My smile didn't flicker as we made our polite exits. Graceful. Composed. I thanked Luxor for the invitation. Bid Ahyona goodnight. Even nodded to Aerion one last time, my voice smooth and syrupy as I told him, "Sleep well, my lord."
Malvor never let go of my hand. He was practically vibrating with restrained chaos the entire way out. The moment we stepped through the portal into his castle, the tension shattered like glass. A horse neighed from the newly formed stable.
Arbor flickered the lights in obvious disdain. "I hate horses," the floorboards creaked. "They crap everywhere." Malvor didn't laugh.
He caught me by the waist and pressed me against the wall, his eyes blazing. "All right, Annie. What was the plan? You told a god you would let him ride you. You."
I lifted a brow, perfectly calm. "I did not."
"You did—"
"I said," I interrupted smoothly, "'Give him the horse, and tomorrow morning, he will get the ride he is begging for.'"
A huge smile overtook my face. "I never promised me, Malvor. I promised him the ride. Verbiage, darling. You should pay more attention."
His silence was delicious. Then his face shifted, that glorious, wicked delight breaking over him. "You brilliant, vindictive, perfect nightmare of a woman."
I leaned in and brushed my lips against his cheek, whispering, "You're going to help me glamor the horse. Every detail. Down to the curve of my waist."
He groaned, half impressed, half turned on. "You want to enchant the horse to look like you?"
"To be me. In every visible way."
"And when he tries—" His grin sharpened. "It will throw him."
"Hard." The horse snorted from the stall like it already knew its role.
Arbor's lights dimmed in long-suffering disdain. "I hate you both."
Malvor threw his head back in laughter. "Then you'll really hate what comes next." His eyes gleamed when he looked back at me, hungry for mischief. "I am going to enjoy every second of this." I grinned, sharp as vengeance.
That night, he rolled up his sleeves and poured chaos into his work. Magic hummed in the air as he sculpted the illusion, every shimmer of light wrapping around the horse until it became a perfect replica of me. The curve of my mouth. The gleam in my eyes. Even the tilt of my head when I was unimpressed.
"Stay still," he muttered to the double, conjuring an illusionary brush to fluff its hair. "You're supposed to look ravishing, not rabid."
The creature flicked its tail. He stepped back, crossing his arms, a grin scorching across his face. "Annie, my vengeful minx, if you could see this—"
"You mean like this?" I said.
He whirled. I leaned in the doorway, smiling slow and dangerous. "Ready for the last part of the plan?"
He eyed me suspiciously. "You said that was the plan. One body-double horse to humiliate a pompous war god. Classic."
I stepped closer, voice purring low. "That was part one. Part two? Turn me into you."
His brows shot up. "Me? Annie, you already have my heart. You didn't need my face."
"I want to be you. Sneak into the temple as Malvor himself. Deliver the 'gift.' Let him try his little performance. Mock him. Walk out. All glory, no effort. You stay invisible and watch. This is my prank. My vengeance."
He just stared for a moment, mouth open. Then that grin spread, wide, wicked, besotted. "Oh, Annie. You want to be me? Do you have any idea how many bad decisions that involves?"
I crossed my arms. "Do you have any idea how fast I would strut into that temple, destroy him emotionally, and strut right back out?"
"…Fine. But I'm making you the hottest version of me to ever exist. I want that arrogant bastard to want me so badly and get absolutely nothing."
With a flourish, he whispered in chaotic tongues, and magic surged. A moment later, I was him. Or rather, a taller, smirking, devastating version of Malvor. I flexed my new fingers. Looked down at my arms. Then, because how could I not, I poked my own chest.
"Annie!" Malvor gasped. "That was my chest! Those were premium pecs!"
I arched a brow. "Really? Because they're kind of squishy."
He clutched his heart. "You take that back!"
"Squishy," I repeated, poking again.
"Arbor!" Malvor wailed. "Make her stop touching me as me!"
The lights flickered lazily: No. You deserve this.
"Traitor," Malvor muttered. Then he spun on me, eyes bright.
"…But gods above, you look incredible."
I smirked, testing the voice, the posture, the swagger. "I'm going to humiliate him as you."
"And I get to watch," he said, nearly vibrating with glee. "Invisible. Smug. And maybe a little turned on."
"Do not make this weird."
"Annie, I was chaos incarnate. Weird was literally my brand."
I leaned in, kissed him quick and sharp. "Then let's make this one for the history books."
And the plan was in motion.