Page 32 of Devil's Deal

“I shouldn’t have forgotten how young you are,” he mutters. “Your willpower fooled me, but truth is, you’re an innocent little lamb.”

I bristle at being called innocent but before I have time to give him a cutting answer, he lifts his head and smiles, his eyes glittering with mischief. For a moment, he looks utterly beautiful in a wicked, forbidden sort of way. My breath stutters.

“Come on, poppy girl,” he says, lowering his face to mine as his hand slithers from the back of my head down to my nape, his fingers warm and gentle. “You don’t really want to go home. What you actually want is to one up that girl. How dare she speak down to you, hm? Let’s show her. And I’ll show you, too.”

I blink, glancing at the edge of the river. Almost everyone is gathered behind the maidens, who stand on the low bank, their chaplets in their hands. They throw sultry looks at the men preparing in the water, their wet bodies gleaming silver under the moonlight.

Even the gods and creatures inside the circle stopped dancing, gathered close to the river and watching. We’re the only ones left behind.

“What will you show me?” I ask, my throat dry. I’m afraid to trust him, but by the gods, he’s right. I don’t want to hide. For once in my life, I want to go out there and triumph.

“How dear you are to me,” he whispers, dropping his head low to place a chaste kiss on my cheek. “The most beautiful girl wearing the most beautiful chaplet. Of course, I want you.”

My breath catches in my throat and I blink, trying to hide how deeply his words have touched me. I try to convince myself he’s lying, but this feeling is too good to let go yet. Judging by the smile crinkling his eyes, he knows how I feel.

“What do you want to do?” I ask, my throat dry.

“Let your chaplet down the river,” he says, eyes glittering. “And you’ll see.”

He walks away, throwing me one last look over his shoulder, his eyes bright in his dark face. I clench my fists, my heart pounding with indecision. Because yes, I want to take part in the ritual. I want my chaplet to float with the others and be caught. But how will he…

Woland stops at the edge of the circle and raises his arms, a dark, powerful god calling on his power. When he takes the next step over the invisible line, his body ripples and morphs, suddenly becoming something else.

I gasp, staring at him in disbelief. He turns fully around, grinning. His smile is the same, smug and a bit mocking, white teeth flashing in his swarthy face.

But everything else is different. He’s transformed himself into a mortal man, the finest I’ve ever seen. His body is sculpted to perfection, taller by a head than the tallest of our village men, broader in the shoulders, with narrow hips and long legs.

His skin is tanned and golden, his eyes dark and long-lashed, his hair short and black. And he’s naked. When he turns away from me, I watch, hypnotized, as his long cock swings with the movement, soon hidden by the curve of his round, muscular ass.

“Wait for me, lads,” he calls out in a low, pleasant voice that rings out over the excited din.

I grab my chaplet, suddenly determined to do something. And even though it doesn’t sit right with me to follow his orders, because I don’t trust him, I still take off as if in a dream. Down to the river, following the devil in the deceitful, golden skin of a man.

When Ida turns at the sound of his voice and takes him in, her jaw grows slack, her eyes wide, and I can tell immediately she wants him.

Everyone wants him. And while they admire his beautiful mortal body, I can’t help but be awed by his power and the ease with which he changed his appearance. I want to wield magic like that. If he offered to teach me, I’d follow him without hesitation.

If I trusted him to keep his word.

I stride to the edge of the river, taking my chaplet off my head. As if expecting me, the crowd of gods and creatures parts, eyes in unnatural colors tracking my movements. I can’t stand with the other girls since I’m trapped in the circle, so I am doubly exposed.

What am I doing? A small voice in the back of my head reminds me I don’t trust him. I don’t know what he’s planning.

But it’s too late to turn back now. People have noticed me as I stand by the river, just inside the circle. There are whispers and murmurs, and Ida’s narrowed eyes are on me.

I glance at Woland as he makes his way through the water, his strong legs effortlessly pushing against the lazy current. It’s obvious he’s the strongest swimmer there and the finest man.

“Who are you?” Janek asks, his brow furrowed as Woland stands next to him with a curt nod.

“Just visiting. Wanted to have a spot of fun. Your most beautiful girl caught my eye,” he says with a wink, like it’s all a game.

Janek glowers at him, Ida covers her mouth just after it stretches in a wide, pleased smile, and my heart sinks. Of course. How stupid of me to put my trust in the devil.

But if I turn and run now, it will be even more humiliating, so I brace myself, clenching my jaw, and prepare to watch my beautiful chaplet be spurned by all as they hunt down Ida’s. I prepare to watch it drown, which is not just proof that nobody wants me.

It’s a portent of death.

“Ready, boys?” Ida asks in an excited voice, raising her beautiful chaplet high over her head.

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