by Мишель Роуэн
Andy continued to gape at him for a moment, then let out a long shaky breath as Eden looked on helplessly at this train wreck of a conversation. “I’m going to throw up.”
“No, you won’t.” Then Darrak grimaced. “Or, you probably won’t. I don’t know.”
“No. . I’m — I’m fine.” Andy swallowed hard. “This is going to sound nuts, but as bizarre as what you’ve just told me is, it’s a huge weight off my mind. I thought I was going insane!”
“You’re not. Well, probably not. I’m not an expert.”
“My brain is one of my most prized assets.” Andy leaned back and pressed his palms against his temples. His chair squeaked noisily. “Without it, I don’t know what I’d do.”
“The same could be said for most humans,” Darrak agreed.
“Werewolves!” Andy exclaimed. “Here in Toronto!”
“And fairies, too,” Darrak reminded him, finally noticing the death glare Eden was sending him. “What?”
She just shook her head.
“Fairies, too.” Andy looked stunned. “How do you know these things?”
“That’s easy. Because I’m a de—”
“Okay, that’s enough.” Eden clamped her hand over Darrak’s mouth.
He grabbed her wrist and pried her hand away from his face before looking at Andy. “Because I’m very astute,” he finished. “I’ve been aware of the supernatural world that surrounds us for a very long time.”
“Unbelievable.” Andy’s face was pale. “And you, Eden? Did you know about this, too?”
“It’s a recent revelation for me,” she admitted, her voice hoarse. “Like, really recent.”
Andy smiled shakily, but it quickly faded. “Werewolves sound dangerous. Do I need a. . a gun with, um, silver bullets in it?”
“Fairies are more dangerous than werewolves, on the average.” Darrak moved out of arm’s reach of Eden. “But if they’re your clients, they came to you for help. They wouldn’t attack anyone they need.”
“That’s comforting.”
Eden tried to relax. On second thought, this was good. Andy had learned the truth — part of it anyhow — and he wasn’t running away screaming. Why had she been so worried? She couldn’t control everything. After all, denying the supernatural world didn’t make it go away.
“Are you done with the werewolf case?” she asked, feeling uncomfortable about saying the word out loud.
Andy shook his head. “I took off when I saw the fur. I have to go back and get some more pictures tomorrow. Werewolves might not be into interbreeding, but they don’t seem to have a problem with infidelity.”
The bell on the door jingled, and Nancy walked in with a tray of coffees in foam cups and a brown paper bag. She was medium height, with bleached blonde hair, bright red lipstick, and a permanent glow courtesy of her lifetime membership at the tanning salon down the street.
“Greetings, Triple-A!” she said cheerily.
“Nancy.” Andy’s voice was now weary. “Great. Wonderful. You’re a peach.”
“I have something here for you.” Nancy’s attention was on Darrak.
His eyebrows went up. “Oh, yeah?”
She nodded and reached into the bag. Eden strained to see what it was and then was sorry she did.
“Is that a. . a gigantic donut in the shape of a heart?” she asked.
“It is,” Nancy confirmed and bit her bottom lip. “I made it especially for Darrak. It has a creamy custard center.”
“Sounds delicious,” Darrak said. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Really.” She twisted her index finger into her crispy blonde hair and alluringly jutted out her chest after he took the donut from her. “Listen, I was thinking. . if you don’t have any plans tomorrow night, maybe you and I could—”
“He has plans,” Eden cut her off. “With me. His sister. It’s a family thing.”
“Oh.” Nancy’s face fell. “Well, maybe another time.”
“You know, there’s a new club that opened up. Luxuria?” Eden forced a smile. “You should check it out some time.”
“I’ve heard of it. Is it any good?”
“It’s amazing. So much fun and so many great men there waiting to meet someone just like you.” What in the hell was she doing? Just shut up, Eden. “Thanks for the coffee. See you later.”
It only took a few more moments before Nancy took the hint and slunk out of the office, defeated.
Eden felt oddly victorious about that. It didn’t make her proud.
