“I don’t really care one way or the other.” She was silent for a moment. It was frustrating talking to him. “Were you always a demon?”
“What? Oh, more questions?”
“I’m just getting warmed up.”
“Some demons were once humans. Others were fallen angels. And others were created as demons from the energy of the Netherworld itself — hellfire, actually. I fit into the latter category.”
He was created from hellfire? That was so strange she couldn’t even begin to wrap her head around it. “You sound very human.”
“From you, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You fit in. No one would ever guess what you really are.”
“See, you’re saying that with the thought that demons are completely different than humans. We’re not all that different. You need to forget about everything you’ve ever believed.”
“Easier said than done.” She swallowed. “You have powers, though. Powers of conjuring up clothes that otherwise could be bought at Old Navy or the Gap. Anything else?”
“I used to have a few tricks up my sleeve. But maintaining form seems to currently take up all my energy.”
“So what could you do?”
He didn’t say anything for a moment. “Lots of fun things.”
“Such as?”
He sighed. “Maybe some new clothes would be a good idea. We can pick you up some new hand towels while we’re at it. You said there’s a mall around here?”
Was he trying to change the subject? “Darrak, we need to—”
His body suddenly tensed and he inhaled sharply. “He’s here.”
She frowned. “Who’s here?”
Darrak’s eyes widened and he craned his head to the right. Another car was gaining on them, moving right up until it was only inches from her bumper.
“Who the hell is that?” she said out loud.
Darrak didn’t answer, but he reached out to clutch her forearm hard enough to hurt.
The pursuing car swerved into the lane to her left and quickly gained until they were side by side. Eden struggled to keep the car on the road.
Palms sweating, she looked out the passenger side window past Darrak to see who the maniac driver was.
Her eyes locked with Malcolm’s. The exorcist from last night.
Malcolm turned his angelic face toward Eden. His lips were moving but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. Eden pressed the gas pedal down to the floor and sped up, taking the next right into the mall parking lot and stopped the car. She looked over her shoulder but couldn’t see Malcolm anymore. He hadn’t followed her any farther.
“Maybe he was just being friendly.” She looked at Darrak. He was pale and there was a sheen of sweat on his forehead. His breath came shallow and rapid.
“Darrak!” She undid her seat belt so she could take him by his shoulders and shake him. “Are you okay?”
He wasn’t talking. His blue eyes rolled back into his head.
“What did he do to you?”
Malcolm had already started the exorcism last night. Had he been trying to continue it, even at a distance? How was that even possible? Whatever he’d been doing, it was enough to hurt Darrak.
Darrak blinked after a moment and his eyes slowly regained focus. But he was still pale. “Eden…”
“What can I do?”
“I didn’t realize how weak I am.”
“It takes a real man to admit something like that.” She tried to sound light.
“I’m stronger when I’m possessing you. When I have my own body I’m more susceptible. I can draw from your strength when I’m inside.”
“So turn to smoke and possess me again.” She couldn’t believe she was actually suggesting it.
“I can’t control that. Not when it’s daylight. But I–I do need some of your energy.”
“What?”
“The fairy… she hates demons because she knows how similar she is to us. Unseelie fairies must drain the energy from humans to survive and grow more powerful. They have to. They have no choice. A demon can survive just fine without doing this, but we can skim a little off the top if necessary.”
“So skim, already.”
He snorted softly. “So willing? And here I thought you hated me.”
“I do. But you can take a little energy if it’ll make you feel better. After all, I was the one to introduce you to Malcolm in the first place.”
“Guilt is a powerful emotion.” His dark brows drew together. “This wouldn’t be enough to hurt you.”
“Stop talking and do what you have to do. Just don’t break the skin.”
“That won’t be necessary. I simply need an opening to that bright, shiny soul of yours.” He brought his hands up to either side of her face and drew her closer to him.
She braced herself. “That sounds very—”
He kissed her. And not just any kiss. Open mouthed and, if she hadn’t been sitting down, completely knee-weakening.
After a moment it started to make the rest of her feel weak as well.
But, she supposed, that was because he was purposefully draining her energy. She moaned a little against his lips because the kiss felt surprisingly, well, amazing. If this is what being drained by a demon felt like, then she was seriously considering signing up as a regular donor.
Just when the kiss was deepening further, he broke it off.