Page 10 of Fallen

“If it comforts you to have it, then keep it. Just know that no one here will help you if you kill one of us on our own turf.”

“You’re not worried?”

Talon fought to hide his amusement. He didn’t want to offend, after all. “I trust that you’re smart enough not to do something so stupid, especially when you came here seeking help.”

The human nodded dubiously.

“So? Your name?”

“Alex. Alex Hawk.”

Talon drifted closer and tilted his head, leaning in until blue eyes darted down to his mouth and back up. They were near enough to touch now, but Talon didn’t dare. His eyesight was good enough, even in the low light, to see the crimson flush that spread from the human’s face down his neck. Talon’s proximity had him wrong-footed. Good. He liked him like this. Wary but not threatened, like he didn’t know what to make of Talon.

“You?”

It was Talon’s turn to be surprised. He wasn’t used to people, especially paladins, bothering to learn his name. He was a monster to them, but Alex wasn’t looking at him like that. He was looking at him like… he was intrigued by him. A sentiment Talon understood.

“Talon.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Is that a Hawk joke?”

Talon’s lips spread into a slow smirk. “No. Perhaps we were just fated to meet like this.”

His brow furrowed, confusion and discontent warring for dominance. He tucked his knife away, and Talon felt a curl of satisfaction.

“Tell me your story, bird of prey,” Talon said, unable to resist pressing closer, until Alex’s body was a line of heat brushing his own. Alex’s body was taut, and his throat bobbed nervously. He squirmed but didn’t push Talon away, so Talon considered it a win. “What brought you flying to request my aid?”

Alex scowled like he suspected he was being made fun of, but necessity won over pride. “I’m looking for the demon who killed my family.”

“Wouldn’t the paladins be able to help you with that? Why come here?”

His gaze skated away, jaw pulsing with distant anger. “They don’t want me going after it. They’ve assigned the case to another squad. I’m not… objective enough.”

Talon hummed. “It seems short-sighted not to harness your focus for this. There are none more determined than those driven by the need for revenge. Just look at you, entering a den of wolves to cut the head from the one you hate the most.”

A flicker of doubt crossed Alex’s face. “Maybe they’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this. I’ve come here recklessly, right? And now I’m alone with a black-eyed demon and no backup in sight. I’m not stupid. Black means you’re worse than the red-eyed halflings, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” Talon crooned. “But I can also be oh-so-sweet.”

Alex leaned in, and for a moment Talon thought he might be about to surrender. “Then perhaps you can oh-so-sweetly tell me where I might find a demon who kills only families of five and leaves their corpses in the shape of a pentagram.”

Talon grinned. Helikedthis human. “It rings a bell. Do you know any more?”

His expression darkened, staring into the middle distance. “He had black eyes, too, but not like yours. They were all black. His teeth were sharp, and his mouth was… wrong. Too big. Too wide. But he spoke English.”

“He spoke? What did he say?” Talon asked softly. It seemed as though a spell had descended over them, that speaking too loudly might break it.

“‘Come closer, little boy, it’ll only hurt for a moment.’” Alex was no longer adorably flushed. His face was white as paper, and he stared in horror at something only he could see in his memory.

Talon didn’t like it. He didn’t want this human to wallow in this memory. He wanted him focused onhim. Before he could think better of it, he curled his fingers around Alex’s chin and jaw, guiding his gaze to Talon.

“Look atme,” he growled, and Alex’s gaze cleared, blinking rapidly.

Alex looked despairing. “I shouldn’t be here. This was stupid.”

Now that Talon was touching him, he couldn’t seem to stop. He slid his hand more firmly into place, pressing his palm against Alex’s throat and noting the way it bobbed. Alex’s hand came up, wrapping around his wrist but not pulling him away. Not yet. His pulse thrummed under Talon’s fingertips, his life-blood so close that Talon’s mouth watered.

“You’re perfectly safe here,” Talon said.

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