Which meant this other demon would be everything Darrak once was — powerful, destructive, scary, without conscience or empathy. Someone she’d want to avoid in every way possible. “What would this demon do if he found out what happened to you?”
“I’m not sure.”
She shivered as she got in the car and turned the key in the ignition. “So this demon. . he’s an old enemy of yours?”
“No,” Darrak said wryly. “Actually, he was my best friend.”
TWO
Four hundred years ago (give or take a decade)
Being promoted was a good thing. Even when it hurt like. . hell.
Darrak braced himself as the fire scorched his body, burning away his former incubus self and replacing it with his new archdemon form. On the surface, he looked the same. Inside, it was a major upgrade.
Which was good. He’d always hated being an incubus.
Well, almost always. The job did have its perks, after all. Draining the sexual energy of humans was all kinds of fun — depending on the human, of course. But helping to stock Lucifer’s personal harem with the human souls Darrak hadn’t completely consumed, well, that just felt like work.
Ever since he’d been created from hellfire five centuries ago, he’d been made to feel like a lesser demon. Made-demons rarely were treated as well as fallen angels or humans who’d sold their souls in service to the pit. Demons like Darrak were treated as if they hadn’t earned the right to any privileges and should feel, quote, “honored to exist in the first place.”
No damned respect.
But that was all behind him now with this promotion to archdemon. Darrak wouldn’t be used anymore to do anyone’s dirty work — he was nobody’s slave. New strength and power coursed through his improved form. From the corners of his eyes he could see his long curved horns. His skin was covered in amber fire. His upgrade came with fire as his element to call — appropriate, being that he was created from it in the first place. He looked at his hand, at the rippling flames that filled him with warmth and power. He could destroy a lot with this new perk. The thought pleased him.