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O ne moment I was in my town car heading to close a multi-billion dollar deal, the next I was yanked through space into a fucking summoning circle. A summoning circle that shouldn't have worked. No one had my true name, I'd made damn sure of that over the millennia.

Yet here I was, staring at a curvaceous redhead who'd somehow managed to do the impossible with what looked like a bargain bin spell book. The audacity of this human to summon me with a fake spell had my demon form rippling with rage beneath my skin.

But I'd played it cool. Made the deal. Because that's what demons do. We make deals.

As the deal snapped in place between us as we shook hands, I gripped her hand tighter than necessary and pulled her abruptly into the summoning circle.

Her other hand smacked against my chest as she attempted to not fall forward any further.

Her eyes widened as she stared up at me, fear perfuming the air and making me hard at its sweetness .

Fuck me. She was my mate.

The realization slammed into me with the force of a hellhound to the chest, making my demon form surge beneath my skin with possessive need.

This impossible, infuriating human who'd dragged me from my climate-controlled car with a fake spell from what looked like a dollar store grimoire was my destined mate.

In all my thousands of years, through countless summoning circles and deals with desperate mortals, the universe decided to bind me to this one. The cosmic forces had a twisted sense of humor, and for the first time in centuries, I wasn't the one laughing.

The scent of her fear mixed with something deeper, something that called to the darkest parts of my being, and I knew with absolute certainty that I was thoroughly, completely fucked.

"Your name." I demanded, my voice rougher than intended. My hand was still gripping hers, and I could feel her pulse racing beneath my fingers. "Now."

"R-Rosie," she stammered, trying to pull back. I didn't let her. "Rosalind technically, but nobody calls me that except my stepmother when she's being particularly bitchy."

Rosie. My mate's name was Rosie. The irony wasn't lost on me. A flower name for a demon's mate. Her scent was intoxicating, a mixture of fear and something else. Something sweeter. Arousal maybe?

Interesting.

I forced myself to release her hand, though every instinct screamed to keep her close.

"Well, Rosie, you've managed to royally fuck up my afternoon.

" I shifted into my human form, watching her eyes widen as my magenta skin smoothed into a rich chestnut tone.

"I was in the middle of something rather important. "

"I'm sorry?" She didn't sound particularly sorry. "I didn't think it would actually work. I mean, who succeeds at summoning a demon their first try?"

"No one," I growled, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "It's literally impossible without a demon's true name. Yet here we are."

She bit her lower lip, drawing my attention to her mouth. Fuck, I wanted to bite that lip myself. "So, what happens now?"

What happens now is I figure out how to handle having a human mate while maintaining my reputation as a ruthless demon lord.

What happens now is I protect what's mine while pretending this is just another soul deal.

What happens now is I try not to bend you over the nearest surface and claim you properly.

I had to try to figure this out. A human.

It was ridiculous. Even if she was tempting.

Instead of saying any of that, I straightened my jacket. "Now, we discuss the details of our arrangement. When is this engagement party?"

"This weekend," she wrung her hands together. "Saturday night. It's at my family's estate outside the city."

Perfect. A weekend at an estate with my new mate, pretending we're dating while being magically bound together for eternity. What could possibly go wrong?

"Wonderful," my smile was all teeth. "Now, about that modest salary I promised."

I was preparing to leave, satisfied with how the deal had worked out when my new mate dropped what felt like a boulder on my head.

"So, I'll see you Thursday morning then? For the week-long engagement party?" Rosie casually twirled a strand of that enchanting red hair around her finger looking nervous.

I froze mid-step, my tail going rigid. "I'm sorry, the what now?"

"Oh, didn't I mention? It's a whole week of celebrations at the family estate. Stephany always has to do everything over the top." She shrugged those delicious curves, and I couldn't tell if she was being deliberately coy or genuinely didn't think it was important to mention earlier.

Part of me wanted to be furious. The demon lord part that had spent millennia crafting airtight contracts and ferreting out every possible loophole.

That ancient, calculating side of me bristled at being outmaneuvered so neatly.

But deeper inside, where instinct ruled over logic, my inner demon was practically purring with delight at how cleverly our mate had played this little game.

Such cunning deserved appreciation, even admiration.

