Maintaining the deception was far more difficult than Evenjos had anticipated.

She had studied Vy from every angle. She had sculpted Vy, sketched drawings of her, and practiced her voice, gait, and mannerisms for several hours per day. She thought that she had mastered the look and feel of Violet Hollander.

But.

Focus was paramount for any newly mastered form. Ariock was a taut, hot, hard mass of epic distraction.

“Wait.” Ariock gently pushed at her. His purple eyes seemed almost to glow with lust from beneath the shadow of his brow. “This is dangerous.”

Vy would not roll her eyes. Vy would react in a cute and harmless way, like tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. So that was what Evenjos-as-Vy did. She wiggled a little bit, pretending it was accidental, just to make Ariock even more hot for her.

“I’m ready.” She made herself sound like Vy, with just the right note of hesitancy and nervousness. “I’ve thought about this, Ariock. I want to be with you.”

Ariock still emanated concern.

Evenjos scanned his surface thoughts, searching for just the right way to soothe his worries. “I…” She bit at her lower lip, as if trying to look brave, despite human shyness. “I just don’t want to live my life in fear.”

She leaned down and kissed him. She let her lips linger on his, and she sensed the tingles of pleasure that gave him.

Ariock gently held her. Evenjos sensed that he was quite close to losing control and ripping off her negligee.

The worst thing about impersonating Vy was the fact that it actually worked. It worked on Ariock like magic. He loved that human ragamuffin.

Evenjos-as-Vy stretched atop his body, and wondered when it might be safe to reveal who she really was. She wanted to teach Ariock yet another power lesson: That it was possible for him to fall in love with an ancient immortal.

He had too many wrong ideas about Evenjos.

For one thing, he was under the wrong impression that Vy was braver than Evenjos. That was ridiculous. Which one of them shuddered in fear at the mere concept of sex with a giant? Which one of them was afraid to bring Ariock home to meet her mother?

Sex did not have to be a big scary deal. It could be wonderful. Evenjos was going to prove that to Ariock. And once he finally let loose and enjoyed himself, he would be so relieved that no one was damaged, he would probably choose the woman who could give him that pleasure.

Not Vy.

Evenjos-as-Vy yanked at his pants until he pulled them down for her. She teased him, pretending to have some shy, virginal ignorance. It was hard to maintain the illusion of being a virgin, but she dared not lose herself in passion the way Ariock was doing. Not yet. She needed him in a receptive mood for when she revealed herself.

Skeins of electricity snapped across Ariock’s body. Objects around the bedroom floated, caught in ripples of his passion. Something rumbled outside. One of the distant volcanoes?

Evenjos-as-Vy kissed Ariock, trying to prevent him from noticing how poor his control was.

All stormbringers had poor control during sex. It was a known hazard. That was why, in her day, the most powerful stormbringers often took vows of celibacy.

Ariock stopped kissing her. He studied her, troubled by her carefree passion. This was not the Vy he knew. Although he enjoyed her passion … Evenjos sensed a stir of suspicion in the depths of his mind.

Great.

She caressed his massive shoulders, trying to make him aware of her dainty size. “It’s okay,” she said in a light, soft Vy voice. “Sometimes it’s worth it, to take risks.”

She nearly suggested that they fly to a remote location, away from the city. That would be responsible. It was definitely something that Vy would suggest.

Except it was risky in a way that Ariock was unaware of.

Away from other people, Ariock might detect Evenjos’s powerful life spark, and realize that she could not possibly be in a meeting nearby. The ruse would be given away.

The idea of leaving the city began to occur to him.

Quickly, Evenjos kissed him, as if overcome by steamy passion. She worked her body down his.

“Stop.” Ariock held her trapped.

Evenjos had to force herself to give him a patient Vy look, instead of the scathing glare that his obstinance warranted. Why was he turning the simple act of sex into an obstacle course?

“Sorry.” Ariock pushed to a sitting position, one handed. “It would be better to do this when I can take time off from the war, so I can inject myself with inhibitor. I don’t want to risk this while I’m powerful.”

Evenjos wanted to scream in frustration.