She didn’t dislike Nancy, but for some reason, the woman’s obvious lust toward Darrak rubbed her the wrong way.
You’re just jealous, her conscience scolded.
That was ridiculous.
Darrak bit into the donut. “This is really tasty. But it doesn’t look much like a heart. More like two chocolate blobs stuck together. Two delicious chocolate blobs.”
Eden felt a burning on the side of her face and realized Andy was openly staring at her.
She cleared her throat. “What?”
“That was kind of rude of you,” Andy said. “You should have let Darrak answer for himself. He doesn’t need you controlling his love life.”
“Darrak doesn’t have a love life.”
Darrak stopped in midbite. “Meanie.”
Andy pursed his lips. “Your brother should be allowed to date if he wants to without you interfering, you know.”
Anger and frustration welled inside of her, quickly bubbling over the edge of her calm exterior. “He’s not my brother. He’s a demon.”
Shit.
She glanced at Darrak to see he looked surprised at her unexpected admission.
Andy shook his head. “I’m sure every sister feels that way about her sibling now and then.”
Okay. In for a penny, in for a pound. .
“No, I’m actually being serious,” she said. “He’s a—”
The door jingled again, and Eden looked over her shoulder, certain that Nancy had returned for round two. But it wasn’t Nancy.
Darrak threw his half-eaten donut down on Andy’s desk, next to the coffees, and moved to stand closer to Eden as Ben Hanson entered the office.
Eden immediately tensed at the sight of the handsome cop. After all, the last time she’d seen him, he’d almost killed her.
“Good morning.” Ben’s dark blue eyes swept over the three of them, ending at Eden. “Long time no see.”
A temporary infusion of humanity may have made Darrak lose his desire for death and destruction, but the exception to the rule would be Ben Hanson.
Detective Ben Hanson, that was.
Darrak hated the guy. Hated.
It wasn’t that long ago that Eden had been crazy for Ben. Darrak wasn’t stupid. He saw the appeal. Ben was tall, good-looking, square jawed, upstanding, and helpful.
Gag.
He was so perfect, Darrak’s nickname for him was “golden boy.”
To top it off, he had short blond hair and those dimples, when he smiled, that women swooned over. Luckily, Ben didn’t smile very often.
Neither did Darrak when the cop was around. And it wasn’t simply because he was jealous. Sure there was that. But there was also the fact that Ben had shot Eden — he’d been aiming for Darrak and she’d gotten in the way — and very nearly killed her.
Ben had been damn lucky Darrak kept a reserve of healing power, which he’d used on Eden. All of it. If she ever got hurt again he wouldn’t be able to do a repeat performance.
Ben had begged Eden to come with him so he could protect her from the big bad demon, but Eden had stayed with Darrak.
A minor victory, but it still felt good that she’d chosen the demonic, cursed Darrak over the perfect, squeaky-clean cop.
“Why are you here?” Darrak asked unpleasantly. He could fake charm when he had to, but why waste it when it wouldn’t do any good?
Ben turned to meet his stony gaze without flinching. “Several reasons.”
Darrak imagined t
earing the head off the cop’s body with his bare hands. It was oddly satisfying.
Andy approached Ben and shook his hand. “Good to see you again. Ben, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
Eden looked apprehensive as she and Darrak exchanged a glance. Andy hadn’t been present when she’d been shot so he’d have no idea why they were acting so standoffish.
“Ben,” she finally said. “Good to see you again.”
Darrak had hoped for something along the lines of “Get out of here, you bastard!” Or “I hate the sight of you. Begone forever!” But, no such luck.
“You, too.” Then Ben smiled a mouthful of straight white teeth, and that charming dimple sprang to life on his cheek.
Darrak glowered.
Hate him.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “Why are you here?”
“I’m here on business.”
“Business?”
He nodded.
“Police business?” she clarified.
“What other business is there?” His smile held.
Darrak stood so close to Eden that he was literally touching her, ready to protect her if he needed to. Ben made no overtly threatening moves. Smart guy. Darrak was ready, willing, and able to physically throw the cop out of the office if necessary. Or even if it wasn’t necessary.
