Page 9 of Fallen

Alex faltered. He hadn’t expected anyone toask. “It’s-It’s personal.”

The demon’s eyes gleamed. “Well, if you want my help, I’m afraid you’ll have to share with the class.”

Telling this demon he’d disobeyed orders to come here would give him leverage over Alex. That was a risk he couldn’t take.

“This demon’s killing people. I want to stop it.”

“Why can’t you go through your guild?” the demon asked. “Why come here alone?”

“Because…” He shook his head. This was too risky. This demon would probably force him to admit he was breaking the rules and then blackmail him with the information. No one here was actually going to help him. He was better off pounding the pavement than hoping to find a halfling willing to make a deal. They liked to toy with people. He should’ve known this wouldn’t work. He had nothing to offer them in exchange for their help. “You know what? You’re right, this is stupid. I should’ve known better than to come here.” Maybe he could appeal his case with Sloan. He probably wouldn’t listen, but he had to dosomething.

He turned on his heel to leave, rage and frustration gnawing at him.

“Stop,” the demon ordered, his voice ringing out over the pulsing music.

And Alex… stopped, his hands clenching at his sides. He needed this. He neededhelp. Beyond him, a sea of red eyes were watching them in the crowd, waiting to see what would happen. Embarrassment and adrenaline flooded him.

The demon stood smoothly as Alex turned back around. He drifted closer, dangerously close, until Alex could smell the whiskey and leather and something deeper, like some kind of spice. The demon was a hair taller than him, his eyes twinkling with amusement as Alex’s chin jutted out, pointedly standing his ground.

“Come with me,” he said, almost too low for human ears. Alex’s eyes dropped to his mouth to read his lips, and his heart stuttered at the glimpse of bone-white teeth. “Let’s go somewhere quieter.”

He walked to the VIP door and held it open, inclining his head and waiting. Giving Alex a choice. How desperately did Alex want the information he’d come in search of? Was he willing to follow a demon into the dark for it?

Chapter 4

Talon

A shiverof delight went down Talon’s spine when the paladin followed him into the dark VIP hallway. The walls were painted a glossy black, like most everything else in the club, and the dim red lighting made it look wet with blood, magnifying Talon’s hunger for the sweet-smelling human trailing behind him. His scent was uniquely appealing, but Talon couldn’t put his finger on why. He would need to lean in and investigate, but he doubted that would be appreciated.

The paladin was a beautiful man. Tall and muscular, his youthful skin smooth. He was probably barely old enough to have bought the beer he still clutched, forgotten, between his hands. His dark brown hair was cut high and tight, his face cleanly shaven. And his eyes were the bluest blue, like the ocean at dawn. A rare sight for a demon such as himself, to whom sunlight was no friend.

Talon led him into an empty room and stopped just inside the doorway. The room was also lit like blood, the walls mirrored. He barely gave the paladin room to step inside and shut the door behind him.

There was a pole and a small, knee-high stage in the middle of this room, with a half-moon sofa that lined one wall. Behind the sofa was a shelf for people to set their drinks, and the human stretched toward the nearest end, setting his bottle down and wiping the condensation from his fingers on his jeans. His eyes roamed Talon’s face, searching for signs of treachery as he leaned against the door, putting as much distance between them as possible.

Here, in the small VIP room, his scent was overpowering. Like fear-sweat and bitter anger and the honey-sweet pulse of fresh blood. Many of the demons at In Extremis liked to play with the clientele, but Talon wasn’t one of them. Humans were boring. They lived mundane lives and died quickly. But this one… Something about this human was different.

“You smell good, human, did you know that?” He stepped closer, and the paladin stiffened.

“Gee, thanks, I’m trying out a new soap,” he quipped breathlessly. “Don’t make me stab you. I really don’t want to have to fight my way out of here.”

That startled a laugh out of him. This human didn’t lack courage, that was for sure.

“Stab me with what, little human?” Surely the bouncer, Storm, hadn’t let a paladin walk in here with a weapon.

One of the human’s hands slipped behind his back—and Talon drank in the sight of his lithe body arching gracefully—and then he held up a holy dagger between their faces.

Precious human, Talon thought. He had no idea how easily Talon could rip that out of his hand. Holy blades were only good if they actuallycuttheir target. It was very unlikely he would be quick enough to deal Talon a killing blow. One little knife wouldn’t do more than piss a demon like him off. He wasoldand not easily overpowered.

Let him have his security blanket. Talon was having too much fun to end this so soon.

Hetsked. “I don’t think you had that weapon cleared by security.”

“I didn’t exactly feel comfortable coming in here aloneandunarmed.”

Talon smiled. “What’s your name?”

He hungrily drank in the way the paladin’s soft lips parted, his pretty blue eyes blinking in surprise. He lowered the blade as though Talon’s interest was the most disarming thing about him. “You don’t care that I have this?”

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