Darrak eyed him. That so wasn’t going to happen.
“Thanks,” he said, and instead tensely sat down on a chair across from the oblivious demon. Theo hadn’t changed physically since Darrak had last seen him. Not one bit. But under the exotically handsome exterior, Darrak knew there was a fierce archdemon lying in wait, ready to pounce, talons out, at the first sign of trouble. He felt the power emanating from Theo, and it only reminded him how weakened his own powers had become. If he had a gas tank, it would be flashing a low fuel warning.
The knowledge that Theo was infinitely more powerful than Darrak at the moment didn’t sit well with him—especially since his decision to come here had put Eden at risk as well. If he had a choice, he wouldn’t be there at all. But he had no choice. Now he had to step very shallowly into these dangerous waters. He hoped very much the sharks kept their teeth to themselves, but he was prepared if they didn’t.
“Why did you come here?” Darrak asked.
Then again, he’d never been one to step too shallowly.
Theo’s dark brows rose. “Here? At this nightclub?”
“Sure. In this club. In this city. Why here and why tonight?”
“You’re very direct. I like that in a woman.”
So did Darrak, actually. “Are you going to answer my question or not?”
“Very well.” Theo leaned back against the plush sofa. “I’m here for business reasons, but also because I’m looking for someone.”
“Who?”
“An old friend who may be in trouble. I was given information he might be here tonight. I want to help him if I can.”
Could it be that Theo was here looking for Darrak specifically? The thought didn’t help him to relax. It could mean anything or it could be an outright lie. Theo could have been sent to destroy him.
Had he always been this paranoid, or was that thanks to Eden’s influence?
Theo reached a hand over to squeeze Darrak’s borrowed knee. “But don’t worry. I also have plenty of time to get to know you as well, my dear. Intimately.”
Darrak pried Theo’s hand off and deposited it back in the demon’s lap. “Sorry. I’m not into guys.”
Theo’s eyes gleamed as a very nonhuman spark of fire lit inside their dark depths. “I do like a challenge. I think you’ll find I’m very hard to resist. Your protests only make things more interesting for me.”
Darrak’s initial apprehension began to fade, and he restrained himself from rolling his eyes. “Theo, you’ve always been blinded by booze and babes, haven’t you?”
The demon frowned. “How do you know my name?”
“Where did you get this information on your friend? And are you sure you’re here to help him? Or were you sent here to destroy him?”
“Destroy him? But why would I—” Theo broke off, his expression turning wary. “Who are you?”
Darrak could leave now. Walk away and ensure Eden’s safety. But he’d be ensuring it only for tonight. Tomorrow and beyond was another story.
“Look closer,” Darrak said. “I’m sure you can figure it out despite the eight rum and Cokes you’ve choked back tonight. You’re a smart boy.”
Theo sat up straight and leaned a fraction toward Darrak, slowly taking in Eden’s attractive exterior from head to toe with a blatant level of appreciation in his eyes.
“You’re a very beautiful woman, despite your less than appealing footwear.”
“Prevention of bunions is the new black. Keep looking. I’m sure you’ll get it eventually.”
Theo cocked his head as he concentrated harder. The loud music made it almost too difficult to speak, let alone to think. Men and women had to get very close to each other to be heard—part of the appeal of a club like this, Darrak figured. He took a moment to scan the room. Was Stanley, the wizard’s assistant, still here? He couldn’t see him anymore, at least not from this side of the crowded room.
That feeling he’d had earlier, of the lust and desperation—it felt like a solid thing now, touchable and real. All these humans after the same base need—sex. It worked to give the club an ambiance that was less than pleasant. As an ex-incubus, he was surprised he didn’t appreciate it more. But he didn’t. It felt . . . threatening.
He had no idea why.
“Well?” he prompted after another moment. Best not to get distracted from why he was really here.
Theo’s gaze continued to move appreciatively over Darrak’s borrowed body, lingering at Eden’s chest for a moment before returning to her face.
Then, suddenly, his eyes widened with clarity. “Oh, shit.”
Finally. “Bingo.”
The demon’s mouth gaped open. “Darrak?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been staring at your tits for the last five minutes.”
“They’re not mine, of course. But they are lovely, aren’t they? All natural, too.” Darrak blinked. “You can stop looking at them now.”
“Not sure I can.” Finally Theo yanked his gaze away from Eden’s body. “What is going on here?”
It was vaguely encouraging that Theo’s first reaction was confusion rather than destruction.
“I was cursed,” Darrak explained simply.
Theo raised an eyebrow. “Cursed.”
“When I disappeared, I was summoned by a witch during the Salem trials. She trapped me and forced me to do her bidding before I managed to escape.”
“You killed her, I hope?”
“Not exactly, although that was the original plan. She fought back and threw out a powerful death curse at me. If I’d been less than an archdemon, it would have decimated me completely. As it was, it turned my body to ash. Let’s just say, it stung like a bitch. I’ve been forced to possess humans ever since.”
Theo had covered his mouth with his hand, obviously shocked. But after a moment, Darrak realized he was concealing his laughter.
