Page 102 of Dating the Dealing Demon

“Good,” Meg says. “We’re finishing the sun stones for the west fields. Theo, you have time to answer human glamour questions?”

“Ooh, glamour,” Nic chimes in while shuffling. “My favorite. Ask away.”

Meg puts a carving of a cow shifter with a sword and a Viking helmet on the table. “My latest game has interest from Hollywood producers.”

“Congrats!” Val would’ve toppled off my lap if not for my wings and Monty nudging her back into place.

I’m not sure if the soul guardian came to join the game or steal licks of Val’s ice cream. But after he helped save Val and tore apart a shadow monster or two who came after her while she lay helpless, he can have whatever he wants. I summon a bowl and sneak him a scoop while she’s still celebrating her friend’s news.

Nic deals the next hand. “Are you trying to glamour someone to be in a movie? It can be done, but that takes a shit ton of magic. Like our Mother’s level of glamour magic, and sheand Father are off on their creepy fifth—or is it sixth now?—honeymoon in Darkspire Peaks.”

“Why creepy?” Ora asks. “I hear Darkspire has the best hot springs.” She glances at her grumpy dragon, and I wonder for the millionth time why those two won’t simply give a match a try. “It’s a romantic destination.”

“Exactly.” Nic’s impliedduhmust carry across the dimensions. “They’re our parents.”

“Tell me about it,” Meg says. “My folks are fully into the second chance demigod romance scene.”

The hedgehog who refuses to leave Val and return to its home picks that exact moment to toddle across the table, taking out a stack of poker chips on its way to investigate Monty’s ice cream.

“Hey.” Meg narrows her eyes. “Mom mentioned one of the hedgehogs from the Valley of the Gods disappeared about the time you guys showed up. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

“Nope,” Val lies. “You said you had a question about glamours?”

“Yep,” her friend answers. “And lucky me, I’ve got weekly poker night with the King and Queen of Hell since demons are supposed to be the glamour experts.”

“Stop it.” Val waves a hand. “You can’t be using fancy titles to get your way when you’ve got your own.”

My mate, my wife, my queen earned her crown by stepping up when the rest of us couldn’t. She named me her king, and I work every day to earn her trust in me and reward her faith in my vision for our kingdom. So far, we’ve survived with less court drama, greater prosperity, and the most peaceful time in demon history.

“Whatever glamour you need, Meg,” I say, “I’m sure we can conjure it for you.”

After all, my mate’s friends deserve every happiness. No matter how much their mates may pretend to despise me. Impossible. After all, I got them their women. They should be eternally grateful.

Meg blushes, and I’m sure her minotaur, Leander, thinks her flush is as enchanting as I find Val’s to be. “With the labyrinth mostly restored, I’m hoping Leander can come to the human world with me for a visit if a movie deal actually happens for my game. He says it takes a lot of magic.”

“With your match,” I tell her, “he has plenty to finish repairs to the labyrinth and enough left for the most convincing glamour. I’ll send him details on the spellwork. Let us know if either of you needs anything else.”

Meg raises a brow. “A crate of romance novels?”

I laugh, knowing my mate’s friend and her obsession with romance novels that has spread throughout the shifters of the labyrinth. “Done.”

“And a reunion with my friends,” Meg says. “Maybe a beach trip with our soul guardians.”

I glance to my queen.

“Done,” she says with a smile.

Monty stops eating and rises on his hind paws. The mongoose and Meg’s demon cat have forged an unlikely friendship.

Picking up the cards in front of me, I draw my mate closer and savor the softness of her curves against me.

“Get anything good?” Val whispers, angling to sneak a look at my cards.

“It doesn’t matter,” I tell her, stroking my tail up her leg to her upper thigh and higher. “I’ve already won.”

“No, my love,” she says. “Wewon.”