Page 13 of Hate Mates

“Maeve!”

My objection goes in one ear and out the other.

“I’m going to go to bed, and whatever happens after that will be between you, the walls, and Lucifer.”

“You don’t know I’d pick Lucifer,” I mutter.

“Oh, you’d totally pick Lucifer.” Giving me an exaggerated wink, she heads toward the staircase. A quarter of the way up, she calls out over her shoulder, “Have fun.”

I sit and stare at the screen for a good ten minutes. It’s ridiculous. Someone who just got the rug pulled out from under her shouldn’t throw a baited hook into shark-infested waters.

But my finger hovers over the enter key the longer I look into Lucifer’s hypnotic eyes.

One click.

Just one press of a button.

What’s the worst that could happen?

“Screw it.” I click on Lucifer’s avatar and start typing.

I’m a good girl who finds the chance to sin with the Devil too tempting to pass up.

I hit send and stare at it for a few seconds before dropping my head into my palms. “God, this was a bad idea.” Groaning, I go to exit out, when I see three dots appear.

I freeze, unable to move or breathe. Finally, the three dots stop bouncing and a message appears on the screen, sending panic and adrenaline shooting through me like a firework.

You won’t be good for long, love.

Seeing him call me “love” knocks me sideways. I usually hate pet names, but there’s something about the way he does it that feels like a lit match under my skin. I attack the keyboard, fighting for balance.

My name is Izzy.

Excellent. A first-name basis makes negotiating easier.

Oh, great.Hidden fees. I’m going to kill Maeve for this.

Excuse me?

I barely get the last word typed when a whole paragraph appears.

Sin is my specialty, but the darkest pleasures come at a cost. If you want to play the Devil’s game, you must pay the Devil’s price.

Air expels from my lungs as a hot flush creeps up my neck. Eventually, it makes its way to my cheeks, drawing beads of sweat across my forehead.

“Close it,”a voice in my head warns.“Shut it down.”

Instead, my hands shake as I type out a three-word response.

What’s the price?

There’s a pause, and then the three dots appear, my mind dipping into a warped, dangerous place where I imagine the prince of darkness sitting on a massive onyx throne, fire licking at his feet as he types out his response.

What else would you expect, love? Your soul.

TWO

Izzy

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