Page 63 of The Devil's Weakness

“Blade—” I cut myself off.

Bethatgirl, Sasha.

“What if I don’t agree to beyours? I mean, you can’tmakesomeone be in a relationship with you. That’s... kind of illegal.”

His smug look makes me think that any fight I give him on this will be futile. But I’m not backing down. Not yet, anyway.IfI ever enter a relationship with Blade, it will be onmyterms. My body heats thinking about it, but it’s followed by a chill remembering everything and everyonethat would come with it.

“I get it,” he says. “One day, I hope you do want to be mine. Until then, however, you won’t be anyone else’s, either.”

Backing away from me with a promise in his eye, he opens his door again. He can think that all he wants, but I’m my own person. I don’t care how intense he is. I won’t be made to do anything I don’t want to do ever again.

“Finish getting dressed and meet me downstairs, little girl.”

He winks before he leaves the room and closes the door behind him. As soon as it’s shut, I run over and lock it. Then, I press the power button on my cell and pray it has enough battery left to turn on. I breathe a sigh of relief when the screen illuminates. I enter my password—my dad’s birthday—and pull up my text messages.

I have so many messages from both Ellie and Steve. My heart drops, reading over how worried they’ve been. I scroll through them quickly, eyeballing a few that stick out but ignoring most of them for now.

Ellie: I just got off the phone with Steve. He said that you went to Delaware for diner business??? What’s going on, Sasha? This isn’t like you.

Steve: I spoke with Ellie, and she said she never sent you to Delaware. What’s happening?

Steve: Are you in trouble? You know you can come to me if you’re having a problem. I’ll always be here for you, Sasha.

I pull up Steve’s number and hit send. It barely rings before he answers it.

“Sasha? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m so sorry I worried you.”

“What’s going on? Where have you been?”

“I—”

I have no idea how to answer him. Can I tell him what happened?Should I? Something tells me that honesty is not the best policy in this case.

“I just needed some time away, that’s all. I should have told you the truth, and I’m sorry. I… felt guilty for wanting to get away.”

That’s not a lie. I did feel guilty when I left.

“Where did you go? And are you back now?” he asks.

“Berkeley Springs.” My response comes out more like a question than an answer. “Yes, I’m back now… kind of.”

I look around Blade’s room.

“I’m in Whispering Valley, but I’m not home just yet.”

There is no response on the other end, and I can only imagine what he’s thinking.

“Is Michael still with you?” I’m worried about my brother.

“He’s herenow, yeah. But I’ve got to tell you, he got himself into some trouble while you were gone.”

“Oh, no… is everything okay?”

“I think so, but he got kicked out of The Devil’s Lair two nights ago.”

“How the hell did he get her—there?” I question, almost letting my current location slip.

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