Deviant Descendants (Descendants Academy #2) - Belle Malory Page 0,8
charm bracelet that was no longer there. My wrist still felt naked without it. It was such a small thing, but I loved that bracelet and resented Riley for poisoning it with lethara.
Peter Hallas saw us enter the room and came over to say hello. “Ione,” he said, nodding elegantly. “Breathtaking, as always.”
I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. Aphrodite descendants were sophisticated flirts. They always complimented one another’s beauty, just as Ares descendants admired one another’s strength. It was just their way.
Ione smiled. “Thank you, Peter.”
“And Sheridan,” he added, looking me over, “lavender suits you far better than red.”
My cheeks warmed at the subtle dig, and I wondered if he was still butthurt over my dual-enrollment.
“It’s been years since Arcadia had a geniox.” A warm smile spread across his face. “And an honor to have one in our own house. You should have told people sooner.”
Hearing that from him put me at ease. After several weeks of everyone treating me like a traitor, I’d been doubtful. Scorned and hated yesterday, honored and envied today. Such a thin line between what was acceptable and what wasn’t.
“To be honest, I only recently found out.”
More like, I recently found out Ione was a highly skilled gossip. I glanced at her and she winked.
“Well, we’re thrilled.” He held out each of his arms for us to take. “Come on, ladies. Let’s get some food. I’m starving.”
From there, the night passed with little drama. Everyone was polite, and no one made me feel like an outsider. Not on purpose anyway. Part of me still questioned my own belonging.
The Poseidon descendants reminded me of literal fish out-of-water, appearing uncomfortable and otherworldly. Dressed in coral and turquoise, they had pointy teeth and big, vacant eyes. Their pallid skin was covered in metallic tattoos, and their laurel leaves were encrusted with pearls and seashells. The point of the event was to socialize with them, but I gave up after the first three or so awkward conversations. I didn’t know how to act around people anymore, and they didn’t warm up to me either.
As the night wore on, I found myself alone beside the drink table, looking up at the clock on the wall every few seconds, wondering if it was too early to leave.
“How’s it going in the Mirror Realm?” Peter said, approaching me once again. “Make any progress yet?”
His company was much better than the odd fish people. “To be honest, not so good.”
“What’s the problem?”
“My subjects genuinely like each other, but they’re letting little things come between them.”
An understatement. Mia and Ben had it bad for each other, but they were both too stubborn to make the first move.
“Isn’t that the way life goes?” Peter chuckled. “It’s our job to ensure love outweighs circumstances. You must get them to see that.”
As he spoke, his gaze drifted across the room, resting on Ione. She smiled at something one of her friends said, totally unaware of his attention. His hopeless expression made me do a double-take.
“You’re right, I’ll work on that. Any tricks or tips?”
But he wasn’t listening. He was still staring at Ione, as if he’d forgotten the rest of the room, the way Xander sometimes looked at me.
“Um, Peter…are you…” I wasn’t sure if I read this situation correctly, and I didn’t want to overstep.
But he guessed where my thoughts went. “In love?” He nodded. “It’s no secret.”
“With Ione?”
“Yes.” He tapped the rim of his soda with his fingers. “I’m pretty sure she feels the same.”
That explained a lot.
Lately, she was always nervous before events like this. Before we came here, she redid her hair and makeup dozens of times. And when Peter greeted her, her face brightened as if he was the sun to her moon.
Peter returned his gaze to mine with a miserable sigh. “Circumstances.” He answered my next question before I could ask it, then straightened, his expression unreadable. Anyone standing nearby would never detect the torment I just witnessed.
Circumstances.
That one word spoke volumes.
“I had no idea.”
He cleared his throat, forcing a dimpled grin. “You could brew a potion to rev up some hormones. For your subjects.”
I nodded. “Sure, I’ll try that.”
“But like I said, love must outweigh everything else…”
With a wink, he drifted from my side. As if the moment never happened, he was already back to working the room, charming a group of third years and wearing his standard mega-watt smile.
He and Ione were more alike than I realized; both had a knack for keeping their emotions hidden. I made