In more than the obvious ways.
Despite being a demon—an archdemon—he was also her guardian angel, her friend, and somebody she cared about despite herself. He was a part of her.
And now he was her lover.
Even though he didn’t realize it, when he possessed her it actually felt really good. But that was nothing compared to the real deal.
She let herself open up to Darrak completely, body and soul, in a way she’d never opened up to anyone before. She ran her hands over his beautiful body. Smooth, hot—very hot—skin over hard muscle. She kissed him over and over to show him that she wasn’t afraid of him hurting her. Because he wouldn’t.
She moaned his name—well, his nickname, anyhow.
And then something really strange happened as Darrak cried out her name, his breath hot against her lips.
A glow of amber light moved from Darrak to her, and it surrounded her body like a golden aura. It burned into her—as hot as Darrak’s skin, as hot as his mouth as he took hers again. He didn’t seem to notice the light.
Then suddenly the light entered Eden and disappeared completely.
What the hell?
“Eden,” Darrak murmured against her lips as he kissed her for a long time and stroked her auburn hair back from her face. She wrapped her arms around him and promptly forgot about the light.
“That is my name,” she said with a smile.
He brushed his lips against hers and grinned. “The garden of paradise.”
“My mother had an interesting sense of humor.”
“I think it’s fairly appropriate.”
“You do, do you?”
He lay, breathing hard, wrapped in her arms for a moment more before she felt him suddenly tense up. Then he pushed up from the bed and looked down at her.
“Something wrong?” she asked tentatively.
His expression was suddenly grim. “Eden… this… shouldn’t have happened between us.”
She frowned. “Not something I really want to hear at this very moment.”
“Sorry. You’re right.” He kissed her softly, and then sat up and grabbed for his clothes.
“Then what do you mean?”
“It’s just… my history.” His jaw clenched. “You said Selina told you I was an incubus, right?”
“She did,” she said cautiously. “She said incubi drained their victims of power. But you’re not an incubus anymore, and you didn’t drain me at all that time, so if that’s what you’re worried about, don’t be.”
“You’re okay?”
She shook her head. “I feel fine.”
“Good.” He nodded firmly, then pulled his T-shirt on over his head. “When I was exclusively an incubus, I did drain women’s energy after seducing them to increase my own power level.”
She raised an eyebrow and pulled the sheets up over herself. “Do I really want to know this right now?”
“Probably not. But you should. After the first step was over, I’d pick and choose the best souls to bring down to Hell to be part of Lucifer’s harem. He has a very large harem of women. And men. About the size of New York City, actually.”
She felt herself pale, then she sat up and drew her knees up to her chest. “That doesn’t sound like much fun.”
“Oh, but it was.” He didn’t sound happy about it. He sat stiffly on the edge of her bed. “I had a completely different idea of fun back then.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Let’s just say that I’ve never… been with anyone… just for the sake of being with them before and without any ulterior motives. Sex was my duty and a lot of women came to regret their decision to be with me. I figure it’s only a matter of time before you join those ranks.”
“You think I’m going to regret this?”
He swallowed. “Yes, I do.”
“You obviously don’t know anything about my ex-boyfriends.”
“This is different.”
She tried to figure out what the hell he was trying to say. He didn’t want to hurt her. She got that. “Okay, so you were an incubus. Not exactly a normal sexual history, I’ll give you that. But again, that was then and this is now.”
His jaw remained tight. “The last woman I had sex with became a black witch.”
“You slept with Selina?” She wasn’t sure why that took her by surprise. Also, there was that strange jab of jealousy again when it came to the beautiful witch.
“I did. At her command.”
“Okay. So you’re saying we should have used a condom considering your skanky sexual history?”
That almost earned her a smile breaking through his now rigid expression. “Believe it or not, that’s one thing you don’t have to fear from me. Demons are immune to all human diseases.”
Well, that was good news, at least.
“So you wish that hadn’t happened,” she began.
He took her hands in his. “I’m—I’m just worried something bad’s going to happen to you. It’s like a gut instinct.”
She touched his face and slid her fingers into his dark hair. “Don’t worry about me.”
“I can’t help it. It seems to be my new job.”
“I’m going to call her,” Eden said firmly. She wanted to steer this conversation into a different direction. A practical one.
His brows drew together. “Who? Selina? You know how to contact her?”
She nodded. “We’re going to go talk to her face-to-face.”
He studied her warily. “You think that’s a good idea?”
“You’re not the only one who’s changed. So has she. I think we can reason with her.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” Holding the bedsheet to her chest she leaned over and grabbed the phone from the side of her bed. She had Darrak retrieve the book she’d purchased last night with Selina’s phone number inside. Darrak, now fully dressed, sat silently next to her as she dialed.
After three rings, the witch picked up.
“Selina Shaw here.”
“Selina… it’s Eden. We met last night at your signing.”
“I remember. Where can I meet you?”
“I do want to meet, but not for the reason you think.”
“I can destroy the demon for you, Eden. You’ll be much better off.”
