The Devil's

clarity. It brought

was still out. The backup generators had failed, plunging the

ircles under her eyes and a faint, purpling bruise on her cheekbone from Adrian's ring

monster'

be, my fingers brushing against the col

cent of cedar and rain clinging to my pillows. Every time I closed my eyes, I f

t me l

ed game. But it was

second floor, a room I was strictly forbidden from entering. He claimed it he

ling the perimeter, dealing with the aftermath of the storm.

rian's ego, filled with leather-bound books and dark mahogany furniture.

as l

slid it into the lock. It fit

ting to see the manila folders, the financial records, the e

as a small, slee

smooth black glass. A tiny red light blinked,

ouldn't be that easy. Julian had given me the key to the drawer, but he knew I could

ard, Julian," I whisp

ful,'" a voice draw

ves, his arms crossed. He was wearing a dark, tailored suit that was identical to th

e?" I demanded, my voic

ward me. "The guards, the staff, the chefs. They all answer to me, Sera. Adrian is so o

of the desk, his piercing b

d it," he

arms to hide my trembling hands. "You ga

ted, his voice dropping to that eerie, gentle register that made my skin prickle. "

I asked, letting a bitter smirk cross my face. "I've been

thick to breathe. He moved around the desk, his steps slow an

on either side of my hips. He was so close I c

doesn't know that you shiver when someone touches the back of your neck. He doesn't know that yo

keep my head. I had to remember that Julian was just as much a

ce steady despite the chaos inside me. "Show me the

ce. He reached into his jacket pocket and pu

t he's not paranoid enough. He doesn't know I stole his prin

thumb stroking over my palm

nstructed, handing me the patch. "And

ers trembling. This was i

against the glass scanner. The red light flick

as a single bla

b it, Julian's han

ng me against his chest. "Not

ou want?"

tic command. "Not just for the evidence. Not just to destroy him. I want you

ing, but he was right. When

of the landline on the d

oth

rect line. Only one p

ing in their depths. He didn't pull away. Instead, he pre

free hand and pressed

stantly shifting, adopting the cold, sharp cade

end of the line. Then, Adrian

able even through the phone. "I should have known

at, resting there lightly, his thumb tracing m

an whispered, the command laced with dark

-