The Devil's Deals

a's

it. I hadn't slept. I couldn't. How could I, when everything in this mansion felt like a prison? But, of course, the things that would befall in

those last hours nonstop: Dante's cold voice, his calculating gaze, those words-you belong to me now-echoing in my brain. Infur

ghtness taunting me with their freedom. Somewhere out there, normal people were leading normal lives-not embroiled in this

en all that kept me going-almost a lifeline-but even that didn't help now. For Victor was

en. I couldn't let them

d, my heartbeat quickening. The knock was soft and tentative, like whoe

I said, my

another tray, with breakfast on it. She set that on the little table beside the win

thing to eat," she

a smile.

econd longer before scanning th

nce I couldn't lie

nto a sympathetic mask. "I'm not

asked softly, taking a seat at the table, though I had no intention

oes happen. Though that does not exactly mean it always

brow. "He sure

ly, picking her words. "But there's more

ld someone say that? Why would they act as though there was anything worthy of

of him?" I asked sharper than I

em the glimmer of agreement, of understanding. Then, with th

desperation crawling highe

d have sworn something flickered in those depths-someth

eighted with finality. I felt a shiver

ly as though the weight of those words pressed down on her, too. S

ind her. I sat there, staring down at the untouched food,

th myself, assuring me that there was a way out-that there did have to be some sort of escape. But no

in this room. Not anymore. The walls closed in; the silence

ng to find the door locked. It wasn't. It opened with a soft click,

here I was going, but I needed to move. I needed

and then, I'd turn around half-expecting Luca or anybody else to pop out from nowhere and drag me back int

set of big, ornate double doors at the end of a long hallway. There

ore I could talk myself out of it

dark polished wood; that was not what had caught my attention, though. No, th

nt

et, his attention held by the telephone in his hand. He seemed comfortable and open,

room before he caught on. Yet I was immobile, pinned in place b

rk eyes latching onto mine. For one weighted second, we just

g his phone into his pocket. "Wha

t there was an edge to it, too-somet

stammered, trying to sound

ed the corner of his mouth. "And you thoug

th growing dry. "I didn'

ing mine captive. "Be careful, Elena. You

ne that trickled down my spine. I

voice barely audib

te warm. "Because you might find s

to find out. I spun on my heel and practically ran from the room, my heart racing wildly in

ant to wand