Authors: Michelle Rowen
Ben frowned. “You . . . you’re not . . . ?” Then clarity entered his expression. “You son of a bitch.”
“Didn’t we already go over this once before? No mother. You really have to find another insult.”
“You stole her body.”
“
Borrowed
,” Darrak corrected, refusing to flinch at the reminder that he was being very naughty again.
He wanted to be naughty. That was the whole point of being a demon.
“You don’t deserve to be ten feet away from her, let alone be able to do this.” Ben looked disgusted enough to spit.
“Are you saying you don’t want to kiss these lips again? Because I’m fine with that.”
Theo walked a slow circle around the two of them. By the expression on his face, he seemed to be enjoying the show.
“Just an FYI, cop,” Darrak continued, “but Eden doesn’t need your opinion. Never has, never will. And this white hat routine doesn’t work on me.”
“White hat routine?”
“Yeah, you might be all high and mighty, busting criminals and drug rings or whatever you do during the workday.” Darrak had a former host who’d enjoyed watching nothing but retro cop shows and movies, so his education on that particular job was a bit skewed toward
Lethal Weapon
and
Die Hard
. “But joining the Malleus? You have no idea how corrupt they are.”
Ben glared at him. “There is corruption in every company. If you look close enough, you’ll find it. But it’s individuals, not the entire association. I believe in what the Malleus stands for. Even after what happened last night, I still do. My eyes are just a bit more open about the problems, that’s all.”
He sure looked sincere. Indignant, even.
“You’re one of the bad guys,” Darrak told him.
“No,” Ben said. “That would be you.”
Oh, yeah. Right. Why did Darrak keep forgetting that?
“Are you going to talk to him or gut him?” Theo asked. “I’m getting kind of bored here.”
“How can you do this to Eden?” Ben demanded with disgust. “Use her like this when you know damn well she’s foolish enough to care about you.”
Ouch. And Darrak had thought
he’d
get the first slice.
Darrak pulled the knife out from its hiding spot behind his back. “So tell me, Ben. You want a slow or quick death? I’m leaning toward a slow one right now. You’ve been that much of a pain in my ass.”
Ben didn’t flinch. “She has no idea what a monster you are, does she?”
“I’ve given her plenty of chances to figure it out. It’s not my fault she thinks I’m delicious and nutritious.” He smirked.
“She’ll never forgive you for this.” There was determination in Ben’s eyes. He knew death was coming, and he’d accepted it. Embraced it, even. It was more than a little disappointing. Darrak had fantasized about the cop begging for his life.
There was still time for that.
“You really think she gives a damn about you either way anymore?” Darrak shook his head. “Dream on.”
“You know she does” was Ben’s reply. And he didn’t even sound smug about it. Just matter-of-fact.
Darrak really hated this guy.
He clenched his jaw. This wasn’t going very well. Theo had been so thoughtful, too, picking out a gift Darrak was sure to enjoy.
He wished he was enjoying it.
Ben’s gaze moved to the sharp knife in Darrak’s—or rather
Eden’s
—hand and there was a short flash of fear in his expression before it disappeared.
So the valiant knight wasn’t made of impenetrable shining armor after all.
“You shouldn’t have kidnapped Eden last night. That was a bad move, cop.”
“Eden’s a special case.”
“I’ll agree with you there.”
Ben swallowed. “As far as we know, she’s the first nephilim ever possessed by a demon. The Malleus leaders wanted to know more about her and how what she is affects you as a demon. I didn’t know she was a black witch, too. I didn’t know that would put her in danger.”
There was a long moment of silence as this new information settled in.
“
Nephilim
?” Darrak repeated softly. “Did you say Eden’s a nephilim?”
Ben’s expression tightened. “Didn’t she tell you?”
“Hasn’t come up.”
Ben nodded, a look of resolve coming into his gaze. “I’m glad to see she’s smart enough not to trust you. That’s a start. Maybe there’s still hope for her yet.”
Theo started to laugh from behind him. “You have got to be shitting me. Red’s a nephilim? I’m surprised you can even stand to be in that body.”
“She’s
human
,” Darrak said. “I know she is. I never sensed anything else.”
“Well,” Theo interjected, “you didn’t sense Asmo, either, did you?”
That was very true. But . . . a nephilim? Eden’s father—she’d never known him. This meant he was an angel?
Holy shit.
“You’re destroying her, you know that?” Ben said.
Ben gasped as Darrak pressed the knife against his throat.
“I know,” Darrak snapped.
“You’re poison to her,” Ben growled. “Like a disease.”
“I’d shut up now, cop. I strongly suggest it.”
“Just kill me. Get it over with. Wouldn’t want to keep you from destroying Eden’s life any further.”
“Yeah, kill him,” Theo said. He sounded bored. “Let’s move this along, shall we?”
Darrak didn’t want to talk anymore. It was making his head hurt.
