Page 53 of Deviant

“I won’t die. But what I will do is save my mother. Not only that, after I win, we can finally leave this wretched place. Don’t you want that?”

“What you’re saying is that win or lose, I’ll lose you either way,” I continue to sob.

“No, you won’t,” Nora coos, pushing my head to lay on her shoulder. “Not if you marry Aidan after the Harvest Festival. You’ll be family. And that means you can come with us when we leave.”

“And live the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders?”

“Do you prefer to stay here? A hostage in your own hometown?”

When I don’t say anything in return, she smiles and starts brushing my hair with her fingers.

“It’s a good plan, Roe. I know you don’t see it right now, but it is. Just think, if you marry Aidan, no one will ever be able to tear us apart. Don’t you see? It’s a win-win.”

The idea of marrying Aidan doesn’t tempt me one bit, so I would hardly call it a win.

Lately, I’ve been thinking that he and I just make sense on paper, nothing else.

But losing Nora in any capacity won’t do. I’d marry Aidan in a heartbeat if that meant getting out of Blackwater Falls with her.

Hell, I’d even marry Elias if he would have me.

In fact, I’d actually prefer it.

But Nora can’t win.

Yes, she’s fast, but even I’m faster than her.

Yes, she’s strong, but compared to any red-blooded adult male, she’s just as fragile as any teenage girl.

She’s clever, to be sure, but even I see when Aidan pulls a fast one on her.

No.

She can’t win.

She won’t win.

Which means if she does find a way to be chosen, she’ll die.

And her mom would die, too.

And so would I.

Nora leans in and presses a sweet kiss on my lips, silencing all the horrors in my head.

“Sleep, sweet Roe. And dream about all the grand things we will do together once we’re free.”

But instead of dreams, all I have are nightmares.

And instead of freedom…all I see is death.

Chapter 10

Rowen

I roam aimlessly about the cemetery, my eyes peeled for a sign of Father O’Sullivan. But after a good hour of searching and coming up with nothing, I walk back to the church and inspect his living quarters instead.

I enter his bedroom and find his bed untouched for days, disappointment washing over me when I see no signs of life. When I walk into the kitchen and find it just as bare, his refrigerator completely empty, my anxiety soars wondering if I lost my chance altogether.

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