That Old Black Magic

were connected. After all, Lucas had been the one to create Darrak in the first place.

Her hands trembled. If she had to guess, she’d say Lucas was dying. But the Prince of Hell couldn’t die, could he?

“I don’t know how to help you.” She grasped hold of her amulet and squeezed it. “I can’t heal, I can only destroy with my magic.”

Eden didn’t like him, didn’t trust him, but the thought that he was hurt or gone forever bothered her. If he was gone he couldn’t help her fix Darrak.

She pressed her hands to either side of his face. “Please, don’t go. I need you. Wake up. Say something.”

Faster than anything she’d ever seen before he grabbed her arms and twisted her over to press her against the sand. His hands closed around her throat.

Lucas’s eyes didn’t blaze with fire like Darrak’s did. Instead, his were filled with bright white light. This, strangely enough, was much scarier.

“You defied me, Eden.” His voice was calm, but filled with menace. “Didn’t you? And now you come here looking for my help? Are you gutsy or just plain stupid?”

Definitely stupid; she knew that coming into this but she’d done it anyway. She struggled to breathe. “Lucas, let go of me!”

“Why should I? I know you didn’t follow my orders. You failed me, yet again. And what am I supposed to do now? Forgive and forget?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to try to lie, but she knew it was futile. “You must have known I couldn’t go through with it. Maybe you’re the one who’s stupid.”

Oh, that was smart of her. Call Lucifer stupid. Great.

She must have a death wish.

Time to be proactive. She clenched her fist and tried to summon her magic, and was surprised when nothing happened.

Lucas smiled. “Remember, this is my domain, Eden. Your magic doesn’t work here.”

“So I’m at your mercy, is that it?”

“I’ve never really been known for my mercy.”

“Then why haven’t you killed me yet if I defied your undefiable order? Because I’m right, aren’t I? Because you didn’t think I’d be able to do it at all. Besides, she doesn’t want to talk to you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “She?”

That was right. He didn’t know anything about the person named on that card. Brenda had been cloaked to him and still was. “Let’s just say, she’s not interested in working for you.”

“Not for me, exactly. And it doesn’t really matter in the end. She was only an alternate. I have someone else lined up who is much more eager for the opportunity.”

Relief filled Eden, but she didn’t dare move just yet. “So no harm done.”

“You still defied me. And now you come here seeking answers to fix your demon boyfriend.”

Tears burned her eyes. “He’s in trouble.”

“What else is new?”

“It’s my fault. I did something by mistake that hurt him, made something shift inside him. You have to help me.”

Lucas laughed at that and pushed up off the ground. “Help you? Why would I want to do that?”

“Because you need me.”

He cocked his head and studied her curiously. “You think so, do you?”

Darrak thought Eden was part of some master plan on Lucas’s part. She knew the prince wasn’t in love with her, so why else would he put up with her mistakes, her arguments, and all the difficulties she’d caused him since they’d first come into contact?

And yet, he kept sniffing around.

Lucas wanted something from her, but he wasn’t ready to ask for it yet.

This didn’t help ease her mind one tiny bit.

“Yes, I think so, Lucas,” she said evenly. “Whatever you need from me, I’m willing to help out. Within reason. But you have to help me in return.”

“Do I now?” He smiled and closed the distance between them to grab hold of her amulet, and he looked down at it before his gaze flicked to hers. “You’re the strangest black witch I’ve ever come across. Filling up with darkness on a daily basis, but unable to resist helping someone in need. Be it this woman today, or Darrak, or even me, seemingly injured on a beach. Your charity may one day lead you down a very dark path.”

His proximity made her tremble. There weren’t too many paths that would lead her anywhere darker than this. “Tell me how to fix Darrak.”

“To truly fix him? You’d have to remove the angelic side, which I’m sure he’s just thrilled about. But that’s impossible. There are no take-backs.” His lips thinned. “Do you know that one word from me would set Hell on him like flies to honey? There are many demons who hate anything angelic so much they’d relish the chance to tear an anomaly like Darrak apart. Others, however, would prefer to dissect him slowly. Demons aren’t quite as altruistic as you are.”

Fear raced through her and she struggled to keep her voice calm. “Please don’t do that.”

“We’ll see.”

“Whatever you need from me, you can’t get it just by threatening me.”

“When have I ever threatened you, Eden? Never. Not once.”

A nervous laugh bubbled in her chest. “You had me in a choke hold a minute ago, in case you forgot.”

“That was just playing around.” He stroked a long lock of her auburn hair behind her shoulder, and she couldn’t help but take an automatic step back. This made him smile. “So many women would literally kill for me to touch them. To do whatever I like to them.”

“Is that what you’re looking for? For me to want you like that?”

“No, in fact I prefer that you don’t. What I want from you is very specific, but you’re not there yet, Eden. So very soon, but not quite yet. There’s too much at stake for me to strike before the iron is hot, as the saying goes.” His gaze moved down the length of her. “Besides, I know you already belong to him. He has staked his claim in ways that surprise even me.”

She had to get back. Darrak was getting worse with every minute that passed. “Darrak needs—”

“He needs something I won’t be providing. Quite honestly, I don’t care if he lives or dies. But he matters to you.” His eyes lit up again. “The answer is as simple as they come, Eden.”

She went silent, waiting, willing her impatience to back off. It wasn’t helping right now with this hellishly frustrating man. “I need to get back.”

“Of course. For Darrak. And for your friend… the werewolf.”

She inhaled sharply. “You know about Andy?”

He nodded. “You have obtained a spell to contain him tonight.”

“How do you—?”

“Not everything is cloaked to me, Eden. I know the things I need to know. It’s all a part of the whole.”

Now he was talking like a fortune cookie, too. “Please tell me how to help Darrak.”

“Like I said, it’s simple.” He grasped her chin and looked into her eyes. “You broke him, so you need to fix him. I’ll see you again, Eden. Very soon.”

He snapped his fingers, and the next moment she wasn’t on the beach any longer. She was back in her apartment.

Darrak stood directly in front of her, holding on to her wrist. “I’m serious, Eden. You can’t see Lucifer again. It’s too dangerous. Put that damned summoning crystal down, will you?”

Lucas had returned her within the exact millisecond she’d left. Darrak had no idea she’d even been gone. She put the marble back in her pocket and hung her coat back up in the hall closet.

He sighed with relief. “That’s better.”

“I need you back in bed,” she commanded.

He leaned against the wall. “I appreciate the interest, but I’m not feeling all that frisky at this precise moment.”