Page 11 of Fallen

“A black-eyed demon has his hand around my throat,” Alex said, as though dazed.

“Am I hurting you?” Talon asked.

“N-No.”

Talon leaned still closer, resting his forearm on the door beside Alex’s head. “We don’t kill people here, little bird. Not even holy men who think this place is some kind of forbidden sinning ground.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Well.” He stopped, considering. “Yes. But it’s only forbidden because your people say so.”

Alex tugged, and Talon reluctantly lowered his hand. He felt the loss of Alex’s heated skin on his palm keenly, but it was worth it for the way the man relaxed, like Talon’s easy acceptance set him at ease.

“The demon sounds familiar,” Talon said. “If I had to guess, I would say you’re looking for a mozgoran. Wicked things who pretend to be human while indulging their nastiest fantasies. Each one kills in a different manner, but they usually abide by certain patterns known only to them. They don’t come around here, because even halflings find them distasteful. For all that they can speak and walk upright, they’re little more than animals. I haven’t heard anything recent, but I could be persuaded to keep my ear to the ground.”

Alex shifted anxiously, his clothing brushing Talon’s. “In exchange for what?”

Talon didn’t like the dread masking his face. It dimmed the light in his eyes. “Perhaps a favor. One I might like to cash in on in the future.”

“A favor,” Alex repeated.

“Mm-hm.”

His chin jutted out stubbornly. “I won’t harm an innocent.”

Talontsked. “I would never ask you to.” A meaner demon would, certainly. Any number of them would use this kind of power over a paladin to make him do despicable things. Talon didn’t want to make an enemy of him, though. No, he wanted tokeephim. For reasons he didn’t understand, this human intrigued him. He’d never felt so drawn to a human before. His trust would be hard-won, but Talon was nothing if not patient.

Alex studied him dubiously. “This is so stupid,” he murmured under his breath. “Fine. One favor.”

“And your phone number,” Talon tacked on.

“Wh-What?”

“How else will I let you know when I’ve found something?” he asked innocently. “Your guild friends don’t have to know.”

Alex hesitated, his mouth opening and closing as he thought. Talon tugged his expensive phone from his back pocket and handed it over for Alex to put his contact information in. When he handed it back, their fingers brushed, and sparks shot up Talon’s arm. He wanted to chase that heat, bury himself in the sensation of it. He’d never reacted to a human like this before.

He typed out a quick ‘Hello’ and sent it to the number Alex added to his contacts, pleased when the human’s phone chimed in his pocket. Good, he hadn’t tried to give a fake number.

“I will let you know when I’ve found something, then,” he said, tucking the phone away again.

Alex nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” He fumbled for the doorknob, but before he could twist it open, Talon caught his wrist, drawing his hand up. On his left ring finger, he wore the same silver signet ring that identified all of the paladins, a ruby with a pearl cross inlaid in the center. He’d never been so close to one before, close enough to see the flecks of light inside the gem.

“And in the future, it would be wise to remove this from your finger before you enter a place like this,” he said, brushing the signet ring with his lips and delighting in the way that flush spread across Alex’s face again at the soft touch. “It sets us on edge.”

“You don’t seem all that concerned.” He was breathless. Talon wanted to sink into him and never come out.

He smiled wolfishly. “I’m only looking out foryou, little bird.”

Alex jerked his hand free, scowling. “I can look out for myself, thanks.” He twisted open the door, slipping away from Talon and out into the hallway.

“Could’ve fooled me,” Talon said to the empty room, inhaling the last of Alex’s spicy-sweet scent before it faded away. He picked up Alex’s abandoned beer and took a long drink.

Chapter 5

Alex

He drove home in a daze,thinking about glittering black eyes and a warm body pressing dangerously close. The memory of it was invasive, taking root and encroaching on every thought he tried to focus on, burying itself deep and leaving him tangled and confused.

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