Page 326 of Psycho Gods

Malum’s cheeks turned pink, and he shook his head like he was embarrassed by the thought of leisure.

“Lie down,” I said, and satisfaction filled me as he sprawled out beside me.

He grimaced.

“Now just stare up at the leaves and flowers and enjoy how they flutter on the breeze.”

I loved that I was giving out life advice like I’d mastered mental health.

It was called being delusional.

This morning, I’d had a panic attack in the bathroom because I’d remembered the twins now had slurs on their backs. We were all mutilated.

Now, I stared up at nature like it could save me.

I focused on the good. The scenery was stunning, and I could fly with ease. Exercise endorphins coursed through me.

I ignored the bad.

Malum squinted at the tree like he had to concentrate on following my instructions, and I laughed at his ridiculous expression.

“What?” he asked defensively. “I’m watching the leaves like you said.”

“It’s not that serious.” I watched a bird flit between flowers.

Time passed.

It was much slower than usual.

There was no warping, no twisting.

I felt a million miles away from my memories of the war. My time at Elite Academy felt like a bad dream. The ungodly didn’t seem real.

“What are you thinking about?” Malum broke the peaceful silence, and instead of watching the leaves, he stared at me.

“How nice it is here,” I whispered, “I feel like I’m dreaming.”

He stared at my lips. “Me too,” he whispered as he inched closer.

Whiskey and tobacco were softened by the sunny, floral scents of summer.

Our fingers touched, and there was a sizzling sound. Cobalt fire spread onto his fingers, and scarlet ice coated mine.

It didn’t hurt.

The alchemy law of extremes: At its hottest temperature, fire mimics the properties of ice. At its coldest temperature, ice mimics the properties of fire.

It struck me just how similar we were.

We were so perfectly in opposition that we were the same.

It didn’t seem like an accident.

It felt like the universe itself had conspired to create us.

Apparently, my antithesis was a flaming homicidal man who breathed fire, had obsession issues, and owned ponies with bows.

It checked out.

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