“What kind of weapon?”
“I’m still working on the details. It may take time. Patience is a virtue, you know.”
Darrak snorted. “So is chastity. Luckily, demons aren’t required to be virtuous. I have no desire to be either patient nor chaste.”
“I want you to be a part of this. When I rise to power, you have the chance to take some as well. After all, I don’t know if I can handle all seven rings myself.” His grin widened. “Maybe four for me and three for you. We can rule Hell together.”
Darrak’s head felt heavy with this influx of information. “You’ll be destroyed if they ever find out about this.”
Theo’s eyes narrowed. “And will you tell them?”
“Of course not.”
“So you’ll help me?”
“To kill Lucifer and the others and take their power for ourselves the moment we’re given the opportunity?” Darrak said it very slowly so there would be no misunderstandings.
“Yes. So what do you say? Are we partners? Shall we take over Hell and leave those who oppose us in our bloody wake no matter how long it takes or how difficult it might get?”
Darrak gave his friend a slow grin and felt his newfound power rising inside of him, itching to be used as soon as possible. “I’m so in.”
THREE
“I need to dampen you now,” Eden told Darrak when she entered her bathroom, still disturbed by what had happened at the club.
“Thanks for the warning.”
“Only for five minutes. Just need to do some stuff.”
Darrak sighed. “I know. Your mysterious bathroom routine. But it’s not necessary to dampen me. If you knew half the things I’d seen—”
She held up a hand. “And I don’t want to.”
“I have seen you naked before,” he reminded her. “Trust me, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Your body is gorgeous. Right down to that little freckle on your—”
“You’re not helping.” She glared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror.
“Sorry.” But there was a twist of amusement in his voice that made her think he wasn’t all that sorry.
“Five minutes,” she said again, and before he could protest, she flicked the metaphorical switch in her head that shut the demon off from seeing or hearing anything for a while. It wasn’t without effort. This ability had more to do with her meager psychic abilities than tapping into her black magic. She could tell because it was hard to do. Using magic was effortless and tempting. This was difficult and gave her a headache if she tried to hold him back for too long.
Eden finished in the bathroom as quickly as she could and changed for bed. She used to wear a T-shirt or sleep entirely in the nude, but ever since she’d acquired her new roommate, she’d bought a few sets of full-length pajamas—the least sexy ones she could find. One set even came with feet attached. Tonight she chose the ones with a pattern of small pink poodles all over the thick white flannel fabric. Could not be less sexy if she tried.
Only after she’d gotten in bed, and pulled the covers up to her chin, did she release the dampening. She immediately felt the demon’s warm presence inside of her again.
“That felt like more than five minutes,” he said.
“It was ten minutes. Maybe eleven.”
“If you say so.”
“I do. Now I’m exhausted. It’s been a long night and it wasn’t even worthwhile.”
“I know. But we’ll try again,” he told her. “The wizard’s assistant hangs out at that club every night, I’ve heard.”
It still confused her. “And where exactly did you hear this from? You’re with me all the time.”
“Don’t sound so thrilled about that.”
He was inside her head at night. And by day, even though he could take form, he couldn’t stray more than a hundred feet from her side or he would be drawn back to her like a magnet. A magnet in great pain.
“I was in Toronto for a week before we met, you know,” he said. “Even though I didn’t have much control, I did manage to collect some information about potential ways to break the curse.”
Following his “only possess scumbags who deserve to die” philosophy, he’d been in the body of a serial killer who’d tried to kill Eden before he was shot dead, forcing Darrak to make the jump to a new host whether he wanted to or not.
She stared up at the ceiling. “I didn’t like that nightclub. Something felt off about it.”
“You found your old friend.”
“So did you.”
“Touché. However, you didn’t scurry away in the opposite direction of yours.”
“You didn’t scurry. You were—”
“A cowardly fool afraid to face my past?” he finished.
“I was going to say you were being protective of me.”
He groaned. “If you call me your guardian angel again, we’re going to have a problem.”
She smiled, but covered the expression with the edge of the bedsheet. “I’d never use a term you find so morally insulting.”
“Good.” He was quiet for a moment. “I honestly don’t know why you sound so calm about all of this.”
“About what in particular?”
“The curse. Me still harassing you internally. It must be completely frustrating for you.”
“Well, yes it is. But why I’m calm is very simple, really.”
“So why is it?”
“Because I trust you.”
Darrak didn’t respond to that for a moment. “You do?”
“Yes. I know we’ll figure a way to break your curse before anything really bad happens. And until then I trust you to do the right thing.”
“I . . . I appreciate that, Eden. I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
“I know that.” Despite all that they’d been through together, it was true. She trusted the demon. He’d done everything in his power to protect her, to keep her safe, and the fact that bad things had happened since they’d met wasn’t really his fault. Even the things that seemed to be entirely his fault.