“We want to talk to you.”
“We?” Selina repeated. “Don’t tell me he’s been filling your head with more of his lies.”
“No. But we need to—”
“You need to read my books, Eden. That’s what you need to do. They will change the way you allow men to treat you by finding your inner power. No more manipulations. We don’t need men at all. We can rely on ourselves for everything. My website has my entire backlist. Everything is also available in electronic and audio versions.”
Eden tried to remain patient and calm. It wasn’t easy. “I appreciate your concern. Really. But you’re wrong about him. You had a change of heart about giving yourself over to black magic. Darrak…” She looked at him. “Darrak’s that way, too. He’s different than you remember. Meet with us and find out that it’s the truth.”
“You want me to break his curse.”
“Give us five minutes of your time, then make your decision.”
“And if my decision is that he’s still a monster and not worthy of your charity?”
“Then that’s your decision.”
It was quiet on Selina’s end of the line for so long Eden thought she’d hung up. “I’ll meet you somewhere populated. But if there’s any funny business then I’ll reduce both of you into a pile of ashes. Got it?”
There was no humor in the witch’s voice. She wasn’t kidding.
“I got it.” Eden gave her the address for the Hot Stuff coffee bar.
“I’ll be there in one hour,” Selina said tightly. “And you have five minutes to convince me the archdemon’s become a Boy Scout. And then, maybe, I’ll consider breaking the curse if only to be done with the bo
th of you once and for all.”
“Thank you so much. I have to say, I’m surprised you agreed to this.”
“I’m feeling charitable today. I just got booked on Oprah again.”
“Totally understandable. I haven’t started reading it yet, but the book looks really fantastic.”
“Don’t suck up. It’s not attractive. I’ll see you in an hour.”
She hung up.
It took a moment for Eden’s heart to come back to a regular pace as she switched off the phone. “Did you hear that?”
“Half of it.” Darrak exhaled. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it.” Eden said, placing a hand on his firm chest. “She’s going to hear us out. Prepare to be on your best behavior. And it would probably be best if you don’t try to kill her and tear out her heart.”
“Noted.”
He should have looked elated at this news, but instead he looked worried.
That made two of them.
What would happen if Selina decided to break the curse? Darrak would have to leave. And that’s what she wanted all along, wasn’t it?
Of course it was. She didn’t want to die.
It didn’t matter what had happened between them, there was no place in Eden’s life for a demon… reformed or otherwise.
And that’s just the way it was.
———
An hour later, Eden watched a taxi pull up in front of Hot Stuff and Selina get out of the back, staring at the exterior of the café warily before she entered.
There was a buzz of activity in there—it seemed busier than usual. There were probably fifteen other patrons enjoying a late afternoon refreshment. The pastries and sandwiches were kept under a glass cabinet by the cashier. Stools were set up along the main coffee bar itself, and that was where most people were seated. The espresso machine whistled and gurgled as it coughed up caffeinated beverages at stiff prices.
Eden and Darrak sat at a table in the farthest corner in the back. The more privacy they could get, the better. For some reason, Darrak hadn’t even made eye contact with her since they’d left the apartment.
He felt guilty about what happened between them. And even though she understood why he felt that way, it didn’t exactly make her feel like a million bucks.
A strange sensation crackled over Eden’s arms as Selina tentatively approached. What was that? Electricity?
Selina played with the gray-stoned pendant around her neck as she eyed them each in turn with anything but friendliness in her green eyes. Darrak stood and held his hands, palms up, in a disarming manner.
“I mean you no harm.”
Selina eyed him suspiciously. “Why do I find that incredibly hard to believe?”
He sat back down in his seat. “I’m just here to talk to you.”
Selina remained standing. “Funny, I could have sworn you wanted a great deal more from me today than just talk.”
Her distrustful gaze moved to Eden and a moment later it changed to something else. Something unreadable.
“What have you done?” she asked quietly.
Eden’s eyes widened and that electric feeling again crackled along her skin. “What?”
“Something’s changed since last night. I sensed it the moment I entered this place. But…” She looked around as if trying to pinpoint the source of her distress before her attention returned to Eden. “It’s you.”
“Me?”
Selina’s red lips curled back from her teeth with disgust. “You allowed yourself to be physically seduced by a member of Lucifer’s court?”
Eden stared at her blankly. “I—I… uh…”
“You fornicated with this demon,” Selina snarled under her breath.
Fornicated? That was such an unpleasant word.
Eden cleared her throat and felt her cheeks flush. Terrific. Had a magical memo gone out that she’d jumped Darrak’s bones? She looked around at the coffee bar, but no one was paying any attention to them. Despite the subject matter, their voices were hushed.
“That’s actually none of your business,” she said.
Selina laughed humorlessly. “I wish that was true.” She glared at Darrak. “You should be ashamed of yourself. She’s just a human.”
His expression didn’t change. “Eden’s right. This is none of your business.”
She shook her head. “You’re as deceptive as ever, aren’t you, demon?”
