What the…? These are demons.
“Zac, what is happening?” asked Tula again.
“I have no clue, but word has gotten out about the island somehow.” This was the exact opposite of what he needed. Peace. Quiet. Alone time with each woman. Instead, they’d walked right into some sort of demon event. “Let us go find out who’s in charge.”
“Hello, sir. Name on the reservation?” a short brunette wearing a devil horns headband greeted Zac and his two guests just outside a massive two-story log cabin. The sprawling home belonged to Roen, king of the mermen, who was presently trapped back in the underworld with the other immortal creatures.
“No! We don’t have a reservation. Who’s in charge here? I want to speak to them,” Zac snarled.
“I am in charge of the guests,” she said in a chipper tone. “I am Cindy, the guest services director.” She pointed to a name tag on her chest. “And this is the Burning Demon Festival. Did you say you don’t have a reservation?”
“I meant who’s in charge of all this?” Why was she being so evasive?
“Well, that would be our king, of course. But he’s currently in the dance tent. It’s show-tunes hour.” She leaned in with a smile and a wink. “You know how us demons love our show tunes.”
“Yes, yes. We know.” Musicals were a demon invention; thus the reason they drove many humans crazy. “Hold on. Are you telling me everyone here is a demon?” He’d seen at least five hundred people so far, and more planes were landing. Gods only knew how many had arrived before him.
“Not everyone’s a demon.” Cindy eyed Zac. “So you weren’t invited?”
“No. Get over it. I want to talk to your kin—”
“They are my guests, Cindy.” Maury appeared, marching down the hill on a paved path that cut between towering pine trees and several small log cabins. Today he wore a white suit and tie. His amber eyes were filled with glee and mischief.
“Maury,” Zac growled, “how did you know we would come here?”
“I guessed you might try to keep these lovely creatures all to yourself.” He stepped around Zac, took Tula’s hand, and kissed the top.
She smiled appreciatively.
He then took Gola’s creepy hand with the long fingers and placed another kiss.
Zac didn’t know which woman was his, but the gesture was intended to ruffle his feathers. It worked.
“If you’ll excuse us for a moment?” Zac said to the ladies and then spoke to Maury. “I want a word with you.”
“By all means.” Maury gestured for Zac to follow him inside the home, which was deceivingly rustic on the outside. The interior was the very definition of modern, with vaulted ceilings and expensive chic furniture that probably came straight from Roen’s Seattle penthouse.
Billionaire mermen. So flashy.
Zac and Maury entered the living room with a panoramic window overlooking the stunning cobalt-blue bay. Zac tried not to get distracted by all the creepy-ass mer-art on the walls—oil paintings of violent storms engulfing vessels, and sea monsters with glowing eyes tearing out the throats of sailors.
“Roen’s family portrait. Very nice, yes?” said Maury, noting Zac’s interest.
“No. It’s fucking weird. Now cut the crap, Maury, and tell me what’s going on. How did you know we’d come here? How do you even know about this island?”
A snide grin flickered across Maury’s lips. “A demon never tells his secrets.”
“You got help from Cimil, didn’t you?” Who else knew about this place and had the ability to see Zac’s moves in the future? Or hear about them. Whatever. Cimil’s gifts were also fucking weird, too.
“Like I said, I’ll never tell. However, if you’re asking what I have in store for you, I’d be happy to share. I want Tula. I am here because it is my turn to win her, and I want you to be there when she chooses me. Of her own free will.” Maury poked Zac’s chest.
I’ll tear his arm off and shove it in his nostril if he does that again. “You don’t want Tula. You merely want to take her from me.” Zac just didn’t understand why.
“Is that not the same thing?” Maury shrugged.
Zac stepped in close. He was almost an entire foot taller than Maury. “No. Because you have no intention of treating her right or protecting her. Once you win, which you won’t, you’ll toss her aside and move on to the next devious act. You’re a demon. It’s what you do.”
Maury wiggled his dark brows. “Or maybe I’ll keep her. Maybe I’ll break her and make her my obedient wife.”
Zac balled his fists. “What do you really want, Maury? Because I know this is bigger than her.”
Maury’s smug grin melted away, and he lowered his voice, letting a bit of his true evil demon show through. “I want to do to the gods what they did to my people. I want to take everything from them and leave them all to rot for eternity.”