it wasn’t still there.
He’d save her. No matter what.
In fact, he’d already come up with a plan to end this once and for all.
It might get a little tricky, though. Throwing Lucifer into the Void wasn’t exactly going to be easy.
TWENTY-TWO
“Looks like everything worked out,” Theo said.
“I can’t phase right now.”
“No, you can’t. I wanted to talk first.”
“You can control my ability to phase?” Darrak’s eyes narrowed. “Andy’s going to shift back to human any minute. It’ll kill him if he’s still here.”
“Then we should probably talk fast.”
Darrak got a sinking feeling. Well, more of one. “What do you want?”
Theo smiled. “World peace. Happy children smiling and dancing together. Love and harmony for all.”
“I’m still demon enough for that adorable image to make me gag a little. Cut the shit, whoever you are. What do you want from me specifically?”
“You’re a nobody, you know that, Darrak?” Theo’s expression didn’t change. “How do you feel about that?”
“Is this a trick question designed to make me slam my fist into your stomach really hard? Because that can be arranged.”
“It wasn’t meant to be an insult, believe it or not. More like an observation. You were created from nothing but hellfire and now you stand before me as a new creation—demon and angel combined. How does that feel?”
“It’s a bit itchy around the collar, but I’m sure after a couple washes it’ll soften up.”
Theo’s smile held. “You cover your fear and uncertainty with humor. It’s as charming as it is annoying.”
“Everybody’s a critic.”
“Answer me truthfully, Darrak. How does it feel to be what you are now, having come from your very specific beginnings?”
He was about to say something snarky, some quip to amuse himself, but after everything that had happened he wasn’t feeling much like joking around. This thing in front of him wanted answers and he was somehow in control of Darrak’s phasing ability, which was the only way they could get out of here in one piece.
If they stayed much longer Andy would succumb to his shift, and a human couldn’t survive here. It might look like an urban landscape, but it was far from it. Andy would burn up in about two seconds flat.
Andy had helped Eden on her journey. Darrak would be forever in his debt for that. If Eden hadn’t arrived when she did, he had no doubt that he’d be long gone by now.
He’d faced the Void and lived to tell the tale.
So instead of a joke, he chose to answer Theo with the truth.
“What does it feel like to be changed from what I’ve always been? It scares the hell out of me.” He snorted. “Literally scares the Hell out of me. I’m changed inside and out, but if I had the chance to go back to what I was before . . . I wouldn’t take it. I am exactly who I was meant to be, and it’s all thanks to Eden. I love her with every fiber of my being, and if you make a move to hurt her I promise you I’m still demon enough to turn you inside out. And trust me, that can get very messy.”
Theo leaned against the wall behind him. “Yeah, that’s basically what I thought.”
“Great. Now are we done with this little tête-à-tête? Have you gotten what you wanted out of me? Can we go now? I have something I need to deal with as soon as possible.”
Destroying Lucifer. He’d always enjoyed a challenge and this was as challenging as it got.
“Attempting to throw Lucifer in the Void sounds a bit risky,” Theo said.
Darrak froze. “Excuse me?”
“Mind reading.” Theo shrugged and tapped his temple with his index finger. “It helps me in oh so many ways.”
Even Lucifer couldn’t read minds. “Who the hell are you?”
“You keep asking that question. It’s really cute.” Theo smiled. “Just so you know, Lucifer won’t be easily beaten. You should know exactly what he’s capable of. But even he will succumb to the Void if you’re successful. He’s not invincible. And he’s not half as smart as he thinks he is. His mind can be manipulated just like anyone else’s.”
He was taken aback by Theo knowing his very dangerous plans. “If he takes Eden’s angel side, am I right? Will she be lost to me?”
“Not all at once. But soon and forever.”
Darrak’s jaw tightened and he cast a glance toward the gaping mouth of the Void. “Then Lucifer has to be destroyed. There’s no other choice.”
“You certainly seem as if you have the