She swallowed her feelings, reminding herself to act sweet. “No, no.” She leaned up and pecked his chest with a kiss. “Can’t we just both put aside our fears?”

He held her gently, and gazed at her with worry. “I might hurt you. I won’t risk that.”

Argh.

Evenjos trailed her hand up his inner thigh. At least she was still in his lap. Let him think about what her hands could do. “I’m really past the fear. I promise. I just want to enjoy you.”

Something seemed off to him.

Ariock was not consciously suspicious—not yet—but he was getting close to it. He looked troubled.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Evenjos-as-Vy sat back, giving him space. She should have spent more time practicing her Vy impersonation. It seemed she had not mastered it the way she thought she had.

In the face of her hesitancy, some of Ariock’s self-reflection melted away, and he was all sympathy again. “I’m not sure now is the right time,” he said, apologetic. “I thought we would talk a bit, first? We haven’t really been talking lately.”

“I guess that’s true,” Evenjos said, pretending to be Vy. “But a lot of that was my own stupid fear of being with you. It makes me ashamed.”

As she tried to figure out how to get back to kissing, Ariock leaned on his side. Orb lights reflected on his skin, lending extra definition to his muscular body. He was clearly unaware of how good he looked.

“I conquered a city of ten million today,” he said. “Do you know what I kept thinking, while thousands of freed slaves shouted praise for me?”

She looked at him, frustrated beyond words. Who wanted sappy chitchat? Couldn’t they get back to their crazed make-out session?

“I wanted you there.” Ariock was solemn. “I know my life is full of danger. But there are wonderful moments, too. And I don’t want to go through those alone.” He caressed her. “We have time. Sex doesn’t have to be a milestone. We can work our way up to when we both feel safe.” He gave her a gentle, frank look. “If we ever get there.”

If?

Evenjos struggled to mask her appalled disgust. She knew for a fact that Ariock craved good sex. Just a few minutes ago, she had straddled this giant and sensed his nearly uncontrollable lust. He craved carnal pleasures, and if he denied himself those pleasures, then he would always feel a dissatisfaction in the back of his mind.

What a fool.

What a shortsighted, immature idiot.

Oh, and also? He was a stupid coward. He was a literal force of nature; did he really believe that he could suppress his own innate violence? He was far too respectful of Vy’s delicate nature.

Ugh. He should kick aside that human and let himself be magnificent.

“So.” Ariock studied her, and she quickly forced her face back into a pleasant Vy expression. “I thought you could tell me about your family.” He used his powers to retrieve the book which he had dropped earlier. “I’d like to know the people you’re missing.”

Evenjos gazed at the photo album as if in contemplation. She had not, and could not, absorb Vy’s memories. As a second magnitude telepath, she could only scan surface thoughts and emotions.

She caressed Ariock’s scruffy cheek, trying to figure out how she might salvage this scene.

Might it be prudent to back out of the bedroom? She could try again some other time—perhaps when Ariock was fresh from a violent battle, splattered with blood and still steaming, looking for a way to release his leftover passions. That would have been better timing.

But she would need to figure out how to keep the real Vy quiet.

Threats?

The problem was that Vy had powerful friends. Even if Vy agreed to keep her mouth shut, she was close with her foster brother. Thomas would likely figure out what had happened.

And it might be an exceedingly dangerous move to offend Thomas.

Evenjos was beginning to regret her entire approach. Maybe the prize of winning over Ariock was not worth the effort and cost.

“I’m not in the right mood.” Evenjos-as-Vy pushed the photo album away, trying to seem shy despite being playful. She tried to look sexy. Inwardly, she urged Ariock to cave in to his carnal desires. He just needed to choose her. And then? After some amazing sex? Evenjos would morph to her default form and show him what a great choice he had made.

He was supposed to choose her: Evenjos.

“Let’s get out of the city, at least,” Ariock said. “I don’t want to risk anyone getting hurt.”

“No. I like your room.” Evenjos-as-Vy picked up his gigantic hand and used it to touch both of her breasts. “We can go slow, okay? I trust you.”

His gaze explored her body, which was still packaged in the negligee. He gave a self-deprecating laugh. “I wouldn’t trust me.”