Like she’d said, their relationship was seriously complicated. But she supposed it didn’t have to be. She helped him. He helped her. They were just partners in finding a solution and nothing more. And one day soon they’d go their separate ways, and she’d forget how it felt to kiss him or how good his body had felt against hers when they’d made love. It was something they hadn’t discussed much—kind of like an elephant in the room.
It made it a little easier to pretend it had never happened.
“Go to sleep, Eden,” Darrak said, his voice as warm as his presence. “Everything will be better tomorrow.”
“Promises, promises.” She closed her eyes. It took a while, but just after midnight she finally drifted off.
Darrak didn’t sleep. He zoned out sometimes to restore his energy when needed, but actually being unconscious like a human didn’t happen for him. All those awake hours gave him lots of time to think.
She trusts me, he thought.
He really wished he deserved her trust. However, if Eden found out what he could do at night, she’d strongly reconsider her position on the subject.
A half hour after she’d fallen asleep, Darrak sat up and swung Eden’s legs out of bed. He’d never been able to do this before with past hosts, but when Eden was unconscious, he could possess her body completely if he wanted to.
And he did want to. He had things to do.
He walked to the bathroom and flicked on the light. Eden’s beautiful face stared back at him in the mirror, and guilt twisted in his gut.
Demons really shouldn’t feel guilt. It was so undemonlike.
He dressed quickly without sneaking a look at Eden’s body. Okay, fine. He wasn’t made of stone. He looked. But it was quick.
Several quick looks. That was all.
He’d never been this attracted to a human female before. He’d had his share of them during his time as an incubus, but Eden was the first woman who had been more than tha
t to him. More than a meal, a snack, a soul to take back to Hell.
He’d rationalized that what he felt for her was only gratitude. She’d had the chance to have him exorcised several times, but she hadn’t—instead choosing to believe he’d changed from his pre-curse days. She’d helped him, risking her own life to save his. Everything she did, even when she grumbled about it, was to help him.
He leaned forward to stare into her beautiful green eyes and felt a tug inside him that indicated what he felt toward her was more than simple gratitude.
Damn.
He shook his head. You are so whipped, buddy. You know that?
Well aware.
It was almost amusing, really.
Besides, it didn’t much matter how Darrak felt about her. Once he’d broken the curse and had his own body back full-time, he’d have to high tail it out of the city. Out of the country. Off the continent. Hell had agents who’d be on his ass the moment he was at full power again and registering on their demon radar. Those demon agents would likely send him on a one-way trip to the Void, deeming him useless as an archdemon now that he was dealing with this pesky humanity issue of his.
Yeah. He’d like to avoid that, pretty please. The Void was an endless nothing where demons went when they were destroyed. Death for demons with no escape clause. He’d also like to avoid being the cause of Eden’s inevitable death if he didn’t find a way to break his curse.
Which was exactly why he was headed out again tonight in this borrowed body.
But before he could leave the apartment, first he had to get past the guard.
Forgoing Eden’s heels for a more comfortable pair of flats, he left the bedroom wearing the same outfit she’d worn earlier. The skirt was a bit on the drafty side.
A small black cat jumped down from the sofa where she’d been curled in a ball. The next moment it shifted into an attractive woman with dark skin and long black hair who was wearing a blue tank top and shorts. She also wore a skeptical expression.
“Didn’t you just get home, Eden?” Leena asked. “And now you’re going back out?”
“Got a date,” Darrak said. It felt very strange to hear Eden’s voice as he spoke.
“A date?” Leena’s eyebrows went up. “With who?”
“Just someone I met earlier.” Darrak shrugged and tried to look coy. The less he said the better. The shapeshifter hated his guts. He wasn’t particularly fond of her in return. If he gave her any reason to believe he was borrowing Eden’s body when she was unconscious, that would so not go over well. To say the least.
In return for free rent in the apartment, Leena had appointed herself Eden’s chaperone—keeping an eye on the dangerous demon in case he was up to no good.
“Okay, Ms. Mysterious. And what about tall, dark, and demonic?”
“I dampened him.” Actually Darrak had dampened Eden so she wouldn’t inadvertently wake up while he was out and about. More of that inconvenient and unfamiliar guilt coursed through him at the thought. “He’d just get in the way of me having a good time, anyhow.”
“You’re right about that.” Leena studied her housemate for a moment before a smile spread across her face. She casually leaned against the laminate counter in the kitchenette. “You are so devious. I love it.”
“A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.”
“Okay, have fun. I think it’s good that you’re seeing someone else, whoever this mystery man is.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Leena moved toward the refrigerator and opened it so she could grab a can of Coke. “But you should let Darrak know. Maybe it’ll help extinguish that torch he carries for you when he sees once and for all you two can’t be together and you’ve fully accepted that.”
Darrak struggled to keep his expression neutral. “He doesn’t carry a torch for me.”
“Come on. If you really think that, you’re blind. He’s in love with you and you know it.”
“It’s not like that. Trust me.”