“I never deceived you, Selina,” he said evenly. “You’re the one who summoned me and forced me to give you the power you so desired.”
“And I’ve regretted it every day since.”
He curled his fingers around the mug of hot coffee in front of him. “Doesn’t look like you’ve suffered much over the years.”
“Doesn’t it?” She touched her pendant. “My soul is black.”
“Looks more like a middling gray to me.”
Eden looked at the jewelry as well. “What are you talking about?”
Selina let out a shaky breath. “I wear this special amulet—it tells when the wearer’s soul is in danger. The blacker it is the more I must control my magic or else lose myself to the darkness completely.”
“So it’s kind of like a mood ring?” Eden asked.
Selina fisted the stone and squeezed. “Oh, absolutely. The gauge of my damaged soul is exactly like a mood ring. My, aren’t you smart?”
Darrak’s knuckles whitened on the edge of the table. “Eden has only started to learn that there is more to the world than meets the eye.”
“Her ignorance is obvious. Especially when it comes to you, demon. I guess she’s been charmed by your handsome face and hasn’t seen your demon visage yet.”
“You still think I’m handsome after all this time?” Darrak asked dryly. “Please stop. I’m blushing.”
“I’ve seen him,” Eden said. “The demon him.”
The witch looked surprised. “I don’t believe you.”
Eden nodded. “He’s a lot larger, he has these big-ass horns, and he’s covered in hellfire. Not exactly male model material.” She glanced at Darrak. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
Selina blinked. “I stand corrected. But I can’t believe you have accepted him. That you… fornicated with him.”
There was that word again. Eden winced.
“Let’s stay on topic,” Eden suggested.
The witch crossed her arms. “My life is perfect right now. I don’t want to do anything to risk that. I destroyed you, demon.”
“Well, you gave it your best shot.” Darrak didn’t sound friendly.
“I was such a newbie back then. I should have made sure that the job was done correctly.”
“Water under the bridge.”
“It is?”
He shifted in his seat. “I’m trying to be diplomatic. But being incorporeal and voiceless for three hundred years has a tendency to weigh heavily on one’s mind.”
“And yet you have a body right now. A very fine one.”
“Are you coming on to me? I think that’s a bit inappropriate at the moment, Selina. Given our history.”
She scowled at him. “I don’t even know how it’s possible for you to have a body. I destroyed your previous one.”
He visibly tensed. “Haven’t forgotten that. Believe me.”
“So, what’s changed? Is it her?” Selina nodded at Eden.
“I believe so.”
“There’s something about Eden’s psychic energy that makes it possible for you to draw enough strength from her to take corporeal form during the day. But at night you have to possess her body.”
“Insightful as ever, Selina.”
Eden kept her attention on the mug of hot chocolate in front of her.
Selina smiled thinly. “You’re trying to resist the urge to strangle me with my purse strap right now, aren’t you?”
“I was eyeing my coffee stir stick as the weapon, actually. It could do a great deal of damage in the right hands.” He looked
at Eden. “Despite Selina’s ability to work magic and her… well, moldy Swiss cheese soul, a black witch is still essentially human. Despite her potential for immortality, her body is vulnerable to all kinds of damage.”
Eden didn’t like how he said that. There was the threat of true violence behind it. She wondered then, and not for the first time, if it had been a mistake to bring these two back together after all this time.
Oh well. Too late now.
“Yes, the only way to break his curse is if I do it willingly or he kills me with his own hands,” Selina said. “So excuse me if I’m not terribly comfortable at the moment.”
“Selina, please sit down,” Eden said.
“I’d rather stand.”
“It looks a bit conspicuous.”
“Like I care. I thought I told you that you had five minutes. I believe that time is nearly up.” Her eyes narrowed. “I feel your weakness, demon. Not quite the same as you were all those years ago, are you?”
“No, I’ve changed. I’m much more pathetic and needy now. I believe that’s the point of this meeting.”
“Then I’ll give you another minute to convince me to break your curse. Beg if you like.”
Darrak nodded grimly. “I can do that if I have to.”
“Oh. My. God.” A voice from Eden’s right exclaimed. It was Nancy, the barista, who must have just come on shift. “Selina Shaw. Here at Hot Stuff. I can’t believe this.”
“Wonderful,” Selina said sarcastically under her breath. “A fan. Just what I need right now. I should have done a camouflage spell on this table the moment I walked in here.”
Nancy rushed over. “Can I get you a coffee, Ms. Shaw? A biscotti?”
“No, thank you.”
“Perhaps a blueberry scone? I can heat it in the microwave for you and put some butter on it. Are you lactose intolerant at all?”
Selina sighed. “I’m going to decline. But I appreciate the offer.”
She beamed at the writer and then looked at Eden. “And look at you, talking to Selina Shaw herself. If it wasn’t for me you would never have found her in the first place. And now you’re friends!”
“Found me?” Selina asked. “You’re the one who helped them locate me?”
“Yes! Can you believe they’d never heard of your books before? Eden never would have known about your signing last night if I hadn’t told her.”