Page 33 of Wicked (Dark Delights #5)

“Leviathans are just a type of demon, that’s all. We look human but have black eyes. We can teleport and dreamwalk. We’re stronger and heal faster than halflings. I can even move things with my mind, but it takes a lot of effort. Neither Talon nor I do it very often.”

“Move things with your mind?” Isaac repeated. “Show me.”

Shadrach’s gaze wandered as he searched for something. He pointed wordlessly at the bathroom door, and then the door slammed shut. Isaac gaped.

“That’s awesome. Giving me your blood won’t let me do that, will it?”

He laughed. “No. Drinking any demon’s blood will just enhance you. Your strength and speed, your ability to heal.” He paused, then said, “Actually, we should talk about that.”

“Talk about what?” Isaac asked lazily.

“What exactly my blood will do for you.”

“Besides the strength and healing?”

“Yes. You see, with my blood in your system, you’ll heal so fast that your cells will regenerate.” He waited, dark eyes gazing intently into Isaac’s.

Isaac’s mind churned. His cells would regenerate. Not just heal when injured but not deteriorate over time. “Tell me what you’re saying. I don’t want to make assumptions.”

Shadrach pressed a kiss to his forehead. “You’ll be immortal for as long as you keep my blood in your system.”

That was what Shadrach had meant when he said ‘your life won’t be fleeting.’ Every time he swore Isaac was his forever , he’d meant it literally. He wanted them to be together forever. He wanted Isaac to keep drinking his blood—that was why he’d told Isaac to bite him while they were fucking.

Eternity. That was a very long time. Far longer than he’d ever expected to have.

What did it mean for his soul if he lived forever?

It was hard to rearrange his expectations for his future.

All the choices he’d made throughout his life had been with the intention of avoiding Hell. Was it all for nothing?

“Isaac?” Shadrach murmured, guiding his chin up. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“I never expected living forever would be an option,” he said. “Will drinking your blood… do something to my soul?”

Shadrach’s face softened. “No. Your soul will be just fine. I know it will take time for you to come to terms with everything, but you should know that Hell is not something you have to fear anymore.”

Isaac’s brow furrowed. “It’s not?”

“No. If you died right now, I’d travel down to Hell and find you. You might have to become a halfling to get back out, but we’ll be together no matter what.”

A fragile feeling took hold in Isaac’s chest. No one had ever cared about him that much. Shadrach was promising to traverse Hell to find him and bring him home if anything ever happened to him. Isaac could barely wrap his head around it.

He didn’t care if loving a demon was wrong. Cast his soul into Hell if that was where he belonged—it would be worth it. And apparently he wouldn’t have to stay there long.

Isaac leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to Shadrach’s lips. He couldn’t possibly put his love and gratitude into words right now, but he hoped the kiss might be able to say them for him.

“Is that a ‘yes, Shadrach, you handsome devil, you. I’ll happily drink your blood and spend eternity with you?’” Shadrach asked.

Isaac snorted softly, settling once more against Shadrach’s chest. “Yes, it is. You’re stuck with me now.”

Shadrach’s arms tightened around him. “Good.”

Isaac chuckled. “Wait, so would drinking any demon’s blood heal a human like that? Even the monsters we hunt?”

“Well—yes. But don’t go getting any ideas. I don’t want any other demon’s blood in you but mine.”

Isaac’s nose scrunched. He couldn’t imagine cutting open one of the beasts that roamed the dark and drinking its blood. It sounded disgusting . “No worries there.”

“Good.” Shadrach settled deeper against the pillow with him, satisfied.

“Yes, yes, you’re possessive, I get it. Why do some demons look human while others don’t?”

“Why do some animals have more intelligence than others?” Shadrach countered. “Why are humans more intelligent than chimps? Why are dolphins smarter than catfish?”

“Evolution? Are you saying some species of demons have evolved to be more sentient than others?”

“I would assume so. At some point, we were all probably wallowing in the muck down in Hell. Over time, some of us evolved to higher forms of thinking.”

“But why did you evolve to look human?”

“The better to lure in our prey, perhaps.”

“And demons like the kalmach?” That one had looked human when it first attacked HQ and then transformed into something horrifying during the battle. It had looked like a pale gargoyle with wings and wicked black eyes.

Shadrach shrugged. “Another type of demon. Sentient, sure, but kalmachs are shapeshifters. They have a monstrous form and a human one. Kalmachs aren’t animalistic, though. I’ve known some. That one was just particularly bloodthirsty.”

“Are there monstrous-looking demons who are also sentient? Or are all of the sentient demons the human-looking ones?”

“No, there are some who are still demonic-looking. Wings, horns, and what have you. You don’t see them topside quite as much. It’s harder for them to blend in around humans, obviously. Behemoths come to mind.”

“They’re monstrous?”

“They’re… unique. No wings or horns, but they have these black markings all over their bodies that they can draw on, and their eyes glow. I can’t imagine one blending in with a crowd of people.”

“Draw on how?”

“It’s a shadow… power, basically. They can manipulate them, turn them into solid things in the air. It’s very powerful.”

“That sounds cool.”

Shadrach scowled. “Sure, if you like that sort of thing.”

“I like cool powers,” Isaac teased .

“Behemoths are big brutes, you know. They aren’t as refined as some of us.”

“I do love a challenge.”

“I will bite you,” Shadrach warned, and Isaac laughed.

“Relax, I’m joking. You’re the only demon worth knowing.”

“Good. Let’s keep it that way. Besides, behemoths are far too loyal to Hell. They guard the paths to and from Hell, acting as watchers for Lucifer.”

“Yes,” Isaac replied, threading his fingers into Shadrach’s hair. “I’d much rather have someone who’s loyal to me .”

Shadrach purred, closing the distance between them with heavy-lidded eyes. “I’m definitely that. How are you feeling now, killer? All better?”

“Yeah. Thank you for taking care of me.” It was a novel feeling to let someone hold him while he was vulnerable. He could get used to it.

“I’ll always be here, killer. Whether you like it or not.” His dark eyes glittered with mirth. It sounded like a threat, but Isaac only felt reassured.