Something Wicked

His flippant attitude was quickly frustrating her. “An angel already suffered and gave up his immortality so Theo could take his power away.”

“That angel didn’t deserve to be an angel. You saw him. His returning to Heaven with wings intact was already uncertain without Jack Daniels pushing him in the right direction. Heavenly and hellish entities really need to be careful with human drugs and alcohol. Dangerous stuff.”

“Theo didn’t have the right to steal from him. It was wrong.”

“I think you’re forgetting something, Eden. Demons don’t do things for the greater good of mankind. Humans are playthings, mostly. Meaningless diversions.”

She stared at her reflection in the glass on the balcony door. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest. “Is that how you feel?”

“How I feel?” There was an unpleasant twist to his words. “I shouldn’t be feeling anything. I’m a demon, and I keep managing to forget that little tidbit. Maybe it’s good that Theo’s around to remind me of what I truly am. After all, what I really should be feeling is: ‘Hooray, Theo drained an angel today. Point for us.’ ”

At her reflected look of shock, he actually chuckled.

“Sorry, I’m not quite as valiant as Detective Hanson. I’m sure he’d be scandalized and disgusted by what happened and willing to march off to war to retrieve that angelheart for you.”

“You’re right. He would.” Ben had made some stupid decisions lately, but Eden knew he had made them for all the right reasons.

“Glad to hear you’re still a fan.” But Darrak didn’t sound glad. He sounded pissed off.

This discussion wasn’t going half as well as she’d hoped. But what had she thought would happen? That he’d choose to help her — some random woman he’d met by accident a couple of weeks ago — over his centuries-old friendship with another demon just like him?

Was Darrak exactly like Theo?

She would have said no before, but the way Darrak was answering her questions now — there was no revulsion for the other demon, no judgment. Theo was just Theo. And Darrak seemed to trust him implicitly, no matter what he did or said.

Eden had desperately wanted to tell Darrak the truth. While she couldn’t say anything about the deal she’d made with Lucifer, for fear of repercussions if he found out, she could share what she’d learned about her father possibly being an angel. And about the Malleus being very interested in how that might affect the demon that possessed her.

But now she didn’t want to tell Darrak anything at all.

“I’m going to bed,” she finally said.

“Maybe you’ll dream about golden boy tonight swinging in and rescuing you from the evil demon.”

“I hope I do,” she agreed.

“Sweet dreams.” Darrak’s tone was decidedly sour.

Eden could pretty much guarantee her dreams that night wouldn’t be sweet.

She sincerely hoped tomorrow would be better than today.

It couldn’t possibly get any worse.

Nothing used to get to Darrak. Nothing.

Ah, the good old days.

Back then, when he’d felt defeated or powerless or even afraid — although that had happened very rarely — he’d covered it up with a joke or a sarcastic comment. He still did that. His mask? Maybe a little. But a snide comment or witty comeback made things easier.

He wasn’t feeling all that witty at the moment.

He felt angry mostly. And frustrated.

And. . uncomfortable.

He refused to wear the fuchsia underwire bra. It pinched.

Leena watched him suspiciously as he got ready to leave the apartment in Eden’s stolen body at half past midnight to meet up with Theo at Luxuria.

“What?” he asked with Eden’s voice.

“Going to meet your mystery man again?” she asked.

“Good guess.”

“Who is this guy, anyhow?”

“Love to tell you all about it,” he said, “but I just don’t want to.”

A flicker of confusion went through Leena’s gaze at the flippant reply. Darrak honestly didn’t care if the shifter figured out what he was doing or not. He was a demon, and he could do whatever he wanted without worrying about any repercussions. In fact, he should revel merrily in it.

He’d revel merrily later. He mentally put it on his to-do list.

Darrak waited for Leena’s accusation that was sure to go something along the lines of, “You nasty piece of demon shit. How dare you steal Eden’s body to meet your nasty evil piece of shit friend just so you can feel whole again and not like a washed-up and worthless excuse for a once-powerful archdemon.”

As he’d said before, the shapeshifter was very insightful.

In fact, he challenged her to say something. He stood there, one stolen hand on one stolen hip, and he arched a stolen eyebrow. “Got a problem with me, cat?”

She had to know, didn’t she? Weren’t shifters all intuitive like that?

Leena glared at him for five full seconds before her bottom lip wobbled. “I’m so sorry, Eden.”

He frowned. “What?”

Leena inhaled shakily. “I know I’m difficult to live with. I know I always say the wrong thing and I can’t get along with anybody. But I’ll. . I’ll try to get along with the demon. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m willing to try. I have the kind of personality that needs to fight with others. Darrak’s not the first. I just like to protect the people I care about from those I think are dangerous.”

“You think Darrak’s dangerous?”

“Well, duh. Of course he is.”

He considered this for a moment. “You’re right, of course.”

She wiped her moist eyes. “I am?”

“Yes. I think he’s probably going to get me killed if I can’t find a way to get rid of him.” Well, it was the truth, after all.

“You need to exorcise him,” she said firmly.

He snorted. “I appreciate that being so top of mind that you didn’t even hesitate before suggesting it.”

Leena sat down at the tiny dinette table. “I know people, Eden. They can take care of a demon infestation in twenty minutes or less. They’re independents, not associated with the Malleus.”

“Really? You’re associated with these people?”

She bit her bottom lip. “My ex is one of the leaders.”

Interesting. “And he’s your ex, because?”

“Because I. . may have stolen something from him,” she said tentatively.

“Stolen something like what?”

“Just something small and valuable and worth a fortune. They’re like modern-day Robin Hoods. They steal from the supernaturals they slay and give to the poor victims. And, well, themselves, of course.” She wiped a tear away and actually grinned a little wickedly. “It’s in a safe spot right now waiting for my first opportunity to fence it.”

Fence it? Darrak’s suspicions were confirmed. Little Miss Kathleen Harris was a thief and a con artist who’d brought trouble upon herself and now relied on Eden’s benevolent nature to protect her from harm.

And this little confession was because Leena trusted Eden and wanted to strengthen their burgeoning friendship.

She really had no idea who she was actually speaking to.

Poor, clueless kitty cat.

“I want you out of here in a week,” Darrak said.