It was increasingly hard for Evenjos-as-Vy to hide her impatience and frustration. The Yeresunsa of her day had not been this overly considerate. Had they? A few stormbringers had avoided sex, but otherwise…

Prince Jace used to host wild orgies at his hereditary palaces.

Prince Mokrul charmed every noble lady he ever met.

And Prince Elome? He used to kiss Evenjos on her neck and shoulders, in a way that made her lose her wings and her clothing. Now, that was princely behavior.

Perhaps it required certain training? Or certain life experiences?

Ariock gave her a very boring, very chaste, kiss. “I know a place where I can take you.”

Evenjos absorbed a representation of the place he had in mind. A secluded lagoon with a waterfall. It was hundreds of miles away.

He would probably bring the photo album.

Ariock sat up and used his powers to float a human-sized blanket into his waiting hands. He began to wrap it around her shoulders.

Even if Evenjos successfully managed to trick him into sex, he would be cringing every inch of the way. He would be terrified of accidentally hurting his fragile little human lover. Any mature relationship with Ariock was going to take forever.

Beyond forever.

Evenjos wasn’t sure she had that kind of patience.

On top of that, away from the city, there was a significant risk that Ariock would figure out that Evenjos was impersonating Vy. It was hard enough to keep up the fakery without the added stress of trying to reassure the giant every time he touched her.

He would figure it out before they could do anything enjoyable.

“No.” She pulled off the blanket.

He gave her a gentle look of concern. “You’ve changed your mind?”

She wanted to yell bitter words in his face. She wanted to poison his glowing love for Vy.

Maybe she would shout that she had never loved him! That she thought he was a monster! Really, Evenjos-as-Vy could regurgitate every hurtful phrase that Ariock had ever imagined that Vy might think about him. That should put an end to their loving tenderness.

But such poison would only backfire on Evenjos, if she ever wanted to impersonate Vy again.

Besides, she thought it was unlikely to work. Vy was not the sort of person to spew hateful phrases or scream at Ariock. He would get suspicious. And if he believed every word, he would mope around until somebody else—like Thomas—got suspicious.

It just would not work.

Nothing worked.

This seduction had seemed like a brilliant plan, but Evenjos now realized that she had failed to account for Ariock’s fumbling, immature, sweet-hearted nature. She supposed it was a side of him that she rarely saw. Mostly, she followed him in the wake of his conquests, all glorious and victorious.

It would be easy to walk away. But she absolutely needed to figure out how to handle Vy. Beg her forgiveness? Threaten her? Murder would have been an acceptable answer in the era when commoners were expendable, but that was no longer socially acceptable.

Or desirable. Evenjos did not wish to kill her competition. That seemed so petty. It was despicable, even. Ariock would not forgive her if she did such a thing.

None of her options were good.

“Let’s talk later, all right?” Evenjos told Ariock, focusing on her Vy disguise. “I’d rather be alone for a while.”

Ariock’s sympathetic concern deepened. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“You didn’t.” She slipped off the bed and headed towards the door. “I’m just in a weird mood.” She searched for a credible excuse. “You know, hormones. It’s that time of the month.”

She paused in the doorway to blow him a kiss.

Ariock looked confused and forlorn.

Evenjos gently closed the door, leaving him with that expression.

She looked around, making sure there were no chambermaids or anyone else watching. Then she dashed across the drafty stone corridor, uncaring that she was barefoot and in a negligee. Her innards were dust. She never got too cold or hot.

As she ran, she hollowed out her density, shifting her weight into wings. She hurried onto the veranda. Hopefully Ariock would assume that Vy had gone out with friends.

At last, she allowed herself to drop her mental guards and to shift her mentality. The Vy skin melted into Evenjos’s default goddess-empress form. Not breakable. Not fragile.

Much better.

She spread her wings and circled downward through cold drizzle. She needed to find a plausible reason to have been in the vicinity—something Ariock would believe. She also needed solid advice on how to keep the real Vy quiet. And how to appease Thomas, if he needed appeasing.

If anyone was likely to understand her frustrated failure, she knew it would be Garrett.