Page 12

Experiencescreamed,Donot head in deeper.

Desirewhispered,Headfirstand make a splash.

Rökreached across the table and took her hand, leaning in to press his lips to the pulse point at her wrist.

“Player,” she murmured. “You’vegot your moves down, don’t you?”

Hegrinned against her skin. “Andyou keep calling me out on them. . . .”Hetrailed off, his body beginning toblur. “Poppy?—”

Hername seemed to echo for a beat as he vanished, leaving her hand in midair and the chair across from her empty.

Shestraightened, collecting herself.Hewould return directly; he just needed to tell the summoner that he was on a date.Rökhad warned her that he sometimes disappeared.

Still, she wondered what he’d find when he answered that call.Anaked temptress already in the throes?Woulda player resist?

Pouringherself more pricey wine,Poppywaited for him.

Shewaited.

Shewaited.

Herimagination went wild.Shequaffed another glass and fielded commiserating looks from other female patrons.

Afteran hour passed,Poppyfinally accepted thatRökwas off screwing someone else while their entrees grew chilled and her wine bottle drained.

Hadshe actually thought something special was occurring between her and the demon?Herpublic humiliation in this upscale place didn’t touch her private humiliation.Hersisters had been right.Formales likeRök, one woman was as good as another.

Theeye-watering bill added salt to the wound.AsPoppydazedly meandered out of the restaurant and through that memorable parking lot, she felt a mix of grief and fury.Grury.Rökmade hergrurious.

She’dfoolishly believed that he was the one for her.

Theone.

Unfortunately, he considered her something else.

Oneof many.

FOUR

Rökglanced over his shoulder, expecting to see a grateful ?witch following on his heels. “Poppy?”Outof habit, he tried to trace back to her, failed, then barged through the kitchen doors.

Surroundedby gremlin carnage, she narrowed her gaze at him.

“Thehell,Red?Thisis where we leave.Yousaid there’s going to be more.”Despiteall his research—he’d gathered intel on her as if she were a mission—he’d uncovered no hint of this curse.Histhoughts bounced to the night of their date; certain puzzle pieces were falling into place. “Weneed to get to a better battleground.SoIsay this in all seriousness:Comewith me if you want to live.”Heoffered his hand.

Thewitch didn’t take it, but she did exit the reeking kitchen with him.

Inthe hallway, she stopped. “What’syour angle, demon?”

“Whatare you talking about?”Hisangle?Keepingthis stubborn female alive.Shewas right; shewasan anomaly in theLore.Thetwo of them had unfinished business to take care of.

“Thevisitors will stick close to me, so all you have to do is steer clear.Completeyour job and minimize risks—those two things are pretty much all a merc focuses on.”

“I’mnot going to abandon you.”

“No, you wouldneverdo that,” she said in a sarcastic tone. “Oh, come on,Rök.We’reenemies.”

“Poppy,no.”Howhad they gotten so sideways on this?Becausehe’d been summoned during their date?Hewas a smoke demon; swimbos bloody happened.