That Old Black Magic - By Michelle Rowen Page 0,57
His nose grew longer, turning into more of a snout. His fingernails became long and sharp. His ears bigger and pointier. A thick layer of fur sprouted on his cheeks.
“Darrak—” His voice was a half growl now. “Possess me, if you need to. It’s okay, I don’t mind.”
Darrak’s throat felt thick. “I appreciate the offer, but shifters can’t be possessed.”
“Maybe I’m not . . .” Andy looked down at his hands. “Oh crap. It’s true!” He looked at Darrak. “I’m so sorry.”
Darrak gripped the side of the desk. “You’ll be okay, I swear it. Just do me a favor.”
“What?”
“Tell Eden . . .” He shuddered and slid down to the floor. “Tell her that I—”
But it was too late. He couldn’t hold back another moment. His solid form morphed to the swirling mix of black and white smoke as his curse kicked in as it did every single night. His weeks of being able to take form half the time had been a gift. He’d quickly gotten used to it and taken it for granted.
This was who he really was now thanks to that centuries-old curse. This formless creature who couldn’t speak, couldn’t touch anything and was only able to possess and feed and drain and kill.
And he was trapped in a room with no way out. He instinctively moved toward Andy, even though he knew it wouldn’t do any good, and was immediately repelled, glancing off the shifting werewolf’s skin like a tennis ball thrown against a brick wall.
Andy continued to shift form. He howled and fell to the floor, his eyes still filled with a strange mix of fear for himself and for Darrak. Andy had never seen Darrak in this unnatural, incorporeal form. Maybe he’d thought that Darrak was someone to trust as much as a human, as evidenced by his little speech a couple of minutes ago.
But Darrak wasn’t human. He was nothing close to human—even with the recent angel infusion. He had a great deal of humanity in reserve, but that was as close as he got to the real deal.
Would that humanity last? Or would it be taken from him along with everything else?
He already knew the truth. Everything would be taken. Everything that he thought he resented, everything that he thought he didn’t want. The Void would strip away everything and leave nothing behind. Nothing at all.
All gone. His humanity, his emotions, his memories, even his angel side. Funny, it didn’t seem so bad anymore. It was embarrassing for a former archdemon who’d laid waste to many a town in his existence, a former incubus who’d personally helped stock Lucifer’s harem full of willing souls for him to sate his many hungers.
Part angel.
But now he wasn’t even that. Now he was only smoke swirling around a magically sealed room.
He tried the door, tried to seep through the tiny cracks in the walls, the heater grate, anything.
Nothing worked.
Andy now raced back and forth in full werewolf form, claws scratching against the floor, looking very much like a large wild dog, his eyes still so much like Andy’s, full of concern, full of fear.
But Darrak knew Andy didn’t fear for himself anymore. He feared for Darrak.
Darrak always knew it was only a matter of time before this would happen—he’d just thought it wouldn’t be quite this soon. Quite honestly, this was for the best. Eden would finally be free of him. The dark and light that fought within her would have one less daily struggle.
She’d be better off without him.
But he’d miss her. So much.
An exorcism could have harmed her. This way, she wouldn’t have to feel a thing.
That was one of Darrak’s last thoughts as he began to dissipate. This form could only last so long without a human host, and his time was finally up.
The last thing he heard before he vanished completely was the sound of a werewolf howling very loudly.
Nice puppy. Stay and take care of Eden for me. Keep her safe.
No . . . he thought. I don’t want to go, not like this. There’s still so much I need to—
And then he was gone.
FOURTEEN
Eden had a hell of a hangover. Somehow, somewhere, she’d drank way too much and now had to pay the price.
Her eyelashes fluttered as she opened her eyes.
“Eden, sweetie,” her mother’s brand-new voice said softly. “You’re awake. Good.”
“Give her a minute,” Ben said. “She’ll be woozy for a bit.” Her throat felt like sandpaper. “Wh-what happened? Where am I?”