Мишель Роуэн - Something Wicked

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.”

Theo slapped his back. “Now, cheer up. It won’t be long until you’re back to normal. At which point, I strongly suggest you steer clear from witches.”

Words to live by. He might even have it printed on a T-shirt.

Sunrise.

It was never a very pleasant time of the day.

Darrak gasped in pain as his essence was torn out of Eden’s body. Bracing himself for what he knew was coming never helped. It was better just to give in to it as best he could.

Ten long seconds of agony later, he lay next to Eden on her bed as he instinctively changed from a formless cloud of black smoke to an exact replica of his former self. The pain dissipated. He lay still for a moment as he regained his strength.

As the pain receded, he was able to feel other things. Eden’s bedsheets were soft. Her mattress was a bit lumpy, but the sensation of it — lumps and all — was sheer pleasure to him.

And, as she did every morning shortly after he became corporeal, Eden reached for him in her sleep. She slid her hand over his bare chest, and he inhaled sharply at the feel of her warm skin against his.

“Darrak,” she murmured. “Mmmm. . yes. .”

He had to agree with her.

Eden talked in her sleep. Frequently. It was one of the many reasons he’d decided to dampen her during his trip out to see Theo. Otherwise, he might have sounded like someone with Tourette syndrome.

She dreamed about him, and they were not always chaste and platonic dreams of friendship. Despite what had happened in the past, and the promise that it could never happen again, the thought that Eden dreamed about him pleased Darrak more than he’d like to admit, even to himself.

Her hand drifted over his now fully aroused body as he studied her beautiful face. Her lips moved as she whispered his name.

“Eden. . this isn’t real,” he said quietly, remembering clearly what Theo had said, and stroked the long dark red hair off her face. His mouth was now only an inch from hers. She must have sensed this, since she closed the distance and brushed her lips against his.

Not real. None of what he felt was. It was just an illusion — one that would vanish the moment his curse was broken.

“I want you,” she murmured. “Darrak. . I want you so much. .”

Her hand moved down his abdomen and slipped under the edge of the sheet covering him. He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut, but didn’t try to stop her.