Page 52 of Fallen

Talon swepta hand up and down Alex’s pliant body, tickling through the coarse hair on his chest and stomach. He couldn’t seem to stop touching him. It took effort to tear his eyes away from Alex’s body and focus on the direction his thoughts were traveling, thinking back on what Alex had told him downstairs.

They’d seen Alex entering In Extremis. Was it a coincidence they were in the area, or were they there intentionally?

“Do you think the paladins are watching the club?” he asked. “Or following you?”

Alex tilted his head. “We’ve never watched the club specifically, as far as I know, but we patrol the area nearby regularly. Different squads rotate out each week. They might’ve just recognized me as I went in. I wasn’t exactly focused on my surroundings. The drive there was kind of a blur. I could’ve walked right by them and I probably wouldn’t have noticed.” He paused, frowning. “As for following me… I don’t think so? I’m just a lowly little peon, really. There’s never been a case in my lifetime where someone disobeyed a direct order. They had no reason to believe I would disobey before, and now that I’m suspended, I’m sure Sloan thinks the matter has been dealt with. He’s, uh—he’s not used to anyone disobeying him.”

“He sounds arrogant,” Talon remarked.

“Mm, he probably is. He’s been the commander for about twenty years now, I think. He’s a powerful man. Powerful men are usually arrogant, aren’t they?”

Talon cleared his throat, smirking. “Yes, we are.”

Alex chortled, swatting him. “Oh, please.”

Talon snatched his hand and nipped at his fingertips. “His loss is my gain. And as for the club, I should probably warn someone that there’s a chance paladins could be hanging around. At least they didn’t try to run in after you that night.”

Alex hummed. “Maybe they did. We didn’t exactly stick around long, did we?”

No, that’s right, they hadn’t. He’d immediately wanted to take Alex away from the prying eyes and gossiping natures of the halflings in the club, take Alex somewhere where they could be alone.

“They could’ve gone in after me, and we wouldn’t have known. You’d have to ask your demon friends to find out.”

Talon sighed contentedly. “But why, when I could stay here with you instead?”

Alex chuckled, snuggling closer.

“I’ll text Wolf later, let him know to keep an eye out. He can tell whoever he thinks should know. Storm and Lilith, probably.”

“Storm is the bouncer, right? With the white hair?”

“That’s right.”

“Who’s Lilith?”

“She owns the club. She doesn’t like to be seen mingling with the commoners. If she’s at In Extremis, she’s usually up in her office. But mostly, she lets the place run in her absence. It’s been running for two hundred years, and hell, Wolf’s been the bartender almost that long. They don’t need her to hover in order to do their jobs.” She didn’t care for him, but they could put aside their differences when necessity dictated. Probably.

Alex tilted his head back to peer up at him. “That bar is two hundred years old? Really?”

“It’s moved around over the years, but yes, In Extremis has existed for a long time. It’s been in the current location for… maybe thirty years.”

Alex hummed with interest.

“What will happen if they find out you’re disobeying orders?” he asked, his grip tightening around Alex. He didn’t like the idea of his human being punished, and he didn’t trust the guild to be fair and understanding.

“I don’t know. Extend the suspension? It won’t matter as long as I can kill the mozgoran. That’s the only thing I care about.” He paused. “Well—okay, maybe not theonlything.” He cast a shy gaze up at Talon.

Warmth spread through him, and he took a slow breath to calm the sudden thundering of his heart. “I know what you mean, little bird. I feel the same. I’ll help you kill this demon, and then we’ll have time for us.” His fingers brushed the shallow cut on Alex’s chest. He still couldn’t believe he’d done that, had willingly fed the beast. Alex didn’t avoid the reality of Talon’s nature. He didn’t shy from the fact he was a demon. It made Talon want to keep him all the more. He belonged to Talon, and he would never let him go.

Without looking at him, Alex asked thoughtfully, “Can demons love?”

Talon wasn’t sure. He’d never really thought about it. “Whatislove?”

Alex huffed out a laugh, like Talon had countered with a question he didn’t have the answer to. “I guess it’s… wanting to be with someone. Wanting them to be yours and wanting to belong to them. Wanting to spend time together and look after each other. Keep each other safe. Make each other happy.”

Talon tilted his head in thought. “I feel all those things for you. Maybe that’s what this is. Maybe I love you.”

He said it matter-of-factly, but maybe that was the wrong thing to say, because Alex stiffened in his arms.

---