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“What do you want?” She stepped back.
“I want a chance with you. A date.”
Her stomach dipped, and a wave of sick terror rolled through her body. Why? Why would he ask this of her? She could never want a demon. Heck, the only reason she loved Zac was because their hearts had such a powerful connection. She’d been able to see the shiny man-penny beneath the tarnish—his arrogance and tainted view of the world from living in the thick of it for so long. Apocalypses were no joke. But if it hadn’t been for her front-row seat to his heart, she wouldn’t have been able to love him back. “What would be the point of pursuing me if my heart belongs to someone else?”
“What if I could prove that Zac does not love you, that you are not mates?”
Then it would mean I imagined everything, and I’d be devastated. “How would you do that?”
“I can release Zac. Just temporarily. Say, two weeks?”
What was the catch? “And?”
“And I will loan you one of my people’s bodies.”
“I don’t understand.” And Tula definitely did not like the idea of being separated from her body again. She’d gone through so much to get it back after freezing to death on that tiny boat. It was a long story, but basically, Zac had been trying to rescue her from the island of the mermen after one of Cimil’s botched fate-interventions.
“You say he is your mate, that he loves you. Very well. Allow Zac to prove it. See if he recognizes your soul.”
“You want me to trick him?” That was not in Tula’s DNA.
“It is not a trick. It is a test. You will be in disguise and able to see how he behaves when you are not around. And if you are right about his feelings for you, he will feel drawn to you no matter which body you inhabit.”
This was crazy. And extremely underhanded. “Why can’t I just see him? Talk to him?”
“As I said, my sweet Tula, I am a demon. I cannot offer you something for nothing. And I want you. This is the only way for us to cut to the chase.” He straightened his blood-red tie. “You will see that his love is an illusion, and then you will allow me to take you on a date.”
Tula absolutely hated this idea, and how could she trust this guy? On the other hand, what else could she do? She’d come here for the truth, and he was offering a way to get it. The only other choice was to die and see Zac in the underworld. Only, this time there would be no magical unicorn around to keep her human shell on ice like the last time when she froze to death.
“Fine. I’ll do it,” she said.
“Ah, but not so fast. You must also agree to the rules. You will have two weeks, during which time you cannot disclose your true identity to anyone. Even if they guess it, you must deny it.”
“And if he proves his love is real?”
“Then I will leave him to be free. With you.”
“In my own body?”
“Yes. Of course.” The king stepped closer, the fronts of their bodies almost touching. She could feel the heat of him through her sweat-soaked clothes. He radiated his own tempting kind of energy.
He slid his hand to the back of her neck.
She gasped. “What are you doing?”
He flashed a wicked smile, displaying his bright white teeth. “Sealing our deal with a kiss.” He pressed his mouth to hers, and she blacked out.
Maury stared down at the sleeping beauty passed out on the cave floor. Her heartbeat was weak, and death was near.
Luckily for her, he’d known she was coming. The photos of Zac had been the bait, as were the leads fed to her guide, this Yuri fellow. All according to plan.
Which was why Maury had made arrangements ahead of time and brought one of his demons through the portal for the body swap. All he required now was to place the two in the sulfur-scented, supernaturally infused demon-water and then pop! Push one soul out, pop the other in. Easy-peasy. Demons did it all the time. Of course, they’d had thousands of years to practice the fine art of body swapping and demonic possession.
Ah, The Exorcist. My favorite movie. The part where she projectile vomits is priceless!
Lately, however, demons had been acting discreetly, flying under the gods’ radars. Long ago, when the gods had banished the demons and sealed the portals, they’d missed a few. Mostly because demons were underhanded and trusted no one. They had emergency exits and hidden doors in quite a few places. He himself had been living in the human world right under the gods’ noses. Fools. Especially that Cimil, who thinks she knows everything.
She didn’t.