“What can I help you with?” Eden asked. She was smiling now, and leaning against her desk next to him, but there was a tightness to her mouth. Darrak retrieved his blob-heart donut again and took a bite in an attempt to look at ease. It didn’t taste quite as delicious as it had before.
Ben had a manila envelope under his arm, and he pulled a picture out from inside. “Have you seen this woman recently? Her name’s Selina Shaw and she’s gone missing while on a book tour here. She hasn’t been seen in well over a week.”
Darrak stopped in midchew. The photo was of a very recognizable dark-haired beauty. Selina was the black witch who’d originally cursed him — although she’d chosen not to use her magic very often in favor of saving her soul.
Selina had grudgingly agreed to help Darrak and Eden, recognizing that Darrak had changed over the years as much as she had. She was to break the curse and help Eden deal with the black magic they both shared. But before anything could happen, a power-hungry member of the Malleus murdered her. A simple dagger through Selina’s heart was all it took to part the witch from her immortality.
Darrak’s hands clenched at his sides at the memory. He didn’t mourn the witch. Their history hadn’t been a pleasant one. But he mourned the chance to have his curse broken and save Eden.
When a black witch died, her body disintegrated — not unlike the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz. So, no body, no evidence, no potential murder investigation.
Sorry, Ben.
Even Selina’s clothes disappeared shortly after her body had. The only thing that remained of Selina was the amulet Eden now wore. Any witch who cared about the state of her soul would wear a similar one. Eden’s, however, was thankfully covered by the green sweater she wore today.
“I know her,” Eden said evenly. “I went to her book signing, and we met the next day for coffee.”
Everywhere they would have been seen together. Ben couldn’t accuse her of lying. Very good. Darrak’s eyes narrowed on the cop to study his reaction.
“Did she say anything that would indicate if she was going anywhere? Or if she felt threatened in any way?” Ben asked.
Eden shook her head. “No. Sorry. I wish I could be more helpful.”
“You’ve been helpful enough,” Darrak said. “We’re done here. Wonderful seeing you again, Ben. Bye, now.”
Ben smiled thinly and his eyes flicked to Darrak. “You sound a bit defensive. But I’m just asking questions today, nothing more. I’m sure Ms. Shaw’s disappearance has nothing to do with you, does it?”
Somehow he managed to make the sentence sound like a direct accusation.
“Of course not,” Darrak replied. “She probably went on vacation and didn’t tell her handlers. She’s a famous author, after all. They’re very flaky.”
Ben’s eyes narrowed. “Of course. And I take you at your word. I know you’re very trustworthy.”
“I appreciate it, Detective.” Two could play the double-meaning game. It was big fun.
Ben’s smile didn’t cover up the overt hatred in his eyes. He’d seen Darrak’s demonic visage, and it was obvious he hadn’t forgotten a horn or talon. After a moment he tore his gaze away from Darrak and turned to Eden. “There’s something else here I want you to look at. Do you know this man?”
He pulled out another photo. A headshot of the guy Eden had been talking to last night at Luxuria. The gay one.
It was important for Darrak to keep Eden’s male acquaintances and their sexual orientations clear in his head. Not that he was being possessive — no pun intended. He was just cautious of her safety.
Eden nodded. “That’s Graham Davis. I knew him back in high school. Haven’t seen him in twelve years until last night. Is he in some sort of trouble?”
“Trouble?” Ben repeated. “I’d say so. He’s dead.”
SIX
Eden’s breath left her in a rush as if someone had just punched her in the stomach.
“Graham’s dead?” she managed.
Ben watched her carefully. “Yeah, he is.”
“But — but I just saw him last night.”
“It happened last night.”
Her throat felt tight. It was impossible, the last thing she would have expected. Was Ben serious? Or was he just testing her, checking her reactions and applying it to whatever he thought she had to do with Selina’s disappearance?