Leena held up her hand. “Fine. Stay blind. But that’s why I’m here. Just in case you two want to go at it again, I’m here to make sure you don’t risk your soul for that six-foot piece of chiseled brimstone. I don’t care how good he is in the sack. Stick with humans. They’re way less trouble.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” His jaw clenched. “I’ll be back later.”
Leena opened the can and took a sip. “I’ll be here.”
Oh, I know that, Darrak thought darkly, now in a foul mood. But the smile remained plastered on his borrowed face until he stepped outside the apartment and closed the door behind him.
In love with Eden. That particular emotion would be completely negligent and stupid of him. Not to mention entirely hopeless.
Stupid shapeshifters. Always so damn insightful, weren’t they?
Ben Hanson watched Eden leave her apartment and glanced at the clock on his dashboard. It was after twelve thirty.
Instead of getting in her Toyota as she’d done earlier, she hailed a cab. He followed in his car at a discreet distance.
It had been a week and a half since he’d learned the truth—seen it with his own two eyes. After a lifetime of trying to do the right thing, trying to make the world a better place, a mind-set that guided him into a career as a cop, he’d seen that true evil really did exist in the world—and it was worse than any arsonist, murderer, or con man he’d ever faced before.
Demons existed. And one of them currently possessed Eden.
When he’d first met her on a case—Eden occasionally consulted for the police using her psychic abilities—he’d thought they had a connection. Possibly a romantic one. Even after his shaky history in that department—a murdered fiancée didn’t exactly make him a catch without major emotional baggage—he’d thought it might be worth it.
Hadn’t exactly worked out as smoothly as he’d hoped. Eden had chosen to protect the demon instead of allowing Ben to help her. It was clear to him she was in danger—that her soul was in danger.
His arm itched. The brand on his left forearm was of a fleur-de-lis enclosed in a circle. It had been given to him by the Malleus and was still healing. The Malleus was a centuries-old secret organization that fought against the darkness only a small percentage of humans were aware of. They’d seen his potential, so they’d inducted him into their numbers. And the ritual, culminating with the brand, had given Ben certain abilities—to see Others clearly and separate from humans, the extra strength required to fight against them, and the knowledge he needed to defeat them.
And to think, two weeks ago he’d scoffed at horoscopes as being ridiculous mumbo jumbo.
Virgos were naturally skeptical.
He’d done a little research on lots of things in the past week and a half. And most of it still sounded like bullshit to him.
At the moment his assignment for the Malleus was to keep an eye on Eden and report back any unusual activity. He’d do that. And when the moment presented itself to save Eden from the demon who’d taken over her body and her life, he’d do that as well. Without hesitation. Without fear.
Ben hadn’t been able to save his fiancée, but he’d damn well save Eden. Even if she didn’t want to be saved.
FOUR
If this doesn’t go well, Darrak directed the thought toward the currently dormant Eden, then I’m very, very sorry.
Best to stay positive, though.
This might not suck.
Darrak slowly approached Theo, who sat on the other side of Luxuria, and didn’t take his attention away from his target for a moment.
It had been a knee-jerk reaction to flee earlier. Not brave or proactive in any way. But he was back. He had to deal with this now before things got out of control.
Well, more out of control.
The other demon watched the last steps of Darrak’s apprehensive approach before his dark-eyed gaze moved up and down Eden’s body. Darrak kept a reserve of power in case of emergencies. He’d recently used up the l
ast dregs of his healing power, but he still had some destructive power hidden away if Theo tried anything.
Whether or not it would work while he possessed Eden was something he probably should have considered earlier. Hindsight was always 20/20.
There was a blonde sitting on Theo’s lap. His hand was on her butt, under her skirt, and her enthusiastic tongue was exploring the demon’s ear. Upon Darrak’s approach, the woman turned and glared at him.
“Get lost,” she snarled.
If Darrak hadn’t been feeling quite so on edge, he might have laughed. Did it look as though he was approaching Theo to hit on him? Terrific. He never should have insisted Eden wear a skirt this short tonight. It definitely gave off the wrong impression.
“I’ve been lost for a long time,” Darrak replied.
The blonde raked her hands through Theo’s long black hair. “He’s mine.”
“Trust me, you’re more than welcome to have him.”
Theo just looked at him with mild interest, and Darrak realized his old friend had no idea who he was. Couldn’t Theo sense Darrak’s presence inside this body at all?
Darrak flicked a glance at several empty glasses lined up on the glass table in front of him. Theo had been drinking tonight. Heavily, by the looks of it. Alcohol and other drugs affected demons as much as they affected humans—at least when the demon was in human form.
It wasn’t a huge surprise that Theo was drunk. He’d always enjoyed his vices.
“I grow weary of you,” Theo finally said as he pushed the blonde away from him. “Go away.”
She looked shocked. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“But I thought we were going to—”
His lips curled. “Whatever you thought, you were mistaken. Now go, before I make you.”
Her expression soured. “Asshole.”
And with that proclamation, she took the hint and left.
A very wise choice, Darrak thought, half wishing he could do the same.
“Please, my dear, have a seat.” Theo patted his thigh.