“Sorry,” Theo managed after a moment. “It’s really not funny, is it?”
“No, it’s really not.”
Theo snorted. “It’s just . . . I mean, look at you. Just look at you.”
Darrak stared at him. This was the fearsome demon he thought might destroy him on sight? The archdemon was practically giggling. “Maybe I’ll laugh about it in the future. The distant future. At the moment, not so much.”
“Oh, wow.” Theo gasped for breath, then grabbed his freshest drink and took a quick swig. “I needed a good laugh. Things have been way too serious for me lately. Thanks.”
“Glad my tortured existence can bring you some joy.”
“Why didn’t you summon me? I thought you’d gone to the Void.”
“I haven’t had any control over my previous hosts. Besides, even if I could, summoning an archdemon from inside a human never would have worked.”
Theo eyed Eden’s body again. “And you’ve taken this woman over completely? Burned out her soul so you can take up permanent residence?”
The thought made him inwardly cringe. There had been a few incorporeal demons who’d done just that, treating their hosts like nothing more important than taco shells. “No. She’s just asleep right now.”
Theo considered this. “So she knows about you?”
Darrak nodded. “We’re looking for a way to break my curse and return my power. So far, no dice.”
“Is your strength returning? I know witches’ curses can be a bitch to deal with.”
“A little, but not as much as I’d like. There’s something different about Eden, though—”
“Eden?” Theo repeated. “That’s her name?”
“It is.” Darrak’s lips curved despite himself. “Ironic, isn’t it?”
“I’d say so.” Theo laughed again. “At least you didn’t pick a host named Heaven. That would have been hilarious.”
“I’ll take the potential for comedy gold into consideration next time I’m cursed.”
Theo leaned forward and put his hand on Darrak’s shoulder, his expression sobering. “Hell hasn’t
been the same without you. We used to have lots of fun painting the town red, didn’t we?”
“Yes, we did,” Darrak agreed. Although, their paint of choice at the time couldn’t be found at Color Your World.
“I can help you find the witch, and together we’ll tear the heart from her chest to break this curse. It’s the least I can do.”
Darrak tensed. “Sounds like a blast, but unfortunately the witch is already dead and not by my hand. The curse stands.”
Theo laughed again. “So you’re saying you’re screwed.”
“Essentially.” If this was happening to someone else, he’d probably be able to see the humor a bit better. “I do have a perk with Eden, although we haven’t figured out why it works. She’s psychic, and I seem to be able to draw on that energy to take solid form during the day.”
A waitress brought over another rum and Coke, placing it in front of Theo and indicating that it was bought by a brunette at the bar. He tipped it in the woman’s direction and took a sip. Darrak glared at the woman, and she slunk back into the crowd.
How rude.
“Interesting.” Theo rubbed his chin. “Never heard of that before—psychic energy assisting in possession.”
“Me neither. But it’s been helpful.”
Theo templed his fingers and studied Darrak’s current form, a frown creasing his brow. “The solution is simple. We kill this body you’re stuck in to release you, temporarily trap your essence in a crystal for safe keeping, and return you to Hell where you might be able to be restored by hellfire. It’s just a theory, but it’s worth a try.”
The demon was dead serious as he said it.
“I’m not killing Eden,” Darrak said evenly.
“But if you’re looking for a simple solution—”
“I never said I was looking for a simple solution. I’m looking for a solution. One that won’t result in her death.”
“She won’t survive a trip to Hell,” Theo reasoned.
“Then there has to be another answer.”
“Of course there is. You can come with me during the day when you have form. It won’t take long.”
Darrak shook his head. “I can’t go far from her side. I’m bound to her.”
“More reason to kill her, then.”
“Not going to happen.” Darrak glared at him.
Theo studied him, and Darrak grew uneasy. In the past he wouldn’t have hesitated to take the simple way out. A human life for his continued existence? It was a no-brainer.
“You’ve changed,” Theo stated. “Haven’t you?”
Darrak clenched his fist, ready to will whatever power he could muster into it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’re all . . .” The demon’s expression soured. “Emotional . And human. I can sense it now that I’m paying attention.”
“Who told you I was here?” Darrak demanded, any attempt at friendliness disappearing.
Theo’s eyes narrowed, and an unpleasant smile snaked across his face. “It was a rumor that I was sent to investigate. I confirmed it by talking to the local wizard master and convincing him to fill me in on the details. He knew more than I expected.”
“And by convincing, you mean you tortured him.”
“Of course. He’s left town for a while to recover.” Theo’s knuckles whitened on his drink glass. “Do I see disapproval in your eyes, Darrak?”
Disapproval that Theo was acting as a demon should? That would be irrational, wouldn’t it?
“I have to go.” Darrak stood up and turned away, moving through the crowd. He now saw it had been a huge mistake to come back.
A hand closed over his arm. “Hey, you’re back.” It was the man who’d briefly hit on Eden earlier that night. His other hand closed on Eden’s ass. “I knew you couldn’t stay away, baby.”
“Think again.” It only took a modest shove to launch the loser across the room. He landed heavily on his back in the middle of the dance floor.
How do women put up with this kind of crap without resorting to violence?
