Something Wicked

me?”

Theo touched the angel’s wrist, wrapping his fingers around it. “Your heart.”

“My heart?” Alistair’s brows drew together. “But angels don’t have—”

Then his eyes went very wide, and Eden felt a tidal wave of energy crash through the pub. Her breath caught in her throat. “What are you doing?”

A sparkling white light exited Alistair’s body and channeled into the diamond sitting in Theo’s palm. It began to glow.

“Darrak,” Eden managed, clutching his arm. “What the hell is going on?”

Darrak’s brows drew together. He felt tense, every muscle flexed. “What are you doing, Theo?”

“Channeling our pal Alistair’s angelic energy into this black diamond to create my angelheart, of course. What does it look like?” Flames filled Theo’s eyes. “Now if you don’t mind, I really have to concentrate. Almost there.”

Eden reached across the table and grabbed Theo wrist, attempting to pry him off the angel, but she couldn’t budge him an inch.

Instead, she began to feel a draining sensation.

“Perfect,” Theo said, and winked at her. “That helps a lot. Thanks.”

Alistair raised his gaze to Eden’s. “You’re a black witch.”

It wasn’t a question.

“Are you okay?” she demanded. “Is he hurting you?”

“Hurting me?” Alistair gasped for breath. “He’s ripping my angelic energy right out of me. Yes, it kind of stings.”

“Theo, stop it!” she snapped.

“And. . he’s a demon?” Alistair managed. “I didn’t sense it. I couldn’t sense it.”

“Why didn’t you?” she asked, her voice hoarse and panicky. It felt like electricity sparked through the pub, but it wasn’t caused by her magic this time.

His face was strained. “A black witch’s aura can dampen an angel’s senses. The alcohol doesn’t help, either. Should have stopped after my third one. But it’s been a hard day at the office.”

“One of the reasons you were chosen was your tendency to drink too much,” Theo informed him. “Now, please shhh.”

This was why Theo wanted her to come with him. He knew she was a black witch, and he could use that to do. . whatever it was he was doing to Alistair. An angelheart. Is that what he called it? That was the weapon.

“Darrak,” Eden looked at him. “Do something! Theo’s killing him!”

Darrak didn’t move for a moment, but then his hand shot out and he caught Theo’s wrist. Flames had appeared in Darrak’s eyes as well. “That’s enough. You don’t need to destroy him completely, do you?”

Theo grinned. “I guess not. But thanks for ruining the party.”

“This is no party.”

“If you say so. Doesn’t matter. I got what I came here for.”

The next moment, the flames left Theo’s eyes. Alistair slumped forward on the table, his eyes closed.

Theo fisted the diamond and slid it back into his pocket. He slapped the angel on his back and threw a roll of bills on the table before he got up from the booth. “For your troubles. Thanks a bunch.”

Eden scooted around to the other side of the table to check Alistair.

“Don’t worry. He’s alive,” Theo said. “Darrak was right. There’s no need to exert the energy to kill him.”

“You took all of his angelic energy,” Darrak said. “You put it into that diamond.”

He sounded flat and emotionless about it.

“Yes, that’s exactly what I did,” Theo confirmed.

“What does that mean?” Eden demanded. “Is Alistair going to be okay?”

“He’s human now,” Darrak said. “All of his angelic power is trapped in the black diamond now.”

“I need another drink!” Alistair slurred without raising his face from the table. “Maybe eight!”

“Give it back to him right now,” Eden said. She was shaking. She was supposed to observe Theo getting his hands on the weapon. Well, she’d observed. She’d expected a dagger or something stolen from the vaults of a museum, but a diamond filled with angelic energy?

She knew crystals — most commonly, pieces of rock salt — were used to help imprison demons. Once the demon found himself trapped, the crystal was smashed to finish the exorcism and destroy the demon. The weaker the crystal the easier it would be for a demon to escape. If one was so inclined, clear diamonds could be used to indefinitely trap a demon and channel its power.

She didn’t need a gemology course to conclude that a black diamond was meant to trap an angel’s power, making it into a weapon to destroy someone like Lucifer.

“Can’t give it back,” Theo said simply, tapping his pocket. “This baby has one shot. One use. And I’m going to make sure it hits the target.”

“You used me.” Eden’s eyes narrowed. “You knew having me here would be enough to render him clueless about who and what you are.”

“I’m so clueless,” Alistair murmured into the tabletop.

“Yes, that’s right,” Theo agreed. “And thank you. You were very helpful. But don’t worry, I’m not going to go back on our bargain. You helped me and now I’ll help you. Right Darrak?”

“Get out of here,” Darrak said darkly.

Theo looked surprised. “What?”

“I would have liked to know exactly what was going to happen here today ahead of time.”

“What do you care? He was just an angel.” Theo shrugged. “And it’s not like I killed him.”

“He can’t go back to Heaven now,” Eden said. “Can he?”

Theo rolled his eyes. “He’ll have more fun as a human than an angel.”

“You need to go now.” Darrak didn’t sound as if he wanted any further argument. Eden found small comfort in the fact he wasn’t celebrating alongside Theo at the moment.

Theo looked confused. “You are so harshing my victory buzz right now. Do you know how long I’ve been planning this? And now I’m going to help you out. Both of you.”

Darrak didn’t answer. His jaw was tight.

“I also have another surprise planned to show my gratitude,” Theo said, then raised his hands when that received a glare. “Don’t worry. It’s something you’re going to love.” He cast a dark look at Eden as if he blamed her for Darrak’s current treatment of him.

“I think Darrak said something about you leaving?” Eden said grimly.

He turned to face her. “Oh, Eden, what would Darrak do without you?”

She glared at the sarcasm but didn’t reply.

“You’re lucky he’s sweet on you, you know that? Because, just between you and me?” Theo’s eyes narrowed. “It’s the only reason you’re still breathing.”

“Just try something,” Eden said, feeling magic channel into her hand. “I dare you.”

“Enough,” Darrak growled. “Both of you. Theo, leave now.”

“Hope she’s worth it, Darrak,” Theo replied. “Oh, and Eden? Darrak and me go way back. We’re almost exactly the same and always have been. If you think he’s any different, then you’re fooling yourself.” He grinned and patted his pocket. “Thanks again for the help. I owe you one!”

He left the pub without another word.

“Is he gone?” Alistair asked, facedown.

“He is.”

Alistair pushed back from the table and looked at her wearily. “Well, I don’t think that could have sucked any worse.”

She shook her head. “I am so, so sorry. I had no idea what he planned to do.”

“I feel drained.” He raised his hand to catch the bartender’s attention. “Smirnoff. And keep ’em coming.”

“I’ll do everything I can to get your angelic energy back.”

Alistair laughed humorlessly. “Don’t bother. It’s too late.”

“No, it can’t be. I can fix this.”

“What are you, stupid or something? Not everything can be fixed. This is one of those things.” He drained his