Page 39 of Deal with the Devil

Knox shifted in his seat, the doors already closed around them, the trunk emptied, and the group moved to the door. Amelia saw Penny staring at the car from the front door before she was ushered inside by Denver. Knox took her hand and brought her knuckles to his mouth.

“I am conflicted because I want you, and you want me to tell you what it is I want. But I know if I speak it that it can become a weakness. And guys like me die for having weaknesses.”

She furrowed her brows, “Then why did you chase me? Why did you show up and give me hope if you’re afraid I’m a weakness for you?”

“I never said it was a smart decision. It’s a selfish choice really... Despite all the sense and logic, I want you and I’m goingto have you, all of you. You shouldn’t have given me the chance, but it looks like we both make bad decisions.”

Amelia sat back against the seat, speechless. Once again, she was looking at the man likely to cause her pain...and yet she thought of Penny. Her sister, waiting inside, probably pacing the floor. Her nephew, who was too young to understand what was going on. Their lives were in danger because of Rick. She couldn’t let them get hurt.

She pressed up onto her knees, climbing into his lap. Knox settled closer to the middle so she could sit comfortably. His gaze raked down her body to where their laps met, then back up to her. She brushed her lips across his before reached for the door handle. “I want a deal. You get me and I get you.”

She popped the door open, shifting as if to climb out. He ripped her back in, snatching her by the throat. The car rattled with the force in which he tossed her back against the floorboard. Kneeling between her legs, pressing her back into the gritty carpet, Knox hovered over her. “No deals.”

Heart in her throat, she was sure he could feel it racing under his fingertips. “Isn’t contracts your whole thing? You don’t want to make a deal? You get all of me without the fear that I’ll betray your weakness, and you give me all of you without the fear that you’ll hurt me?”

Gold flashed in his eyes, and it dripped down his face like tears. Magic swarmed around them, choking the air from the cab. His voice was raspy and tight. “Your price, for giving me all of you... If you agree, you belong to me. There is no going back. You will not return home. You cannot run away fast enough or escape me.”

“And you won’t hurt me, you won’t let me get hurt, you won’t let Penny or Brayden get hurt, they stay safe no matter what happens. You will tell me what you want, and you will never lie to me.”

His grip around her throat stayed the only constant thing keeping her tethered to her body. He exhaled heavily through his nose. Gold dripped from his chin to her cheek, soaking into her flesh. Plum, so dark it was nearly black, ink began to crawl around her hand. This time it hurt. Biting into her flesh and making her grimace from the sharp sting. Knox finally lifted his grip of his hand from her neck, sitting back on his calves.

“If you break this, Amelia, the price is steep.”

“How steep?” She sat up, looking to the pulsing spell against her hand. Not quite a struck deal yet.

“I get your soul.” He held up his marked palm to her, offering the deal. “I am a devourer, if you break this deal, I will feed from you.”

Amelia stared at his hand for a long moment, “And what if you break the deal?”

“That won’t happen—”

“What if you break the deal, Knox?” she demanded again.

“You get mine, to do with whatever you like.” She took his hand and gave him a firm shake.

The tattoo ink set into her skin. She’d made her second deal with the devil. He got to keep her, all of her, and even her soul if she broke the deal. In exchange, her family was safe, and she got Knox in his entirety.

“I had no intention of striking another deal with you, pet,” he breathed, watching dark lines stain his purple flesh.

“It’s fitting, isn’t it?” She held up her hand, following all the swirls and lines of their contract made physical. Knox popped open the door and dragged her by her ankles to the edge of the car. She yelped with surprise as he unwrapped her ankles and tossed the heels to John. Amelia tentatively stood up; her feet spread in the grass. Knox grabbed the hem of her dress and tugged it up. Stumbling back into the door, she scoffed, ready tospeak until he shoved the same soiled panties he’d made dangle earlier to the grass.

“Step out.” He motioned toward the yard.

Amelia obeyed quietly, tiptoeing across the stiff grass, studying his face. Knox bent and snatched up the discarded fabric, tucking them into his pocket.

“You shouldn’t have struck another deal with me, Amelia,” he warned, pulling his jacket off his shoulder and tossing it to John. “You have a five second head start. Let’s see how fast you are in that dress.”

Amelia squeaked, raising a finger to him and John. “Brayden and Penny have to stay inside!”

“Deal.” Knox bowed his head, giving John an order without speaking. The driver bowed to them both and marched to the front door. “Any other requests?”

Amelia glanced around. Being human was not great for running blindly in the dark. Her memory of the farmhouse and the yard were clear, but that would do her no good when her mind was hazy from the chase. He had healers, so a broken ankle would be unfortunate but short lived. Her heart slammed erratically against her rib cage.

“No...” she confessed, glancing back at him.

“Good...” he purred, cracking his knuckles. “Run.”

Amelia bounded away from him. The air whipped around her, hot and moist as she raced for the side with the horse barn. She had no intention of hitching a ride, but she knew that side was clear of other obstacles like vehicles and parts. Her feet slapped against mist covered grass. The deeper into the yard, the taller the yard. It tickled her shins. Arms pumping at her side and serotonin with a splash of fear filling her veins.

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