Something Wicked (32 page)

“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.

Leena’s face fell. “A week?”

“I think that’s more than generous. Now that I know who you’re hiding from, it doesn’t exactly make me feel comfortable having you around anymore.”

She stood up so quickly the chair fell to the floor behind her. “But—but what about you and Darrak? If you’re together—”

He laughed. “You know the saying about shutting the fence after the horses have escaped? That’s how it is between me and Darrak, so don’t worry your furry little head about the fact I can’t keep my hands off the demon’s amazing body.” He added the last part to make himself feel better. It helped a little.

“But—but you just agreed that he’s dangerous.”

“Of course he’s dangerous. He’s a demon.” Darrak said. That was the whole point of this display, wasn’t it? He’d accepted that about himself. He
was
dangerous. And Leena got to be victim number one of his renewed outlook on life.

“But . . .” Leena looked at a loss for words. She wrung her hands nervously.

“Seriously, Leena. I know you say you hate him, but don’t you think he’s kind of hot?”

“Hot?” Leena repeated. “Well . . . uh . . . of course he is.”

He grinned inwardly. Made her admit it.

This was getting to be fun.

“Eden, you need me—” Leena continued.

“No, actually I don’t. Neither of us needs you.” The crueler he was to her the more powerful he felt. He waited to feel guilt, but there was nothing. “Frankly, you’re a waste of my valuable time. One week and then you figure out how to save yourself because I’m not going to help anymore. I have my own problems to deal with. Got it?”

Leena’s lips trembled.

“Well?” Darrak prompted. He waited for her to freak out and start yelling and throwing insults.

Instead, two tears streaked down Leena’s cheeks. “Got it,” she said softly.

Well, that wasn’t as much fun as he’d hoped. He watched her warily for a moment, waiting for her to gather herself together, but she didn’t. He’d hurt her deeply. Or, rather,
Eden
had.

He didn’t feel bad about that one little bit.

Did he?

Darrak forced himself to turn away and walk to the door. “Don’t wait up for me.”

Once he’d left the apartment, his head began to clear again. This was the way it had to be. Demons weren’t concerned with hurting someone else’s feelings. They were straightforward, blunt, and completely selfish. He had to look after number one—himself. That was the way it should be.

He’d only changed because of the humanity he’d been forced to absorb, but that didn’t mean who he was underneath it all was any different. He liked being a demon, without all this inconvenient guilt or emotion to deal with. He’d enjoyed his work and had only grown more powerful until that fateful day with Lucifer that made him vulnerable to a witch’s summoning.

But Darrak was close to putting the last three hundred years behind him once and for all. He would be cured, he would be powerful again, and all would be well with the world.

He was an archdemon. And any human or shapeshifter unfortunate enough to cross his path should fear him deeply.

Hell, yeah.

NINETEEN

There was something really strange about this place. But . . . what was it?

The other night, Darrak had sensed something unusual about the Luxuria nightclub, but he hadn’t been able to put his finger on what it was. It was still too vague for him to figure it out, but it was decidedly not normal or completely human. There was a darkness here.

And darkness was good for a demon, right?

Right.

“Party on,” Darrak said under his breath, refusing to let the sound of Eden’s voice speaking his thoughts bother him. He took what he wanted when he wanted it. Period. And if his lovely host didn’t like it, well, then that was just too bad.

He was in control at the moment and until such time as he decided to release it. Eden dampened him whenever she wanted to, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he could do the same.

The only difference is I gave her permission to dampen me
, he thought.

Who cares
? his other side chimed in.
Permission is for wimps. Take what you want when you want it. Be a demon!

Great. He was a demon with a proverbial devil and an angel on either shoulder. That was going to prove to be very inconvenient.

He mentally flicked the angel off his shoulder. It crashed and burned to the floor.

Much better.

He scanned the nightclub for Theo but didn’t see him. His gaze fixed instead on a familiar face who’d already spotted him. Nancy, the barista from Hot Stuff, made a bee-line directly toward him.

Oh, great
, he thought tightly.

“Eden,” she said. “This place is fabulous! Thank you so much for suggesting it to me the other day.”

“It’s not bad.” Darrak’s attention moved across the hundreds of blank faces in attendance. No one there seemed to be enjoying themselves, despite the freely flowing alcohol and loud music and readily available cleavage. A lot of men and women weren’t even mingling. They sat or stood and stared, as if transfixed, sipping on their drinks.

Strange.