“Okay,” he said. “Here it goes. Prepare to meet your maker. Or whatever.”
“I’m not afraid,” Ben said through clenched teeth.
“You should be.”
“But I’m not.”
Darrak sighed with exasperation. “Don’t argue with me. I’m going to kill you. Seriously.”
“Then do it already.”
Darrak pressed the knife hard enough to make a thin line of red ooze up against it, and Ben actually flinched. Finally, a quantifiable reaction.
He expected to feel relief or a giddy sense of pleasure at inflicting pain on the asshole who’d been an inconvenient obstacle since the first moment they met. But there was no pleasure or giddiness.
Ben didn’t deserve to die.
He never had. He really was a golden boy—making selfless decisions and trying his best to do the right thing, especially when it came to Eden.
How could Darrak possibly fault him for something like that?
Darrak swore under his breath. Why couldn’t Theo have gotten him a pony? Now
that
would have been fun.
He eased up on the pressure before he did any more damage.
“Release him,” Darrak said stiffly, his borrowed voice barely audible.
“What?” Theo replied. “I don’t think I heard you right.”
“You heard me right. Let the cop go. Let him go back to the life he’s made for himself, being the Malleus’s newest lapdog. I’m not going to kill anyone tonight, especially not while I’m in Eden’s body. She wouldn’t appreciate that very much.”
Theo sighed with frustration. “Who cares what Eden wants?”
“I do,” Darrak said firmly.
Ben looked at him with surprise and apprehension. As though this was just a ruse for him to let down his guard before Darrak sliced that knife right through him.
I should kill him
, Darrak told himself.
I should be loving every minute of this.
But he wasn’t.
It was very disappointing.
“This is too difficult for you?” Theo asked, confused.
“I’m afraid so.”
Theo held out his hand. “Can I have my knife back?”
Darrak returned the weapon to him.
“I’d be happy to help you out.” Theo arched the knife toward Ben’s chest.
Darrak caught his wrist only an inch from the target. While he was in Eden’s body at the moment, his presence brought with it a demon-sized strength. Still, Eden’s arm shook as he tried to hold Theo back.
“Drop it.” Darrak squeezed until Theo dropped the knife that clattered to the pavement. “Now release him.”
Theo glared at him. “Maybe I don’t want to.”
Darrak gritted his teeth. “
Theodraagaris
, I command you to release him.”
Theo’s eyes went wide as Darrak used his full name. It was a huge no-no for one demon to exert this type of power over another.
At the moment, Darrak didn’t really give a crap about proper etiquette.
“Fine.” Theo waved a hand. The next moment, Ben slumped forward. Darrak caught him before he hit the ground. He coughed and wheezed as if the crushing hand that had held him in place had finally let him go.
Theo stood prone at the moment, waiting for his next command.
“Get out of here,” Darrak said to the cop.
“Why didn’t you kill me?” Ben asked, his gaze more filled with anger than anything close to gratitude.
“Eden would never forgive me if I did.”
“This isn’t over, demon,” Ben said, darkly.
“You’re welcome.”
His eyes narrowed. “I’ll destroy you. I swear it.”
“No, really. I’m blushing now. You don’t have to get me a thank-you card. Just your endless and heartfelt appreciation is enough.”
Still with that look of bewilderment at the fact he’d just been spared by the demon he blamed for destroying everything good in the world, including puppies and goldfish, Ben staggered out of the alleyway without another word.
“Are you going to release me?” Theo asked through clenched teeth.
“Of course.” Darrak braced himself for the demon’s fury. “Consider yourself released.”
Theo crossed his arms and shook his head, glaring at him. No fury yet.
Darrak blinked. “So . . . thanks a bunch for the gift. I really appreciate the thought.”
“This is Eden’s fault.”
So he wasn’t going to blame Darrak for what just happened? “That is entirely possible.”
Theo looked toward the route Ben had taken out of the alley. “We should be stomping on that nobody’s entrails right now.”
“Which does sound like tons of fun.”
Theo shook his head, disbelievingly. “You even stopped me from finishing the job. You used my true name to make me let him go. That’s not cool, Darrak.”
“I remember. I was standing right here. Very happy I chose not to try the heels tonight. How do women walk in those things?” He looked at Eden’s bare wrist. “Gosh, look at the time. I really need to get going.”
“Asmodeus will help you,” Theo said. “When he’s regained his power, he’ll help you regain yours, too. Tomorrow it happens. At noon. Right here at Luxuria.”
“I’m still invited?” The cold wind whipped through the alley, and a crumpled up piece of newspaper blew between them.
It felt a little bit like a tumbleweed in an Old West town.
“Yes.” Theo narrowed his eyes. “Bring Eden.”
“At noon I won’t have much of a choice.”
“Asmo will be ready for a meal when he’s finished.”
Darrak tensed. “That’s not going to happen.”
Theo smiled thinly. “At least you’re honest. That’s another thing. Since when are you so honest?”