“Hooray for you. Leave me alone, jerk.”
“Jerk? You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough. You’re one of them.” She thrust her chin toward the door. “Locked me up in here like an animal.”
“Well, you are a shifter. So you’re an animal part-time, anyway, aren’t you?”
“Bite me.”
“Not in my plans. Sorry.” He glanced at the door, then moved toward it to look out the small window. The guard had moved down the hallway. They had a bit of privacy to speak.
When he looked back at the woman, she was already in front of him, her right fist aimed toward his jaw. He deflected the punch before it landed and wrenched her arm behind her back, pushing her up against the wall like he’d done hundreds of times before with common criminals who’d tried to escape.
“Be nice,” he warned.
“Why should I?”
“I’m not the bad guy here.”
“Sure,” she growled. “I believe it.”
“Have they hurt you?”
“No. But you’re hurting me right now.”
He let go of her. She scrambled away from him, returning to the opposite corner but staying on her feet. He swept his gaze over her. She was somewhere in her twenties, about five seven, with skin the color of cocoa and eyes like bright amber. Her black hair was long and sleek and swept back over her shoulders. The silver cuff circled her left wrist. She wore a simple white T-shirt, which looked a size too small, making her breasts strain against the jersey material.
He felt something stir within him.
Great. The last goddamned thing he needed right now was to find himself attracted to a prisoner. And a bitchy, unhelpful one at that.
“How do you know Eden Riley?” he asked bluntly. The sooner he could get out of here the better.
The woman’s eyes widened as if he’d surprised her, but then they narrowed. “No idea who you’re talking about.”
“How about Eden’s new boyfriend, Darrak? The one that’s going to suck the life right out of her. Do you know him?”
Her jaw tightened.
“I know you do,” he said. “And I have a funny feeling that you just might care what happens to Eden enough to offer up some helpful info.”
“Did you say your name was Ben?” she asked. “That wouldn’t happen to be… Ben Hanson, would it?”
This time he took a step back. “You know who I am?”
“I’ve heard things.”
“How about you tell me what they are?”
She gave him a thin smile. “How about you go screw yourself?”
He studied her for a moment. “Does the tough chick act usually work at making people back off?”
She snorted. “Works like a charm, actually.”
“It won’t with me. Believe it or not I’m trying to help you. These are answers we need, and if you don’t want to give them to me right now, just chatting like this, then there are going to be consequences.”
“Story of my life.”
“I can help you.” He pressed back against the cell’s cold wall.
“I’ve heard that line before, handsome. I’ve realized the hard way that the only person who’s ever going to help me out of a jam is myself.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is.”
“Hard life?”
“It’s had its moments.”
“No knights in shining armor?”
“I’m not the type who believes in them.” She swept her gaze over him. “Why? You offering to suit up?”
“No. Not me.” He extended his arm to show her the brand that bound him to the Malleus body and soul. “My choices are limited when it comes to rescuing damsels in distress these days.”
“Too bad.”
“Just tell me one thing…”
“What?”
“Darrak… he’s bad news, isn’t he?”
She hesitated, but then her jaw clenched. “He’s an archdemon. That’s the worst kind of demon there is.”
“What about any changes to do with him absorbing Eden’s celestial energy? Did you ever notice any change in him because of this?”
“Not really. He puts up a good front that he’s a decent guy now, but I don’t believe it. I’ve seen too much in my life to believe he’s in this because he really loves her. Call me a cynic.”
Oliver thought she had more answers than that. He was fixated on the nephilim energy potentially changing the demon. This bit of info wouldn’t be enough to satisfy him.
“I need to go,” he said. “I’m sorry I can’t help you. Really.”
She let out a long shuddery breath. “If you can’t rescue my sorry ass, then do me a favor and rescue Eden. Before it’s too late.”
“I’ll try my best.” He turned from her and rapped on the door to get the guard’s attention.
The door opened a moment later, and he felt the woman’s warm hand on his shoulder. He glanced back at her warily, but this time she didn’t look ready to claw his eyes out. She looked sad and vulnerable.
“That mark on your arm? It’s just a scar unless you believe differently.”
“I wish you were right.”
He left her, feeling like hell that she didn’t know enough to save her own neck and knowing he’d likely have to see her again later that night under less than pleasant circumstances. But one thing the beautiful shifter had reminded him about was his original goal.
If he could save Eden from the demon who possessed her, then everything else in his life just might start to make sense again.
Eden peered through the fence at their first stop, where Andy said they’d find the only confirmed Brendan Franks in Toronto. After this, all they had was the lead on the address at the Manulife Centre downtown.
“That can’t be him,” she said.
“I disagree,” Darrak replied. “He looks like someone Lucifer might want to have a chat with.”
Brendan appeared to be about six years old and was currently on recess at a local elementary school.
“I don’t think so.”
“Come on, Eden, don’t be naïve. Demonic children are a dime a dozen in the Netherworld. Need I mention Children of the Corn? Damien? Justin Bieber?”
Brendan ran toward the entrance to the school when the bell rang and succeeded in tripping and falling. He sat there for a stunned moment before he started to wail. A teacher came over and helped him to his feet, patting him comfortingly on the top of his head.
“Well… maybe you’re right,” Darrak conceded. “Lucifer isn’t a big fan of crybabies. I know this from personal experience.”
The other location was looking more promising with every passing moment.
Eden knew she had to concentrate, but her mind kept wandering. Why did this have to happen today? Couldn’t Lucas wait till next week? Next month? Exactly what kind of conversation did he want to have, and why hadn’t he been more forthcoming with the details?
She could ask a million questions, but it wouldn’t change a damn thing. She had to come through on this. Lucas hadn’t specifically threatened Darrak, but the prince simply had too much control over her demon in residence. After how close she’d come this morning to losing him, she hated that Lucas could use him as punishment if she messed up a job for him again.
“We do need to see Maksim again,” she said. “First thing tomorrow. I don’t want to put it off any longer after what happened earlier.”
“No harm done.”
“Wrong. Harm was done. Just because you’re okay now doesn’t ease my mind a fraction.”
He nodded as they returned to the Toyota. “Fine, if you absolutely insist. I’ll stifle my dislike of that guy for another day. But don’t get your hopes up. He already told you what the other option is if we can’t break the curse.” He said it lightly, but his expression was tight.