Page 18 of Unholy

Maxwell’s head tilted, homing in on him with careful intent. This wasdifferentfrom his usual response. “Are you asking?”

“I, uh…” He stopped himself, rubbing his hands nervously on his thighs. He couldn’t risk telling the truth, but it was too late to get away with saying nothing. “I debated whether to even bring this up.”

“Whatever it is, it’s clearly weighing on you. Why don’t you get it off your chest?”

Luke sighed. He would have to make it up as he went,but maybe he could convey enough of the truth to make it believable. “Well, I-I met someone.”

Maxwell brightened. “Really? Tell me about them.”

He blew out a breath. “That’s the problem. He’s my polar opposite. He doesn’t believe in God. He drinks, he smokes, hesins. Gleefully, even. I shouldn’t like him at all, but every time we’ve crossed paths, he’s completely captured my attention. But I worry he’d be… bad for me.” It felt like a juvenile way to sum up how complicated things were with Malachi, but it was all he could risk saying.

Maxwell hummed. “You’ve kept to yourself for a long time now. You haven’t been part of a squad for five years. How long has it been since you’ve dated?”

Luke’s mouth was dry. “A little longer than that. Six, I think. Maybe seven.”

“Human beings weren’t meant to be solitary creatures, Luke. If this man has stolen your attention, it must be for a reason.”

“But… he’s notgood.”

Maxwell smiled patiently. “Good is subjective. You say he drinks and smokes. Sure, those are sinful in that they damage the body, but does he lie? Cheat? Steal? Is he violent?”

“I… I don’t know. Not that I know of. He’s been nothing but honest with me, as far as I can tell.”

“Does he make you feel unsafe?”

He thought about falling back in the wet grass with Malachi wrapped around him. The clack of their rings touching as Malachi threaded their fingers together.

‘I won’t let any harm come to you, my human,’ he’d said.

“No,” he admitted softly. “No, I feel very safe when I’m with him. So safe it—stunned me.”

Maxwell inclined his head. “Everything happens for a reason, Luke. God put this man in your path for a reason.”

Luke gaped. He’d always believed that was true, though why God had chosen him for the hardships he’d endured, he didn’t know. But this? Could God really have put a halfling like Malachi in his life for a reason? Was that also true for Hawk and his demon? If Maxwell was right, Hawk being tempted away from the guild was meant to happen. Just as he and Malachi were meant to happen.

“The greatest sins are those that hurt innocents. If this man is harming people, I agree you should stay away from him. But if he’s not, you might consider giving him a chance. Maybe you met him for a reason.”

Luke sat back, unmoored. “Maybe. But do you also believe that the Devil puts people in our paths for a reason? Maybe that’s what this is. Maybe the right thing to do is stay the course as I have been.”

Maxwell softened with, dare he think it, pity. “Luke. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.” That was why they were there, wasn’t it?

“Are you lonely?”

The question was like a spike to the heart. His gaze fell, and he couldn’t possibly speak past the knot in his throat. His hands fidgeted in his lap, twirling his ring around his finger.

“Yeah,” he rasped at long last. “Yeah, I’ve been lonely. I’m afraid it might be affecting my judgment about this guy. I’m afraid I’m letting him get close in spite of how bad he is.”

“Or are you seeing the badness as an excuse to keep him at arm’s length?”

Luke felt sucker-punched. His mouth hung open, and words failed him.

“I’m your doctor,” Maxwell finally conceded, looking as though he was fighting to hide his amusement. “I’m not here to tell you whether you should pursue this man. I do know that you’ve been alone for a long time, and you’re probably starved for a personal connection with someone. Whether the right person for that is this sinner-man,” he waved a vague hand in Luke’s direction, “is for you to decide. I just don’t want you to rule it out without giving it all the consideration it deserves. There’s more to life than killing demons, and I’m afraid you’ve lost sight of that.”

Reluctantly, Luke nodded. He knew plenty of paladins who would disagree with that last statement, but he was right. Maxwell had certainly given him something to think about.

“How’s the demon hunting going? Have you given any more thought to joining a squad? You could have your pick. I’m sure Sloan wouldn’t mind shuffling some things around to get you in whichever one you wanted.”

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