Fool’s Gold and High-Heeled Curses

The Five - Foot Radius

Episode 2

The purple soul-fire was dripping onto Evangeline’s boots when she finally snapped.

"If you laugh, I will bite your tongue off," she growled, grabbing Aurelius by his silk lapels and yanking his arrogant face down to hers.

She pressed her lips to his in a desperate, hard kiss meant purely for survival.

It was supposed to be a fake-out—a quick, transactional act to trick the temple's magic.

But the moment their lips met, a jolt of liquid heat shot straight down her spine.

Aurelius let out a soft, surprised hum against her mouth, his hand instinctively coming up to cup the back of her neck, deepening the kiss until her knees felt traitorously weak.

CLANG.

The heavy stone vault doors swung open.

Evangeline instantly shoved him away, breathing heavily, her face burning.

"There! The door is open. Good day, Lord Malakor."

She turned and took three fast steps toward the exit—and was immediately yanked backward into the air, crashing hard against Aurelius’s broad chest.

A glowing, translucent golden ribbon connected her waist to his wrist.

The sweet, enchanted voice echoed one last time through the vault:

"Kiss incomplete.

Romantic devotion at thirty percent.

Initiating mandatory physical tether until full devotion is achieved. Maximum distance allowed:

five feet."

Evangeline stared at the glowing leash in horror, then looked up at Aurelius.

The demon lord slowly adjusted his cuffs, a wicked, insufferable smirk spreading across his lips.

"Well, wildcat,"

he purred, wrapping the glowing ribbon lightly around his hand, pulling her half an inch closer.

"Looks like you're coming to my evening gala after all."