Eden caught a quick glimpse of other photos Ben held that he hadn’t yet waved in her face. Pictures of Graham lying in an alley, his eyes open and glassy. It was just a brief look, but it told her everything she needed to know.
Ben wasn’t lying. Graham really was dead.
“He was found out back of the Luxuria nightclub at four a.m., strangled,” Ben told her. “Someone called in an anonymous tip. You were seen with him earlier in the evening.”
Eden felt something wet on her cheek, and she pushed away a tear. “H-he was a good friend. I hadn’t seen him in forever, but we were going to have coffee soon and catch up.”
“A male friend of yours ends up dead. Interesting.” Ben glanced at Darrak.
“Don’t look at me,” Darrak bit back. “I didn’t strangle him.”
“I never said you did. But the fact you’d jump to that conclusion is also interesting, isn’t it?”
Eden gritted her teeth. Ben would look for any reason to accuse Darrak. All he saw was a demon — something to fear. He didn’t know who Darrak really was. “Of course Darrak didn’t do anything. He was with me last night.”
“Yes, I’m sure he was.” The intensity of Ben’s searching gaze was uncomfortable. “You’ve very close, aren’t you? Unnaturally close. Half the time, anyhow.”
She’d been waiting for this confrontation since Ben stormed out of her apartment last week, after seeing the truth with his own eyes. He’d wanted to save her. Instead, he shot her. An accident, of course, but the pain was something she wouldn’t be forgetting any time soon. Pain was one thing she now associated with Ben.
The crush she’d once harbored for the handsome cop had all but disappeared. A bullet to the chest did wonders in dousing any romantic aspirations.
Eden touched her throat, her heart aching at imagining Graham’s sudden end. What had he found? Who had he pissed off enough last night to get himself killed?
Andy sat perched on the edge of his desk watching them. “Darrak’s staying with his sister while he’s in Toronto. Of course they’re close.”
“Right. His sister.” Ben glared at her. “Forgot you two are supposed to be related. After all, there’s not much of a family resemblance, is there?”
“They’re half siblings,” Andy replied defensively.
“Sure. That makes much more sense, doesn’t it?”
Sarcasm, table for one. It was obvious that Ben could barely keep his disgust for the demon under control.
The whole thing was making her feel ill. A twinge of pain flittered through her stomach.
“What did you talk to Graham about?” Ben asked.
She glanced at Darrak. He was so tense that veins stood out on his neck and along his arms as he crossed them tightly over his chest. He looked ready to forcibly drag Ben out of there.
She licked her dry lips. “He was doing an investigation of the club, that’s why he was there. He’s a — he was a journalist. Several women have gone missing in the area, and he thought something strange was going on.” She exhaled and it sounded shaky. “I guess he was right.”
“Missing women?” Ben repeated. “Like Selina Shaw?”
The two cases weren’t remotely connected, but letting Ben know that would only dig her in deeper. “I don’t know. He said there were six women missing, all regulars at Luxuria. So he was investigating the club, trying to find some leads.”
“Had he found anything?”
She shook her head. “Nothing when I talked to him. It was just a gut instinct on his part. But. . there’s something else. .”
“What?”
“When I touched him, I had a flash. This overwhelming feeling of dread and fear came over me.”
“Is that some sort of psychic thing?”
Even now that Ben was a believer in all things supernatural, there was still a hard edge of skepticism in his voice.
“Yeah,” she said dryly. “A psychic thing. But I didn’t know what it meant. I guess I do now.”
“You think you sensed that he was going to get murdered?”
“I’m not sure. It felt like there was a dark aura around him. I can’t explain it.” Grief constricted her throat for a moment. Damn it. Why couldn’t it have been more clear? Maybe she could have helped him.
“A dark aura,” Ben repeated, his expression turning sour. “Great. That’s helpful.” His eyes flicked to Darrak. “You were there, too?
“In spirit.”
Ben snorted at that. “Yeah, I’m sure you were. And did you happen to see anything. . well, I hesitate to use the word strange since murder and mayhem would likely be your regular worldview—”
