Page 133 of Deviant

“On the one hand, it’s good that they’ve left us at least one part of the house where we can have some privacy. On the other…”

“You don’t trust their motives,” I finish.

“Not as far as I can throw them.”

I drop the towel I used to dry my hair on the edge of the bed and look around the room again, wondering if this isn’t just some fancy cell.

“Come here,” Elias orders, his tone gruff and unyielding.

“What if I don’t want to?” I challenge.

“I said… come here.”

My heart starts to jackhammer in my chest, knowing that he means business. Slowly I walk over to his side of the bed, while maintaining a good distance from him.

“Closer.”

Memories of playing a similar game on his porch a couple of weeks ago come to the forefront of my mind.

Was it only a few weeks ago? It feels like a lifetime has passed since then.

Just like I obliged him on that night, I concede again now, taking a few steps closer to him. The devilish smile on his lips gets me all sorts of hot and bothered, though you wouldn’t know it by the composed expression on my face.

“Closer.”

I take another step. Then another. And once I’m within arm’s reach, he lifts me off the floor, grabbing me by the waist and gently placing me on top of him until I’m straddling him.

“We need to talk,” he says, playing with the hem of my towel before looking me in the eye.

“If it’s about last nigh—” I start only for him to place one finger at the center of my lips to silence me.

“That’s not what I want to talk to you about.”

“Oh,” I frown, hating that he can hear the disappointment in my voice.

“We’ll have plenty of time forthatlater. But right now, I want us to set some ground rules.”

“Okay.”

“Whatever these assholes have in store for us, I want you to stay close to me at all times. If by any chance we ever get separated, at any time, stay in one spot and I’ll come find you.”

“Okay.”

“That’s it? Just okay? You’re not going to challenge me on this?” he asks, sounding surprised that I’m being this obedient.

“I already told you. I want you to be the one that kills me. But that can only happen once I’ve made sure that you have wonThe Scourge.I promised Nora as much.”

“You promised Nora?” he snarls. “Nora is dead. She can’t hear your promises anymore. I need your blind obedience more than a ghost does.”

“And you have it. As long as I get what I want in the end. No matter what happens, you have to be the one who kills me.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, I will,” he says angrily.

Even though I shouldn’t, I think I fall a little more for him with that one promise.

“Thank you,” I say, sincerely grateful that he’s going to give me what I most desire in this world.

He continues to stare at me, opening his mouth to say something but then closing it shut a second later. He then slides out from under me, making me fall to the other side of the bed.

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