Page 53 of Psycho Gods

Jinx continued, “Aran, you’ll have to find time to practice so you can eventually unleash your abilities in battle.” She tapped distractedly at her tablet. “We’ll need your skills as the war continues.”

“Excuse me?” I whirled around to glare at her, but she refused to look up from her tablet.

I huffed and said sarcastically, “I’ll just pencil in stopping psychotic devils in between flying lessons and fighting the ungodly.”

“Good.” Jinx kept tapping.

Malum looked smug as he grabbed a piece of chalk and walked back to his list of strategies. “Don’t worry, we’ll practice.”

“I’m not practicing anything with you,” I snarled back.

He smirked but didn’t elaborate.

My lips tingled.

We both knew what would happen if we were stuck spending more time together. There was no avoiding it.

I hadn’t felt this sick since I’d learned fifty-one was divisible by seventeen.

Jinx rotated the structure on the tablet, and it spun on the board. “If we don’t contain the perimeter, potentially hundreds or thousands could flee to the portals. One hundred to one million people could be living in the valley.”

My jaw dropped. “One fucking million? Are you serious?”

Jinx pushed her sunglasses up. “The structure could continue underground for miles for all we know. I’m being realistic.”

She wanted us to die.

There was no other explanation.

“No,” Malum countered. “We know this planet’s core has a unique high temperature. It is unlikely life could be sustained underground.”

“He’s right.” I stood up straight.

Jinx mumbled under her breath, “The civilization could have adapted to higher temperatures. But fine, probably four thousand people.” The edge of her mouth curled up in a smirk.

I gaped.

Had she been making a joke?

We’d been working for so many hours that delirium was setting in, and I honestly couldn’t tell.

Movement in the back of the room caught my eye, and suddenly I wasn’t tired. My jaw clicked shut, and I said, “I know what we need to do.”

A good strategist always had multiple iterations of a plan. They also used their best assets strategically to accomplish the hardest tasks the most efficiently.

“We’re going to enslave the ungodly,” I whispered, and Jinx sat up straighter.

“Fuck. You’re right,” Malum said softly, and the air beside me warmed as he walked over beside me.

The potent scent of tobacco and whiskey flooded my senses, and I swayed closer to the intoxicating aroma.

Bronze cheeks blushed scarlet.

A dagger glinted as he swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing.

Malum wet his lips and said softly, “I like your plan.” For a second, as he stared down at me, harsh bronze features softened. Silver eyes seemed pleading.

His mood swings were giving me whiplash.

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