Page 74 of Ink Deep Devotion

I hear his breath before he states,“That’s not why you called.”

“I…I went to see her.”

“Idiot.” His reply is sharp.“Did your father’s men follow you? Do you need me to come handle it?”

There’s another secret I’ve been keeping for Anders. He hasn’t fully absorbed the rules of the Brotherhood. He’s been acting without telling the others, only me. He killed Leo’s father, and if I needed him to get rid of mine, he would without asking the Brotherhood.

I know Leo suspects it was Anders, but he’s not brave enough to ask because then he would have to thank Anders.

“No. I made sure no one followed me.” My breath trembles.“I just needed to see her.”

“You did. Move on,” he states, but it’s a test. He and I both know it.

Anders and I have different wiring. We see, and that’s it. Some might call it love at first sight; a scientist might back it up with chemistry; a believer in God might refer to it as destiny.

I don’t know what I call it—an apology, maybe.

I should say I’m sorry to Isabella because now I have my sights set on her, and I don’t know how to block it out or look away.

“I don’t think I can,” I whisper in my shame.

Secrets and lies are a predator’s delight, like unknowing traps. You try to walk around them with hesitancy, buteventually, you will not see one, and boom! You fall into the mess, and you might not make it out alive.

Chapter 26

Mila

“I’m coming!” I shout at my dorm room door, hoping my voice carries through the living room and reaches the front door.

The only thing I miss about having a roommate is someone to open the door for me. My last roommate has been gone for months after finally pissing off Dash enough. Every time he came to my room to sleep on the floor, she tried to trap him in the living room to flirt with him. It was pathetic to witness, and I was thrilled when I came home one day and noticed her room was empty.

Shit, where is my new sketchbook?And why the heck is Damian twenty minutes early?

I look around my room. Calling it a mess would be an understatement. Basically, it’s a reflection of my love life.

I toss my clothes, scattering some to the floor as I search for it.There you are!I snatch it from the bed and rush with my art bag in hand to the door.

“What’s up?” I greet Damian. He seems happier lately; some of the shadows in his eyes have vanished.

“I um,” He flashes me a weary grin.“I came early to warn you.”

My stomach plummets.

“Dash is going to escort you to art class tonight.”

“Oh!” Did that kiss work?

It’s always Titan or Damian who walks me to class.

Never Dash.

Dash can’t be seen with me, but his threats are known. I’m off-limits to everyone. My only friend who doesn’t have King as their last name is Blaze, and Dash only allows that because Blaze took a knife in the stomach for me.

Some days, I wish I had a sister, some other female I could trust and spill my guts out to.

Damian’s eyes regard me.“You finally did something, didn’t you?” he states with a slow-growing smirk.

I smirk.“Maybe,” I look him in the eye,“I don’t know if I have the confidence to do what needs to be done,” I whisper.“How can I throw myself on someone who verbally says he hates me?”

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