So what did it all mean? He had a feeling he should be able to figure it out, to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Darrak smiled inwardly at the thought. Just because he’d spent some time at a private investigation agency lately didn’t mean he wanted to become a PI, himself.

How ridiculous.

“This is my second night here in a row,” Nancy said. “I can’t seem to get enough of this place.”

“Really?” It seemed to be a common refrain. Those who’d come here looking for love couldn’t stay away.

Nancy nodded and her eyes darted around. “Where’s Darrak?”

Right here. Present and accounted for. “I have no idea.”

Nancy pouted. “That’s too bad.”

Well, it was nice to see that somebody liked having him around.

“Listen, Eden, this might sound kind of blunt.”

“I like blunt,” he said.

“Do you think your brother would go out with me?”

Eden’s brother. Nancy still thought they were siblings. If only she knew the sordid truth, she might run away screaming. It was an amusing thought. “Go out with you where?”

“On a date. I really like him.” She twisted a nervous finger through her bleached blonde hair.

She liked him. That warmed his ego a little. “What exactly do you like about him?”

“You really want a list?”

“Yes, please.” He should be hunting for Theo, but yes, he could use a list right about now. Pathetic, but true.

The hair-twisting became more thoughtful. “Well, he’s charming and good-looking and really nice—”

Well, two out of three ain’t bad.

“—and . . . and his eyes . . .” She bit her bottom lip. “They’re so intense. Sometimes I feel like they’re literally burning right into my soul as though he could devour me whole if he wanted to.”

She was an excellent judge of character.

“So cool and blue, but hot at the same time,” Nancy continued, “like an iceberg on fire. And his hair—well, I just want to run my fingers through it . . .” She shivered and then had the grace to look a bit guilty. “Sorry. I know it’s probably gross having someone think that way about your brother.”

“Oh, no. Not at all. Darrak is incredibly and sinfully attractive,” he said. “It’s not wrong for you to notice this. At all. More people should, in fact. Regularly.”

“Wow, that’s so awesome of you to say that.”

“It’s just the truth.” He shrugged. “Unfortunately, Darrak’s not available.”

“Oh.” Disappointment flickered over her face. A moment later she sniffed. “Well, that’s not a huge surprise, I guess. I wish I’d known, though. I would have stopped making a fool of myself. All those donuts.”

Darrak didn’t want to lose his donut supplier. He wasn’t ready for that ultimate sacrifice yet. “You know, Darrak really enjoys those. He mentioned it to me several times what a great donut maker you are and how you have a knack for putting in just the right amount of custard. It’s an art, really.”

She brightened. “He said that?”

Darrak nodded. “He definitely did. And don’t worry about him. There’s somebody out there for you. I know there is.” Darrak’s eyes flicked to their right. “Oh great.
This
guy again.”

Nancy turned to see Stanley approaching them with two glasses of champagne in hand. “This guy’s right for me?”

“No, that’s not exactly what I—”

“Good evening, ladies,” Stanley said. “Can I offer you a drink?”

Nancy’s gaze moved appreciatively down the length of the wizard assistant’s body. “Well, hello there.”

Darrak rolled his eyes. “Stanley, this is Nancy. Nancy, Stanley.”

Stanley’s eyes widened. “Wow, Nancy. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I think I saw you here last night, too, didn’t I?”

“Guilty as charged. I noticed you, too. Couldn’t help it.”

Terrific. Love blossoms. Darrak’s work here was done. That is, if he’d decided to turn in his horns for a shiny Cupid’s bow and arrow. And he hadn’t.

Nancy took the glass from Stanley. Darrak eyed it suspiciously.

Well, maybe his work wasn’t
completely
done.

“I wouldn’t drink that if I was you,” Darrak said.

Her eyes went wide. “Why not?”

Why beat around the bush? He didn’t have the time to hint. He wanted to find Theo. “Because there’s some lust elixir in there.”

“Really?”

Stanley glared at him. “Thanks a lot.”

“It’s wrong, you know.”
Great. Just listen to me
, he thought.
Who am I to say what’s wrong and what isn’t?
“Oh, forget it. Do what you want. Just don’t . . . damn it. Just forget it, okay? Drink whatever you want, whenever you want.”

“Seriously?” Nancy said. “Lust elixir? That’s like a magic potion, right?”

Darrak looked at her with surprise. “What do you know about magic potions?”

She shrugged and gave both him and Stanley a wicked little conspiratorial grin. “A little. Doesn’t everyone?”