Something Wicked

“He wanted to give me a gift.”

“Wonderful. Flowers? Chocolates? Are you two the latest Netherworld power couple?” Sarcasm dripped.

“No,” Darrak said. “Actually he gave me your friend Ben Hanson and allowed me the chance to carve him up and watch him bleed to death.”

Eden froze, a breath caught in her throat. “And did you?”

There was a short pause. “What do you think I did?”

She’d begun to tremble, imagining Ben coming to a very unpleasant end. Darrak hated him. “I don’t know, so you better tell me right now.”

Darrak laughed humorlessly. “I gutted him, of course. You should have heard him scream. Like a little girl.”

She clutched her throat. It felt difficult to breathe all of a sudden. “Darrak — oh, my God—”

“He deserved it. Now that he’s with the Malleus, he’s only going to cause harm to others. I did everyone a favor, don’t you think? Besides, one less set of dimples won’t make the world stop turning on its axis.”

Eden squeezed her eyes shut and tried not to freak out. Darrak killed Ben? Just like that? With no conscience or guilt? She’d never known the real Darrak at all. It had all been a lie. He was horrible and sadistic and cruel and. .

Her eyes snapped open. “Wait a minute. You’re. . you’re lying to me, aren’t you? Aren’t you?”

“You’re going to have to be a bit more specific,” he said.

“About everything you just said to me. It’s a lie.” She felt the edge of the counter behind her. Currently it was the only thing helping to keep her on her feet.

“Well. . Theo did give Ben to me as a present. He gave me the knife and everything.”

A shiver went down her spine. “But you didn’t kill him. I know you. You wouldn’t do it.”

“You know me, do you?” he said tightly. “You really think so?”

“Yes. I do. Despite our differences, despite everything that has happened up until now, I know you wouldn’t kill him.”

There was silence then, and it was enough to tell her she was right. The relief was so overwhelming she nearly collapsed to the floor.

Darrak didn’t kill Ben. Even when he’d been given the opportunity.

“Say it,” she said. She had to hear it out loud just to prove it to herself.

“What?”

“Say that you didn’t kill him.”

There was a sound of displeasure, like a grunt. “Fine. I didn’t kill him.”

“And you let him go.”

“Yes. I let him go,” he grumbled.

Relief continued to course through her. “I knew it.”

“It’s time,” he said.

“Time for wh—?”

Then she felt like someone had just punched her in the stomach, and she huffed out a long breath of thick black smoke. It had taken her by shock so much that she stood there, holding her hand over her stomach, and watched as Darrak began to take form right in front of her.

First there was a glimpse of pale, muscled limbs before they were covered by dark clothing that appeared as if by magic. It was magic. In less than a minute he’d taken solid form and stood there a few feet away staring at her.

He raked a hand through his dark hair. “You’re not usually conscious for that.”

No, she wasn’t. She’d only been awake one other time he’d taken form like that, and it was the first time she realized she was possessed. She’d managed to summon enough energy to force him out of her body.

“Where’s Ben now?” she asked.

“I have no idea.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’ll live.” He said it bitterly.

Eden couldn’t help herself. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not killing him.”

“There was a time I wouldn’t have hesitated.”

“But you did and that’s a good thing.”

“Debatable.” Darrak wasn’t hugging her back. In fact, he felt tense. “Isn’t Pussy Galore supposed to jump in right about now? Leena! Eden is actually touching me. You might want to stop her before things get out of control.”

Eden was touching him, wasn’t she? Her rage had quickly subsided and shifted into something else. Something strange and warm. Something that had her holding on to this hug of relief and gratitude for much longer than was polite.

She didn’t want to let go of him.

Her heart picked up its pace.

Darrak hadn’t killed Ben. This normally wouldn’t sound like a reason to get all soft and mushy toward someone — the fact that he’d decided against committing murder — but this morning it had affected her in a decidedly soft and mushy way.

She’d doubted him, but it had only been for a moment. Despite their problems, she did trust him down deep. And he’d come through for her.

Eden flattened her hands against the hard planes of his chest. Darrak smelled good this morning. He always smelled good to her — clean and warm and delicious. It wasn’t a cologne, it was just him. She leaned closer and inhaled, moving her nose greedily up toward his throat.

“Uh. . everything okay?” he asked.

She cleared her throat. “Yeah. Of course. Everything’s fine.”

“You’re acting kind of strange. Especially considering that not five minutes ago you said you hated me.”

She fought against this strange pull toward him. He was right. She was mad at him. Furious, in fact.

Oddly, though, furious was the last thing she felt at the moment.

Nevertheless, she forced herself to step back from Darrak and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I do hate you,” she confirmed.

Darrak studied her carefully as if he didn’t know what to expect next from her. “Okay.”

She craned her neck, trying to bring her jumbled thoughts into some sort of order. “Where is Leena, anyhow?”

“She must be asleep.” Darrak went to the refrigerator and opened it up. “This must be my lucky day. Who bought these?”

Eden glanced around as he pulled out a bag labeled Hot Stuff. He pulled a couple of chocolate donuts out from inside.

“No idea.”

“A gift from the donut fairies. They must have known it was a rough night.” He bit into one, and his eyes flicked to her. “Delicious. Want one? Or do you hate me too much to share in my bounty?”

“I don’t want one.” She couldn’t believe that all she could think about at the moment was how good he looked eating that donut. What a stupid thought.

But he did look good. His lips. . his tongue. . his hands. A crumb fell to the black T-shirt that stretched over his muscular chest and abs. She bit her bottom lip as her gaze leisurely traveled over him. Damn, he was so attractive.

She really wanted his body right now.

Eden blinked rapidly at the thought.

Uh, hello? What the hell was wrong with her? This was not the way her brain normally worked. Especially at this time of the morning.