Wait. When had I started thinking of her as my mate?

Oh right, the moment I'd touched her hand and felt that snap of connection.

Like a key sliding home into a lock I hadn't known existed.

That instant of perfect recognition I was deliberately not mentioning because she already had a mountain of family drama to deal with.

Adding "destined to be bound to a demon lord" to her list of concerns seemed cruel, especially when she was focused on surviving her stepsister's social warfare.

No, that particular revelation could wait until she wasn't quite so overwhelmed.

For now, I could be patient. I wasn't even sure how to deal with it myself.

"A week." I turned to face her fully, crossing my arms. "You negotiated for a 'date to the engagement party' knowing full well it was a week-long affair?"

Her green eyes widened innocently. Too innocently. "Is that a problem? I mean, technically, it is one party. Just annoyingly spread out. Over seven days. At my family's estate. Outside the city. "

I shouldn't find this amusing. I really shouldn't.

But watching Rosie try to justify her clever little manipulation was oddly endearing.

A small, shameful part of me wanted to chuckle at how neatly she'd maneuvered me into this week-long engagement party.

The demon lord in me should be bristling at being outmaneuvered so expertly.

Rosie's wide, innocent green eyes were doing their best to appear guileless, but I knew better.

Beneath that sweet facade lurked a cunning mind that could give even the most seasoned demon a run for their money.

The way she'd casually mentioned the "date to the engagement party," conveniently omitting the week-long affair, spoke volumes.

My mate was no meek, trembling human. She was a force to be reckoned with.

And I found that utterly captivating. After centuries of dealing with timid, simpering mortals, Rosie's bold spirit and sharp intellect were a breath of fresh air.

The thought of being the object of her cunning machinations sent a thrill down my spine.

Perhaps I would even let her win a few rounds, just to see what other delightful surprises she had in store.

"You do realize you've tricked a demon lord?" I raised an eyebrow at her, letting my human glamour slip just enough to show my true form's magenta coloring. "Most would consider that unwise."

Rosie bit her lower lip and I had to forcibly remind myself that ravishing her minutes after making a deal would be unseemly. Even if she was my mate. Even if that lip bite was doing things to my centuries-old control.

"Are you going to void the contract?" Worry finally crept into her voice.

I chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in my chest. "No, little minx. A deal's a deal. You were creative with the truth, but the contract stands." I stepped closer, enjoying how her breath caught. "I'm impressed. It's been a long time since anyone got one over on me. "

The relief on her face was palpable. "So you'll still come?"

"I'll pick you up Thursday morning. Pack for a week." I glanced around her modest apartment. "Do you have suitable clothing for whatever events your stepsister has planned?"

Her silence was answer enough.

"We'll need to fix that before Thursday." I pulled a business card from thin air and handed it to her. "Go to this address tomorrow. They'll take care of everything you need. Put it on my account."

"I can't do that!"

"You can and you will." I cut her off smoothly. "If I'm playing the devoted boyfriend, you need to look the part. Consider it an investment in our arrangement."

She clutched the card, staring at it like it might bite her. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. You still owe me your soul." I winked at her, enjoying how her cheeks flushed. "I'll see you Thursday morning, Rosie. Eight AM sharp."

As I prepared to teleport away, she called out, "Wait! I never got your name!"

I paused, realizing she was right. She'd summoned me without it, after all. "Aldaine."

"Aldaine," she repeated, and hearing my name on her lips sent a shiver down my spine. "I'll see you Thursday."

I vanished before I could do something foolish, like ravish her right then and there. One week pretending to be her boyfriend while hiding the fact that we were mates? Delightful torture was what it would be.

My inner demon was giddy at the thought of having Rosie on my arm, even if it was all an act. To the world, she would be mine, even if I couldn't claim her fully. Not yet, at least. I'd bide my time, let her get used to my presence, my touch. In time, she would come to crave it as much as I did.

As for Timothy, my second-in-command, the bastard was going to have a field day with this development.

No doubt he'd tease me mercilessly about my "human pet" and try to convince me to just take her soul and be done with it.

But I had other plans. Rosie was mine, and I had no intention of letting her go, not even for the entirety of my demonic existence.