bullshit.”

Dyson’s lips curled up in a tiny smile.

“I still think Andreas is a strong competitor for the arseholery title,” Lex said.

Kamilla poured more wine into her glass. “Kerian is far worse. Trust me. Like Zeydan, Sebastian, and Andreas combined.”

“Milla!” Sebastian, Zeydan, and Kerian protested.

Andreas shrugged. “If being an arsehole means I don’t coddle people, then yes, I’m an arsehole.”

Luce patted Andreas’ hand. “Admitting it is the first step, Dad.”

Aiko ducked her head and laughed.

Andreas gave a scolding look at Luce that she met with a beatific smile.

Evan hissed. “Ooh, burn!”

Aella laughed along with several others, picking up her fork and knife. The steak in front of her looked perfect and smelled glorious, but her throat and stomach clenched and she could almost hear them scream in protest.

“Drink some blood first,” Aiko suggested. “Blood prepares your system to absorb other foods.”

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