Darrak turned, only to be faced with Theo now in front of him, blocking his way to the exit.
“I wouldn’t try that with me,” Theo said. “I’m a little harder to push around.”
“Get out of my way or we may have to test that theory.”
Theo’s eyes went to Eden’s amulet as if seeing it for the first time. “What’s that?”
“What does it look like?”
“I thought you said Eden was a psychic.”
“She is.”
“And she’s also a black witch?”
Darrak grimaced. “The original witch cast a spell on me so any psychically gifted woman I slept with would be imbued with black magic.”
The grin returned to Theo’s face. “I suppose I can fill in the blanks there.”
Yeah, he could. Darrak had no further comment on the subject. Sex with the witch who’d cursed him had been business as usual. It was difficult for an ex-incubus to see such an act—especially one he was compelled to perform against his will—as anything more than a day at the office.
But with Eden . . . it had been different. He’d never felt true bliss before in his entire existence, but that moment came as close as he’d ever been to it.
However, that blissful moment had also ruined Eden’s life forever.
Great. More guilt, right on schedule. He squeezed his eyes shut. Bring it on.
And if the wizard master had left town after being tortured by Theo, how was Darrak supposed to find him? They were out of answers, and he didn’t know how much time they had left.
The next moment, Theo grabbed his arm and directed him over to a quieter corner of the nightclub.
“It’s humanity,” Theo said. “I can smell it on you now. You’re overflowing with it.”
Darrak eyed him warily. He tried to will power into his hand to fight against his old friend, but there wasn’t even a spark. “Three hundred years can change a guy. There’s nothing I can do about it now.”
Theo shook his head. “You’re delusional.”
“Excuse me?”
“You don’t even realize it, do you? No wonder you’re so screwed up. This, whatever it is you’re feeling, is just an illusion. It’s not real.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“I’ve seen it before. Not a lot, but it happens. You’ve been absorbing human emotion all these years without a body of your own as a shield. No wonder you’re so concerned with this Eden babe.”
Darrak’s mouth felt dry. “It’s not real?”
“Of course not. The moment we break this curse, you’ll be back to normal. It’ll be like shedding your skin and starting fresh. Quite literally, actually.”
Darrak eyed him skeptically. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. And I can help you.”
“Is this the killing Eden and putting me in a crystal plan again? Because real or not, I haven’t changed my mind about that.”
“No, something else. Something better.”
“What is it?”
“It’s all about knowing the right people,” Theo said. “And I know the right people. As a matter of fact, I’m on an assignment at the moment for Asmodeus.”
“Asmodeus?” Darrak was surprised to hear the name. The Lord of Lust was almost as powerful as Lucifer. “Since when are you working for Asmo? I thought you were with Lucifer.”
“Things change. Opportunities present themselves. Anyhow, here’s the deal—”
“Deal?”
Theo grinned. “Of course. It’s all about deals. You know that.”
True. Any demon who’d do something selflessly without any personal gain should be looked at with deep suspicion.
“What’s the deal?” he asked cautiously.
“I’ll help you break this curse—”
“How?”
“Not yet.” Theo’s smile widened. “First you need to do something for me. I want you to meet me the day after tomorrow at
lunch so you can accompany me on an errand.”
“What kind of errand?”
“I mentioned a weapon to you a long time ago. Do you remember?”
It only took a moment for him to locate that piece of information. Was Theo talking about the weapon he’d been searching for to destroy the lords of Hell?
Darrak nodded. “I remember.”
“Good. It’s nearly time, Darrak. I’ve been very patient. It’s not my favorite virtue.”
“So you found it in the human world?”
“Yes. And if you come with me to get it, I will move hell and earth to help break your curse and return you to your former glory. Do we have a deal?”
Was it true? If Darrak’s curse was broken, would he shed this heavy suit of human emotion he had begun to wear on a daily basis? No more guilt, no more second-guessing himself, no more strange attraction and affection for Eden?
No more weaknesses.
It was almost a relief to think it could be possible. No, scratch that. It was a relief.
“Will it be dangerous?” Darrak asked. “Eden will have to come with us.”
“It won’t be dangerous.”
Was he telling the truth? There was no way of telling. Was the risk worth the potential gain? Did he trust Theo even after all this time?
“She’s never to know what you’re after,” Darrak said, working it out in his head. He couldn’t turn down an offer like this. He had no choice but to agree to Theo’s terms. “And you can’t tell her we met here tonight. She wouldn’t understand why I had to borrow her body. She’s funny like that.”
Theo held up a hand, grinning. “Say no more. Women are very particular about their bodies wandering around town without their knowledge, aren’t they?”
“You have no idea.”
“Then I promise not to say anything of your nocturnal omissions.” Theo’s grin widened. “Get it?”
“Your sense of humor has not improved in three hundred years.”
“There’s a restaurant next door. Meet me there at noon the day after tomorrow. Agreed?”
Darrak took a moment to turn it over in his head. Help Theo find the weapon to kill Lucifer and the other lords in return for the help he desperately needed to break his curse.
Sounded fair enough to him.
“Agreed.”