“I will allow you to leave here this morning with your existence intact,” Lucas said to him. “And in return, you will get me that black diamond.”
“And if I can’t?”
“There are several interested parties in the Netherworld who have heard rumors of your situation here in the human world.” Lucas shook his head. “I can’t help but sense that you’ve changed, Darrak.”
“The humanity is temporary.”
“You believe that?”
“Yes.”
Lucas tilted his head to the side, studying Darrak as if trying to assess his true worth. “You’d never pass their tests. They would hunt you down and destroy you and anything you value.”
“I don’t have any possessions,” Darrak said.
“Are you sure about that?” Lucas flicked a glance at Eden. “I believe there is something here you wouldn’t want destroyed alongside you.”
The moment Eden felt personally threatened, black magic rose to the surface of her skin for her to use at will. It was like another sense. She supposed she was working on her seventh now.
Darrak’s gaze moved to her as well. “Leave Eden alone.”
“It’s much too late for that.” Lucas approached her, almost tentatively. “You know the truth about me. You’re one of the very few who does.”
She nodded.
“And you believe what I told you?”
“Yes.” Eden didn’t hesitate to answer. She knew deep in her gut that what he’d told her was true. That he wanted to destroy his own inner demon — Satan — so he’d have a chance to be redeemed in Heaven’s eyes.
“Thank you for saving me from your demon,” Lucas said.
“You said you didn’t need my help.”
“It’s still appreciated. I won’t forget. And I won’t forget about our deal.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. She froze in place at the unexpected kiss.
When he pulled back, his eyes flicked to her necklace and his brow furrowed. “I must remember that black witches are dangerous for me to be around.”
Eden looked down at her amulet. With shock she realized it had suddenly become a shade lighter. “How is that possible?”
Lucas’s expression shadowed. “It’s part of my punishment. I’m a natural magnet for darkness. I attract it and it feeds my inner beast.”
She touched her lips. One kiss from Lucifer had helped restore her soul? It was just a smidgeon, but it was more than she ever could have hoped for.
“Bring me that black diamond,” he said softly. “And I will make good on our deal. I promise you I will.”
Lucas turned and left the apartment.
Darrak flickered hellishly in her peripheral vision. “Did he try to slip you the tongue?”
She shot him a look. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“Did you see what he did to my amulet?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Maybe you should seek him out for an afternoon of tonsil hockey.”
She thought about that. Could Lucas take
“I was kidding,” he said firmly, still using that dark ominous tone of his that didn’t match the words he spoke. “Forget tonsil hockey. It’s a dangerous sport. Especially with him.”
“Seems to be a dangerous sport with everyone lately.”
“Touche. So are you going to release me or let me stand here all day like a tiki torch?”
Eden walked toward him until she stood right in front of him, then forced herself to look up at his intimidating visage.
He blinked. “I don’t like it when you look at me that way. Like you’re afraid of me.”
“I
“This form really isn’t all that difficult to warm up to, is it? No pun intended.”
She crossed her arms. “Darrakayiis, I release you.”
Darrak’s body immediately relaxed, the flames extinguished, and he returned to his human form in less than ten seconds. He grabbed both of Eden’s wrists in his grip so she couldn’t pull away from him.
“Do I really scare you that much?” he asked, his gaze searching hers.
“There’s nothing to fear but fear itself.”
“Do you think I’d ever purposely hurt you?”
She swallowed. “No.”
“I wasn’t thinking straight earlier. I may have some anger issues I need to sort through.”
Eden exhaled shakily. “Okay. So now we just need to figure out how to get that angelheart away from Theo today.”
Darrak crossed his arms and paced over to the glass doors leading to the balcony. “So we can hand it over to your new buddy, Lucifer?”
“That’s right. And he’s not my buddy. This is a business transaction only. We give him something he wants, he gives us something we want.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“What?”
“There’s no damn way I’m doing what he wants me to do. I hate him.”
Eden hissed out a breath. “And there’s nothing I can say to make you change your mind?”
“Can’t think of a single thing.”
“So I’m on my own.”
“You attempt to get that angelheart today, and I’ll have to stop you.” Darrak’s expression softened at her look of outrage. “I know you don’t get it, but I’m doing this
“He said he’d fix things between us.”
“Then he’s a big fat liar. He won’t fix things. He will decimate me before he ever helps me. And whether or not you’re open to playing kissy-face with him won’t change his mind. I do believe I’ve told you about his well- stocked harem, haven’t I? Does that sound like somebody who is keeping a list of people he owes favors to?”
“And if I refuse to go today to Luxuria to take part in this demonic awakening of Asmo-whatever-his-name-is? Will you force me to go?”
His lips pressed together. “Again, I say I’m doing this
“Sure we will.” She felt utterly exasperated by this entire situation. “You really think this nightclub-possessing demon will help us?”
“I do. Theo swears he will.”
Darrak seemed so certain he could trust Theo. She personally couldn’t stand the demon, but she couldn’t argue the fact he and Darrak were friends and had been for centuries. Friends helped friends. Theo wouldn’t betray Darrak.
Lust elixir notwithstanding.
Besides, if she resisted going, she wouldn’t be able to get close to that diamond again. She needed it. Her mother’s soul needed it. And she was convinced that Darrak’s entire existence rested on not crossing Lucifer this time.
“Fine,” she said. “We’ll go.”
His eyebrows rose. “Really? I thought you were going to give me a hard time.”
“I already did. Hard time is over. But. . but you really, totally, completely trust Theo?”
“I trust Theo with my very existence,” he said without hesitation.
“Fine. If you trust him, then I’ll try to, too. Besides”—she looked at him—“we’re in this together, aren’t we?”
