Page 117 of Deviant

What was he thinking?

“Elias!” I shout at the top of my lungs, my heart taking its first beat in ages when he finally reappears behind me.

“Jesus, woman, I heard you the first time.” He chuckles, wiping the water from his face and running his hands through his damp hair.

I should be angry at him.

I should be fucking furious.

But instead of reprimanding him for being an idiot, I swing my arms around his neck and hold on for dear life. Thankfully, he doesn’t push me away or make some wisecrack to offend me. He lets me hug him, going as far as wrapping his arms around my waist until I’m no longer shivering in fear.

But when my terror subsides, I see the faces of a lot of displeased people who wished for a different outcome.

The Scourgehasn’t even begun yet, and already they are pining for his death.

I won’t let that happen.

Come what may, Elias will surviveThe Scourge.I’ll do everything in my power to make it so.

And after he’s a shoo-in to win, he’ll grant me my own wish—to die by his hand and avenge Nora for good.

Chapter 22

Elias

After we have some fun down by the waterfall, we unanimously decide to make camp for the night. I didn’t put up much of a fight about calling it a day early since it had been two full days of hiking through rough terrain, and I could use a bit of R&R.

However, during dinner time, I get this feeling in my gut that I’m missing something. Everyone is acting all weird and shit around me like I’ve grown an extra head or something. Even Andy has suddenly become mute, limiting himself to only staring at me with those puppy-dog eyes of his. It’s fucking creepy to see him this quiet and still, since the kid is a walking, talking Adderall commercial.

Hmm.

This probably has something to do with the scare I gave them earlier.

It was just supposed to be a joke. In fact, the only one I wanted to scare was Rowen since she had been riding my ass nonstop before we got to the waterfall. But it looks like my little scare tactic freaked everyone out.

Well, not everyone.

There are a few faces around the campfire that don’t look too pleased to see me still sitting amongst them.

David, in particular.

I wish I could have seen the fucker’s face when he saw me break through the lake’s surface. I bet he was already counting his lucky stars that I had drowned or some shit. He didn’t count on me being such a proficient swimmer.

Sucks to be him.

“I… um… am going to bed. Will I see you in a bit?” Rowen asks softly, low enough for no one to hear her but me.

I give her a curt nod, because no way am I going to let her sleep in her tent alone. Not with these fuckers hanging around. There is definitely something off with Big Mike, and I don’t trust him not to try something with her. And I definitely don’t trust that prick David. Those two smell like trouble from ten feet away. So as I see it, Rowen might as well get used to sharing a sleeping bag with me because no way in hell I’m leaving her all by herself.

“You gave her quite the scare this afternoon,” Lucy says, her voice just as sweet as Rowen’s whenever I hear her talking to Abbie.

“Is that so?” I mumble, throwing pebbles into the fire.

“She was really losing it when you took too long to come up from your dive,” Lucas explains. “If I did that to my girl, I’d never live it down. You’re lucky yours is as forgiving.”

“She’s not my girl.”

I mean,she is mine…just not like that.

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