That Old Black Magic by Michelle Rowen Page B

later, his body shifted from a solid six-foot-tall handsome man to an ominous column of black smoke, which then moved through the office toward her as if she was a magnet.
    Eden swallowed hard. “Tomorrow, Darrak. I’m going to break this curse first thing tomorrow morning once and for all. I swear I will.”
    She closed her eyes when the smoke made contact with her and a gasp caught in her throat as he possessed her.
    Being possessed by Darrak had always felt good in the past—warm and oddly orgasmic. Today it felt different. It was cold for a moment, as if she had just walked through a freezer, before the cool sensation moved through her limbs right down to her fingertips and toes.
    It had to do with the spell she’d removed. That the sensation of being possessed had changed was only more proof she’d been successful. Realizing for certain that what she’d experienced for the last month was a daily anomaly caused by a malevolent spell brought back her previously queasy feeling.
    Queasy was definitely the word of the week for many reasons. Terrific.
    So, being possessed wasn’t an orgasmic experience anymore. Fine. But it was more proof that she’d be able to successfully break the curse, finally giving Darrak—and her—freedom.
    And that was definitely worth celebrating.
    “You really think you can break the curse?” Darrak said, his voice now in her head.
    “Yes, I do.”
    He was quiet for a long, tense moment. “One try. That’s all. And if there’s even a glimpse of anything bad, we stop. Maksim saying it could work doesn’t mean a damn thing. I don’t trust that wizard.”
    If it wasn’t for Maksim, she wouldn’t even have attempted the spell removal. “He was trying to help us.”
    “Right. Which is pretty much why I don’t trust him. Wizards aren’t usually the most helpful types.”
    “But you’re not going to attempt to stop me. One try. You said so yourself.”
    “Yeah, fine. But if anything weird happens, we’re pulling the plug.”
    Anything weird.
    That was the story of her life lately. Why should tomorrow be any different?

SEVEN

    Someone followed Eden home, and that made her very nervous.
    Maybe it was the Malleus—led by Ben Hanson, former crush. They were nasty, horrible people who had conned themselves into believing they were the good guys, but they weren’t. Not even close.
    It could be Lucas keeping tabs on her, which would explain how he seemingly knew everything without the ability to see the future. However, that was unlikely. If he was the one following her, she doubted she’d even realize it.
    It might even be Leena, her ex-roommate, a feline shapeshifter who’d disappeared two weeks ago after a disagreement with Darrak, leaving only a note behind and a key to a locker containing some of her belongings. Her departure only proved that three was a crowd when it came to paranormal beings cohabiting a one-bedroom apartment.
    But it was none of these.
    It turned out to be her mother—the twenty-three-year-old lingerie model version, anyway. She drove a sports car like some sort of life-size Barbie doll and pulled up right next to Eden in her apartment parking lot.
    “So where’s the demon right now?” Caroline asked, following a silent Eden to the elevators.
    “Around.”
    “I guess she isn’t going to wait for your call,” Darrak said from inside of her. “What’s it been, six whole hours?”
    “Guess not.”
    “What, honey?” Caroline asked.
    “Nothing. Look . . . uh, Mom”—it felt so strange calling this woman that—“we need to talk another day.”
    “My God. He said at night he . . .” Caroline’s eyes widened. “That demon is possessing you right now , isn’t he?”
    Eden grimaced. “It’s really not as bad as it sounds.”
    Caroline hugged her tightly. “Oh, sweetie. I can’t believe this is happening to you. I’m so sorry for all of what you’ve been through.”
    “It’s not exactly your fault. Besides, it’s almost