Dealing with Devils (Book 2 in the Road to Salvation Series)

CHAPTER 21

Katie lay in her bed and stared into darkness. Her body still tingled slightly from the soul. It also shook uncontrollably from fear—or maybe it was relief. She couldn't tell. Either way, she had something to be shaken up about. She had finally let Braden know that she wasn't going to be pushed around. She was in control. It was a relief that he knew she couldn't be bullied, but she was also afraid he might do something to hurt her. If Braden was angry with her, he would find a way to retaliate. She had drawn a line in the sand. Although, if he was true to his word, he would leave Katie and Josh alone forever. She never said that what he had shown her was spectacular. In fact, she thought she had done a great job pretending it wasn't.

The events of the day ran through her mind. The one question that kept nagging at her was when Braden had asked: "Why Josh?" How many times had she wondered the same thing? How many different answers had she given to justify her actions? Josh wasn't a nobody. He was a demon. He had threatened Katie's life, used her mom against her, and attempted to kill Wes and Randy. She should have hated him.

And yet, there was something there Katie couldn't explain. Something in the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her, the way he touched and kissed her. There was a security in his arms, and she didn't want to lose that safety. She didn't know if her feelings for Josh were love because she'd never experience that before, but she didn't want the sensation to end. If she believed what Braden told her, she liked to be with Josh because he gave her a sense of acceptance without judgment.

Katie no longer cared about saving him; she only wanted to be with him. It still made her chuckle that Braden had gone through so much trouble to force a wedge between them. Did he really believe a more powerful soul would sway her to his side? Obviously. But Braden didn't understand that it wasn't the souls that kept her around. She had only recently had the experience. While it enhanced her feelings and perception, it wasn't the driving force for her to stay with Josh. He cared. He listened. He made her feel special. He kept his promises. Her mom was the only other person in her life that treated her with that kind of respect.

Blue light flashed through the room and temporarily blinded her. When she regained her sight, Josh sat on her bed. He smiled at her. She thought it was going to split his face.

"That was a really awesome thing you did for me today. You have no idea how much it means."

Katie felt her cheeks get hot. She couldn't stop her own grin from spreading across her lips. "It was nothing. I just wanted to show Braden that he couldn't control us."

"Oh, you did a lot more than that, Katie." He positioned himself so he lay next to her and draped his arm over her waist. "There are big changes coming for us. It's going to be amazing."

Katie was going to ask but then decided if Josh wanted her to know he would have already said something. More than likely, he was ordered not to say anything. It would be a waste of breath. Besides, she wasn't really worried. She would find out soon enough. She just wanted to enjoy her time with Josh. It felt right and natural to have him beside her, and the anxiety about Braden and what he may or may not do lessened. She ran her fingers through his hair. He snuggled closer to her.

"How was the funeral?"

Katie shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

"How's Deb?"

Katie sighed. This wasn't exactly what she wanted to talk about, but it seemed like they were going to. Her annoyance with her friend surfaced again. "I don't know. One minute she needs me and the next she's pissed at me. I have no idea what's going on with her. And the way she acts when Braden is around. Ugh! Sickening. It's like she does everything in her power to get him to notice her."