The air was filled with excitement, the possibility of winning creating a buzz. Chips clacked together as they landed on all the tables, but all I could think about was how I wanted to kiss that jackass so badly.
I’ve always been a bit of a hustler—it was my nature, after all—but with these four men, it was much bigger than lust, bigger than attraction, and I couldn’t let it take me over. Forever was not in the cards for me, and yet they were enticing me to make them the exception. That was just it, though: no one was the exception. My parents taught me that. They had a love so fierce, so strong, that it was said to be able to conquer anything… Anything but death.
I shook off my depressing thoughts as I reminded myself that I needed to get in the game and make sure I didn’t lose. I couldn’t lose. I refused to lose.
I got to the table first and noticed a shift change in the dealer. It was that demon from Fight Night whom I’d stomped and taught a lesson to. Fear flashed in his eyes when he saw me, but I shook my head and looked away. I didn’t want to let blue eyes know that I knew the dealer and he kinda owed me one—at least in demon logic he did.
I watched as blue eyes took his seat and ordered a drink from a pretty little waitress who wore a too-short skirt and low cut top with a name tag that saidSuccubus. I grimaced because it was just shameful to slap on a sexy costume and call her a succubus. I was going to have to talk to Deekahal about that. It was the principle of the matter.
As he was ordering his drink, I used some of the stored-up Pride magic to mind-link with the demon dealer.
Hey, demon-who-needed-his-ass-kicked.It's me.
He snapped his head to look at me because normal demons can’t just use Pride magic to project into others’ minds. I was just special like that. I’d learned that trick from an old friend, the Prince of Pride himself.
No! Don't look at me. Just listen. You’re an Envy demon, right?
He nodded his head once as he was organizing the dealer’s chips.
This game is a special one between me and that blue-eyed, white-haired guy. A bet of sorts.
He looked at him and nodded in acknowledgement.
I need you to help make sure I win this game.
He lifted an eyebrow, chastising me for rigging the game, but what the fuck, I was a demon. It’s what I did.
Don't give me sass. Just make sure to see what cards you give me, and when the five cards come out, make sure to illusion the ones I need to win. Can you handle that?I used my stern voice, the one that always sounded like do-what-I-say-bitch.
He straightened and nodded quickly, not wanting to get caught but also not wanting to get hurt by me, either.
I decided to sweeten the pot.
Good boy. If you make sure I win, I will owe you a favor, ‘kay?
He was still facing forward, and his eyes bugged out at my offer. So much so that some of the other players looked behind them to see what he was looking at. Good. Confident in my side deal, I settled into my seat.
I looked up and saw blue eyes smirking at me. “You better get ready, sweetheart, because when luck is on the line, it always leans on the side of death.”
It was kind of a cheesy line, but when he said ‘death’, I felt an old kind of magic rise up.
“We’ll see, pretty boy. Demons can make a lot of things happen behind death’s back.”
He laughed like I was full of shit, but little did he know I was telling him the truth. It was always so fun to tell people truths that they just couldn't believe. It was the best to see their faces after their defeat. It made the win all the more sweeter.
Blue eyes winked at me before he threw a chip at my demon dealer. “For luck.”
Was he trying to pay off the demon I was already cheating with? That wasn’t happening.
I mocked him as I threw a larger valued chip at my dealer and blew my dealer a kiss. The demon started to blush as he mumbled his thanks. I winked at blue eyes as he glared at me, and I brought my hand to my chest with a gasp and feigned innocence.
“What? I just wanted it to be even.” Then I let an evil smirk cross my lips before I focused on the demon shuffling and dealing the cards.
“Just pay attention to your cards,” he barked out. His voice spoke of violence as his eyes flashed with jealousy and a warning at my demon dealer.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t find it incredibly hot. Who wouldn’t? You would have to be blind, and even then, his whiskey-soaked voice would make you wet all the same.
“You got it, Mr. Pro.” I threw him a thumbs up as I exaggeratedly focused on my cards. I had an ace of hearts and a king of spades.
