Page 23 of Fallen

“Are you sure you’re okay? Maybe you should go by the medical wing, let somebody take a look at that scrape.” He squinted at Alex’s neck skeptically.

Alex shrugged one shoulder. “Nah, I’m really fine. Doesn’t even hurt anymore. I’ll put some ointment on it after a shower. I just want to head home and get some rest.”

Reluctantly, Nathan nodded. “All right, if you’re sure. But you know you can call me if you need anything, right?”

“Right, of course. See you, Nate.” It took all he had to keep a slow and steady pace out of the admin building and across the parking lot.

He couldn’t bear to wait any longer. He dumped his tactical vest in the backseat before he left HQ, leaving him in a T-shirt, cargos, and military boots, all black. He was sweaty and dirty, but it didn’t matter. Every halfling there knew he was a paladin. It wasn’t like he was giving away a big secret. All that mattered was whatever lead Talon had for him.

The drive back to the thirteenth sector passed in a blur. In the parking lot across the street, he left his sword in the backseat, and after a moment of deliberation, stowed his knives there, too. There was no need to defend himself last time, and he hoped tonight was more of the same. He was halfway across the deserted street when he remembered the jewelry, tugging the ring and crucifix off and slipping both into his pocket.

The same blond bouncer was waiting at the door. He cast Alex an appraising look and opened the door for him. “I’ve been instructed to tell you to go to the bar.”

Alex blinked in surprise. “Oh. Okay, thanks.”

The club looked exactly the same. It was late, but the dance floor was still crowded with people. He didn’t hesitate on the stairs this time, descending into the pit and weaving his way through the crowd toward the bar. Plenty of red eyes still tracked him across the room, but he didn’t feel gawked at like he had last time.

The tall bartender spotted him and set a bottle on the bar for him. A sealed bottle of water.

“What…” Everyone was being much more accommodating this time, and he had a feeling it had nothing to do withhim.

The bartender pointed at something to Alex’s right. “He’s covering your tab tonight, and he thought you might like this better. If I can get you anything else, let me know.”

Alex followed his gaze to the same booth as last time, where Talon was sitting once again, sprawled like a king on a throne. He raised one hand in greeting, drumming his fingers in the air in a lackadaisical wave.

Warmth bloomed in Alex’s gut. It was such a small thing for someone to do for him. Didn’t they both have more important things on their minds? Why did Talon care if Alex had a drink? Why did hecare? It shouldn’t matter, but a small, traitorous part of Alex’s brain was flattered by the attention.

The bartender was smirking at him, so Alex quickly adopted a scowl and dragged the bottle off the bar. If his bark of laughter was any indication, he didn’t fall for it.

He unscrewed the cap as he made his way over, and he didn’t think he imagined the satisfied curl of Talon’s mouth as he turned it up and drank long and deep. It was reassuring that they’d left the bottle sealed for him. He probably wouldn’t have drank it if they’d given it to him already open. Did they know that, too? Is that why the bartender gave it to him that way?

When he reached the booth, Talon slid over and gestured for him to sit. It felt like a challenge, and Alex was just stubborn enough to rise to it, sitting stiffly beside the demon and ignoring the way he preened at getting his way.

He needed to focus on the problem at hand. He was here for a reason, and he couldn’t lose sight of that. “You said you had something for me?”

Talon adopted a pout. “Not even a hello? That’s not very nice.”

Awareness prickled through Alex. Talon gazed at him like Alex was something fascinating, likeblinkingwould take too long. Alex found it hard to look directly at him. No one had ever regarded him with such careful attentiveness. “Hello?” It came out as a question rather than a statement of greeting, and Talon’s smile widened.

“Hello. I like the look. It’s very military chic.”

Alex flushed. “I came straight here from patrol.”

“Did you miss me, too?” Talon purred softly, and Alex’s mouth went dry.

There was no way to answer that without sounding crazy or defensive. He lifted the bottle to his lips again instead, taking a long drink. Heat burned through him when Talon’s eyes tracked the movement of his throat. He needed to find his footing in this conversation, and fast.

Talon turned bodily toward Alex, draping an arm along the booth behind him and bracing the other on the table. It was a heady feeling, to be the sole focus of such a dangerous creature.

“So?” he prompted, putting the top on the bottle and pushing it away so he wouldn’t fidget with it. “You said there was someone who might know something?”

“There’s a halfling coming later. I thought you might want to question him yourself. Just be patient.”

“If he’s not here yet I’ll… come back later.” He’d waited so long to get here, he wasn’t sure he’d retain his sanity if he had to leave and waitlonger.

Talon put a staying hand on his forearm, his skin tingling under the touch. “And risk missing him? No. Stay here, drink your water. No one will bother you.”

Alex looked down at the bottle. Right. The water Talon had made sure was waiting for him. He doubted many people here asked for plain water. He turned the bottle with one hand, wondering what Talon’s angle was.

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