Pretending to fall might come with benefits . . . until the very end.

Kat is terrified of almost everything except demons, not since they rescued her from slavers and gave her a proper job, unspoiled food, and a consistent roof over her head. Hidden away at the post, she can’t bungle conversations or draw derision with her scarred face. But when her sister insists they flee their new untroublesome life, Kat is determined to prove they belong.

And who better to assist with belonging than a carefree demon who’s never glided into a room he didn’t immediately possess? As an adept magician from an aristocratic family, Azrion appears to have it all: talent, prestige, wealth. But just as the night sky changes, so does his fate—his mate breaks off their tenuous courtship, and that bodes ill for everything, including his father’s approval. The stars also brought humans to his city, and he’s convinced any one of them will inspire enough jealousy to win back his ex. If only he could predict what would come of choosing Kat.

With a contract for their fraudulent courtship in place, Kat and Azrion agree to play at being mates. It’s a risky game, but it comes with more coin than Kat can count and the promise to reclaim Azrion’s orderly life. Perhaps coin loses a bit of its shine when held beside the brilliance of a certain demon’s grin, and maybe order isn’t quite so appealing when up against the delightful peculiarities of a specific human, but actually falling for each other wasn’t part of the deal. After all, when has a deal with a demon ever gone wrong?