Page 40 of Unholy

“Talon, isn’t that the one Hawk is with?”

“Yep,” Malachi said frankly.

“You’re telling me Hawk didn’t get involved with a halfling but a full-fledged demon born of Hell?”

Malachi nodded. “Even those of us with red eyes don’t fuck with them. They could wipe the floor with us. If the paladins go in there expecting a bunch of halflings, they might get their asses handed to them. Those two have powers the rest of us don’t. And don’t get me wrong, we’re stronger and faster than humans. But they’re stronger and faster thanus.”

Luke swallowed hard. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t think the halflings deserved to be killed because of Hawk and Talon’s actions. He didn’t think the halflings had any sort of plot to sabotage the paladins from within by tempting people away from the guild. Maybe that was an ironic stance to take after just getting off with one in the shower, but he knew Malachi. This halfling didn’t have sinister motives for being there, and he had to assume it was the same with Hawk and his demon. The rest of the halflings were minding their own business. They hadn’t killed anyone.

But would warning them put the paladins in danger? If the halflings knew they were coming, the paladins wouldn’t have the upper hand. Was it better to do nothing and let the halflings die for something that didn’t involve them or let the paladins die for following bad orders into a fight they shouldn’t be picking in the first place?

Arms circled him, bringing him back to himself. He hadn’t even noticed Malachi round the bar. Lips pressed against his neck.

“Whatever you choose to do, you have my support,” Malachi said in his ear.

Luke softened. He would want to know if someone was gunning forhishalfling, and that decided it for him.

“Is there a way you can get me into In Extremis unseen? I have to assume they’re watching the club.”

Malachi nodded. “We have hidden entrances. I can get you in. You want to talk to Talon?”

“And Hawk, yeah.”

“Okay. I’ll get word to them. Talon’s friends with the bartender, Wolf, and I’ve got Wolf’s number. I’ll have him ask them to meet us there tonight.”

Chapter 15

Malachi

There wasan underground tunnel into In Extremis. It opened up in one of the back rooms, and only the halflings knew about it. Malachi parked his car outside the old butcher’s shop and led Luke inside.

Luke was understandably wary of walking through the old butcher’s shop, with its plastic partitions and chains hanging from the ceiling. It didn’t exactly inspire feelings of safety, but the halflings didn’t use it for anything. It was just a waypoint for the club. The less inviting it looked, the less likely humans were to come snooping around, so they left it looking horrifying to discourage visitors.

“Creepy,” Luke said, his fingers tightening around Malachi’s as he led him down the basement stairs. Across the empty concrete floor, there was a door that opened up into a narrow, brick tunnel. Rickety wooden stairs disappeared into pitch black, so Malachi used his phone’s light to illuminate the way. It didn’t add much light, but being able to see Malachi seemed to ease some of Luke’s anxiety.

Malachi’s laughter echoed off the narrow walls. “Don’tworry, treasure, I won’t let anything get you,” he promised, casting a smile over his shoulder.

At the end of the tunnel, they climbed up the steep, crooked steps, and Malachi put the code into the locked door.

“I’m sorry, was that six-six-six?” Luke asked as they spilled into a red-lit room.

Malachi snickered. “Yeah. We think we’re funny.”

He took Luke’s hand again, their rings clacking together, and he wondered whether he should suggest Luke take the guild ring off while he was in the club. He doubted Luke would appreciate it, so he refrained. No one would say anything, and if they did, Malachi would make them regret it.

The party was in full swing. Wolf was behind the bar, like always, and Talon and Alex were already in their usual booth.

Malachi glanced over his shoulder. Luke was staring around in awe, his eyes snagging on sight after sight.

“You good?” he asked. “Have I damaged your delicate sensibilities by bringing you here?”

Luke tore his eyes away from their surroundings and met Malachi’s gaze with an exasperated smile. “I’m fine. It’s… a lot, but I’m fine. Are they here?”

“Yeah, over there in the booth. You ready?”

With a fortifying breath, he nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Alex was sitting on the outside of the booth and spotted them first, nudging Talon, who was turned sideways in the seat with his back to the brick wall. His dark eyes glittered in the flashing lights, like a crocodile waiting for the right prey to pass him by. They flitted briefly over Malachi—dismissively, as he already knewhim—and lingered on Luke. On the scars and the ring on his finger.

---