Page 187 of Deviant

But as I guide her body to do my will, I get the feeling that this must be what it’s like when a man shows his undying devotion to the woman that he loves.

And as we stare deep into each other’s eyes, our temples pressed together in a kiss, I realize thatThe Scourgemight have its many appalling faults, but I’ll be in its debt anyway.

Because it gave me her.

It gave me my doe-eyed girl.

And now that I have her, I’ll never let her go.

I won’t give her up forThe Scourge.

Not even for the sake of my misplaced revenge.

And certainly not to grant her the death that she so desires.

Nothing will stand in the way of me and the woman I love.

Nothing.

Not even Rowen.

The next morning, Henry takes us back to the boarding room and gives us his usual spiel about sitting next to our partners before the Hosts choose who gets to go down into the basement. Once he gives the cameras a nod, we hear six watches ding with the following text.

You have been selected to attend the fourth game.

Play well.

Of course, I’m not surprised when Rowen and I get picked for this round. After the last group challenge, there was no waythey would leave me and Rowen out of it. Not after I broke one of their rules by killing Chris.

But it’s who they chose to come down with us that really sets me on edge.

Mackenzie and David got a text—which fuck them, I don’t give a shit either way—but so did Andy and Harper.

I can feel the wave of fear that comes off Rowen the minute Harper showed her the text.

“You have been chosen. I will return within the hour to fetch you for the games. Please take this opportunity to say your goodbyes, as it may be the last chance you will ever get,” Henry says somberly before retreating out of the room.

This time, I don’t take Rowen into the broom closet to get a little loving from her. She wouldn’t be in the mood anyway. Not when our friends’ lives are on the line.

“It’s okay, Abbie. We’ll be fine,” Harper says as an inconsolable Abbie begins to cry, seeing her two friends’ heads on the butcher’s block.

“I hope some of those tears are for me too,” Andy jokes, but it only makes Abbie cry harder.

My jaw clenches when Henry returns, needing to fulfill his orders to take us six downstairs and endure whatever hell awaits us there. Both Harper and Rowen walk hand in hand, doing their best not to cry in front of each other, while Andy and I walk ahead, positioning ourselves between a cheerful Mackenzie and an overeager David.

“If anything happens to me,” Andy chokes out, low enough for Harper not to overhear, “I need you to promise me you’ll look after Harper.”

I nod, my jaw ticking nonstop.

“Fuck. I really thought you’d say that nothing is going to happen to me.” He laughs nervously.

“Would it make you feel better if I lied to you?” I ask, his poor betting statistics suddenly flashing before my very eyes.

“No. I guess not,” he mumbles, crestfallen.

His sad puppy dog eyes have my back molars clenching so tightly it physically hurts to look at him.

By the time we approach the painted doors, I’m all wound up and ready to hit something.

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