TWENTY ONE

Elodie

The waitress brings the wine and I sip it slowly, appreciating the way it goes with the salty fried bites of potato, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The tapas is moreish and irresistible, just like Azeroth. Is there really any point trying to resist his charm when he basically makes it impossible?

I can't help a sigh as I reach for a fifth croquette. God, these things are delicious. I really need to stop.

"What? What is it, Elodie? Tell me. Have I done something wrong?"

I shake my head. "No. It's not you. Let's just forget about it, OK? Probably just rebound emotions." I wave my fingers in front of my face to indicate the craziness of my state of mind right now. I mean dating—or fake dating—my demon boss after summoning him in a drunken mess has got to be right up there on the list of crazy. Of course I'm feeling a little off balance. "Why don't you tell me about you?"

"What would you like to know?"

"Well, for example, how old are you?"

He frowns as if considering. "About eight hundred. I only tried to put a number on it recently, actually. Most demons don't."

I gape. "Eight hundred?"

"Sure. When I was made, humans were just inventing banking, and I sometimes think the pure greed in the atmosphere breathed me into existence."

Wow. That's a lot to take in. Strange, too. In many ways, he seems so child-like. So hungry for new experiences. I wonder what it would be like to have lived for that long. "So have you always been a CEO? Do most demons have jobs?"

He snorts. "No. That's a recent thing, too. Once I paid off my debts."

I frown. "Debts?"

"It's complicated, but basically the demonic realm works a lot like a massive corporation. Lots of red tape and swapping of underhanded favors. I like to think that's why I'm so comfortable with human corporate law. It's a breeze compared with demon law."

"And do you get summoned often?" Thinking about this makes me feel odd. As if a little worm has burrowed into my guts and is squirming around in there.

Azeroth takes a sip of wine. "It's been a long time. I thought I was done with that, actually. I've worked hard not to be trapped like that again."

Oh. That's horrible. I hate that I've done that to him. I swirl the last of the wine in my glass, unwilling to look up into his eyes again.

When he speaks, his voice is so gentle I can't help it. "Elodie. That's not something I blame you for."

"It isn't?" It should be. I wish I'd never summoned him. Only then, I'd never have gotten to know this sweet, playful side of him.

He looks earnestly at me across the table. "I'm glad you did it."

I don't know what to say to this. It's still my instinct to apologize, but he seems genuine, and I'm afraid to put an emotion to his words and his expression in case I'm wrong. But what if he really is glad? What if he's really catching feelings the way I am?

Impossible. I glance away. "But you've been summoned before?"

"Yes." Azeroth lifts his glass and drains the rest of his wine in a single swallow, not elaborating any more on his answer.

There's an awkward silence. I guess he doesn't feel like talking about it. Why would he want to? I suppose I wouldn't either. Only, I can't help wondering if he ever did anything with any of the other humans who summoned him. Yeah, a lot of that creeping feeling in my belly is probably jealousy.

Time to change the subject. "So what else can you do with your magic? You can make things appear and disappear and move people. Do you have any other powers?"

He shrugs. "Nothing special. Besides. All of it comes with a cost. Usually a cost I'd rather not pay."

I frown. "Then this..." I'm thinking of how quickly he transported us across the other side of the globe and feel pretty guilty.

"Was fine," he says abruptly. "This was fine. It's my pleasure to do this for you." He calls the waitress over and orders more drinks, speaking to her quickly in Spanish.

Why do I get the impression he's covering something up? Is he hiding his feelings on this? Out of kindness?

I don't want to be the one trapping him. I'd love to think he might spend time with me like this because he chooses to, but that's wishful thinking. But I can't keep pretending I'm not feeling something here.

"Listen," I tell him suddenly. "I don't want to do this anymore."

His brows lift. "Do what?"

"The summoning. I want it to end."

"Elodie." There's a warning in his tone I don't understand. I'm doing this for his benefit.

"I want to end it."

"Elodie."

"I want you to—"

Azeroth jumps to his feet. "The summoning won't be over until I extract the payment. I didn't tell you before because I was hoping it wouldn't come to that. I was hoping... Well, I was just hoping."

I stare at him. "Payment?"

His expression hardens. "Your soul."

I suck in a breath. "All of it? What will happen to me?"

People are staring at us. Azeroth rounds the table and approaches me, but I don't want him to touch me. I'm so confused. I thought he was on my side. I thought I could trust him. Now it turns out he's been hiding this from me the whole time. Why can't I stop falling for the wrong guys?

"Elodie, listen—"

I dart away from him, making a break for the door. Suddenly, the music is too loud and the faces of the other customers blur into one malicious monster with many staring eyes.

"Wait!" He chases after me onto the street.

I don't get far. I come to an abrupt stop when Azeroth materializes in front of me and I nearly run straight into him.

Of course, I can't run from the demon I summoned.

"Why couldn't you have told me?"

"I'm sorry. At first it was just a summoning like any other. I was just doing what I always do."

"So you were just tricking me? This was all a trick?"

"No!" He runs a hand through his dark hair. "Yes. And then..."

I wait, pulse pounding in my throat, for him to finish his sentence.

"Then I wished I could take the summoning back. That I wouldn't have to hurt you. So I delayed. I'd like to tell you I was trying to do the right thing, but I'm afraid the longer it went on, the more selfish my reasons became." He hangs his head.

"Selfish?"

"Because the longer it went on, the more I never wanted you to stop looking at me the way you do. As if I'm the good guy here. I wanted to be that for you."

My mouth drops open. I'm still struggling for words to say when he continues.

"I like being your hero." He laughs, darkly. "As if a demon was ever a hero. But I want to be. I want to be the guy who makes you feel better, instead of making your life worse. I like the way it feels to be good to you."

"Oh, Azeroth." If that's not genuine feelings, I don't know what is. Maybe my gut was right all along. Maybe there could be something here.

He sighs. "But that doesn't change the fact that I'm bound to take at least some of your soul. There's no escaping it. It won't be much. It's hard to explain, but I managed to do most of what we've done cheaply. So that it didn't add up to much, but it will be some."

"What will happen to me?" Despite myself, I step closer. Despite all the lies, it's still my instinct to seek reassurance from him. It's become such a pattern over the last few days I just know he can make me feel better.

His hand cups my cheek. "It might feel numb. It might make you feel low on energy for a while. It will probably make it harder to be kind and happy, but Elodie you have so much goodness in you that you'll recover."

I stare at him. Blue flames flicker in his dark eyes. His thumb traces a pattern on my jaw.

Do I dare trust a demon? One who tricked me and seduced me?

One I'm definitely seriously getting feelings for despite everything?

This might be the biggest mistake of my life, but I do.

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. "And you'd be free?"

He nods.

"Would it..." I place my hand on his chest, wondering if his heart is pounding half as fast as mine. "Would it have to change between us? After the summoning, I mean. Would you still want to see me?" I shy away from asking what I really want to know—if he thinks he could love me. Even by human standards, it's far too soon. If he wants to keep seeing me, that's enough.

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

My heart swoops into my toes. But he hasn't stepped back or released my face.

"Not even salt and holy water would keep me away as long as you want me. You do want me, don't you?"

I let out a long breath. "Very, very much."

It's such a relief when he finally lowers his head and kisses me. I tip my head back, cling to his shirt, and lift on my toes to get more of it.

Somehow, even though my eyes are closed I know he's moved us.

I smile into his lips when I eventually open them again to find us back in his bedroom.

"I promise I'll be as gentle as I can."