“Your goal,” I said, each word deliberate and impossible to misconstrue, “is to get me and Sagitta together.”
“That is correct.”
“As in, dating.”
“Uh huh.”
“As in, romantically involved.”
“Yes.”
“Why?” I blurted. “Why do you care? You’re an all-powerful demon! What does it matter to you if two dudes fall in love?”
Faust was quiet for a moment before he replied without an ounce of irony. “Because I like it.”
I blinked, stupefied.
That was that. He liked it, so he willed it to happen. Apparently, it was that simple.
I called bullshit.
“You seriously expect me to believe that?” I asked, throwing my hands in the air as I paced the polished halls. “You have no ulterior motive at all? You weren’t forced by some higher-up to do this? It’s not some kind of weird blackmail, or bribe, or something?”
“If it was, would it change anything?”
I stopped pacing. The way he said it was odd, like he was holding something back.
Then his actual question sunk in. The pieces clicked together in slow motion, and as I realized Faust’s grand plan, my chest tightened.
“You’re going to keep possessing me until I fall in love with Sagitta, aren’t you?” I whispered.
His reply was aggravatingly playful. “Maybe.”
“But we had sex!” I hissed through my teeth.
“Sex isn’t love, dear. I can assure you of that.”
I grunted, exasperated beyond belief. Why didIhave to be the guy possessed by a weird demon? What did I ever do to deserve this?
Frustration gnawed at me. I couldn’t even remember what my life was like before I had a voice in my head. Once this was over, I’d never take private thoughts for granted again.
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You’re halfway there already. You just need a little... push.”
“Be quiet—wait, what did you say?”
“Hmph. He tells me to shut up, then asks me to speak.”
I took a deep breath before I lost my cool. Faust said I was ‘halfway there’. I shouldn’t have been surprised. That asshole had full access to all my thoughts and emotions. He already knew about my crush.
Faust went quiet, but I knew he was still there, clinging like a burr and orchestrating some weird plot. He wasn’t telling me the full truth. But it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t go away until I fell in love with Sagitta.
What if Sagitta didn’t love me back? Was I doomed to harbor a demon forever?
“Ooh, good question, Chase. Maybe we’ll find out together.”
God, I missed having my brain all to myself.
I scrunched my brow and buried my face into Sagitta’s back. His scent filled my nose, making me shiver.
