“Let’s just say that I’ve never… been with anyone… just for the sake of being with them before and without any ulterior motives. Sex was my duty and a lot of women came to regret their decision to be with me. I figure it’s only a matter of time before you join those ranks.”
“You think I’m going to regret this?”
He swallowed. “Yes, I do.”
“You obviously don’t know anything about my ex-boyfriends.”
“This is different.”
She tried to figure out what the hell he was trying to say. He didn’t want to hurt her. She got that. “Okay, so you were an incubus. Not exactly a normal sexual history, I’ll give you that. But again, that was then and this is now.”
His jaw remained tight. “The last woman I had sex with became a black witch.”
“You slept with Selina?” She wasn’t sure why that took her by surprise. Also, there was that strange jab of jealousy again when it came to the beautiful witch.
“I did. At her command.”
“Okay. So you’re saying we should have used a condom considering your skanky sexual history?”
That almost earned her a smile breaking through his now rigid expression. “Believe it or not, that’s one thing you don’t have to fear from me. Demons are immune to all human diseases.”
Well, that was good news, at least.
“So you wish that hadn’t happened,” she began.
He took her hands in his. “I’m — I’m just worried something bad’s going to happen to you. It’s like a gut instinct.”
She touched his face and slid her fingers into his dark hair. “Don’t worry about me.”
“I can’t help it. It seems to be my new job.”
“I’m going to call her,” Eden said firmly. She wanted to steer this conversation into a different direction. A practical one.
His brows drew together. “Who? Selina? You know how to contact her?”
She nodded. “We’re going to go talk to her face-to-face.”
He studied her warily. “You think that’s a good idea?”
“You’re not the only one who’s changed. So has she. I think we can reason with her.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.” Holding the bedsheet to her chest she leaned over and grabbed the phone from the side of her bed. She had Darrak retrieve the book she’d purchased last night with Selina’s phone number inside. Darrak, now fully dressed, sat silently next to her as she dialed.
After three rings, the witch picked up.
“Selina Shaw here.”
“Selina… it’s Eden. We met last night at your signing.”
“I remember. Where can I meet you?”
“I do want to meet, but not for the reason you think.”
“I can destroy the demon for you, Eden. You’ll be much better off.”
“We want to talk to you.”
“We?” Selina repeated. “Don’t tell me he’s been filling your head with more of his lies.”
“No. But we need to—”
“You need to read my books, Eden. That’s what you need to do. They will change the way you allow men to treat you by finding your inner power. No more manipulations. We don’t need men at all. We can rely on ourselves for everything. My website has my entire backlist. Everything is also available in electronic and audio versions.”
Eden tried to remain patient and calm. It wasn’t easy. “I appreciate your concern. Really. But you’re wrong about him. You had a change of heart about giving yourself over to black magic. Darrak…” She looked at him. “Darrak’s that way, too. He’s different than you remember. Meet with us and find out that it’s the truth.”
“You want me to break his curse.”
“Give us five minutes of your time, then make your decision.”
“And if my decision is that he’s still a monster and not worthy of your charity?”
“Then that’s your decision.”
It was quiet on Selina’s end of the line for so long Eden thought she’d hung up. “I’ll meet you somewhere populated. But if there’s any funny business then I’ll reduce both of you into a pile of ashes. Got it?”
There was no humor in the witch’s voice. She wasn’t kidding.
“I got it.” Eden gave her the address for the Hot Stuff coffee bar.
“I’ll be there in one hour,” Selina said tightly. “And you have five minutes to convince me the archdemon’s become a Boy Scout. And then, maybe, I’ll consider breaking the curse if only to be done with the both of you once and for all.”
“Thank you so much. I have to say, I’m surprised you agreed to this.”
“I’m feeling charitable today. I just got booked on
“Totally understandable. I haven’t started reading it yet, but the book looks really fantastic.”
“Don’t suck up. It’s not attractive. I’ll see you in an hour.”
She hung up.
It took a moment for Eden’s heart to come back to a regular pace as she switched off the phone. “Did you hear that?”
“Half of it.” Darrak exhaled. “I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it.” Eden said, placing a hand on his firm chest. “She’s going to hear us out. Prepare to be on your best behavior. And it would probably be best if you don’t try to kill her and tear out her heart.”
“Noted.”
He should have looked elated at this news, but instead he looked worried.
That made two of them.
What would happen if Selina decided to break the curse? Darrak would have to leave. And that’s what she wanted all along, wasn’t it?
Of course it was. She didn’t want to die.
It didn’t matter what had happened between them, there was no place in Eden’s life for a demon… reformed or otherwise.
And that’s just the way it was.
— An hour later, Eden watched a taxi pull up in front of Hot Stuff and Selina get out of the back, staring at the exterior of the cafe warily before she entered.
There was a buzz of activity in there — it seemed busier than usual. There were probably fifteen other patrons enjoying a late afternoon refreshment. The pastries and sandwiches were kept under a glass cabinet by the cashier. Stools were set up along the main coffee bar itself, and that was where most people were seated. The espresso machine whistled and gurgled as it coughed up caffeinated beverages at stiff prices.
Eden and Darrak sat at a table in the farthest corner in the back. The more privacy they could get, the better. For some reason, Darrak hadn’t even made eye contact with her since they’d left the apartment.
He felt guilty about what happened between them. And even though she understood why he felt that way, it didn’t exactly make her feel like a million bucks.
A strange sensation crackled over Eden’s arms as Selina tentatively approached. What was that? Electricity?
Selina played with the gray-stoned pendant around her neck as she eyed them each in turn with anything but friendliness in her green eyes. Darrak stood and held his hands, palms up, in a disarming manner.
“I mean you no harm.”
Selina eyed him suspiciously. “Why do I find that incredibly hard to believe?”
He sat back down in his seat. “I’m just here to talk to you.”
Selina remained standing. “Funny, I could have sworn you wanted a great deal more from me today than just talk.”
Her distrustful gaze moved to Eden and a moment later it changed to something else. Something
