Page 16 of Unholy

“But anyway. You asked about the club. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but nobody dies there. Paladins probably aren’t allowed to go there alone because they know we’d fuck with them. Try to get them to have a drink and mess around. The real fun for us is in the temptation. I don’t think anyone’s ever been killed there.”

Luke cast him a dubious look at that.

“It’s true! They wouldn’t be able to stay in business if the cops were getting involved. Oryou guyswere getting involved. Sure, the people who go there may not alwaysknow what they’re getting into, but they either get with the program or leave. Most of us aren’t in the business of forcing someone to do something they don’t want.”

“Most of you?” Luke asked.

Malachi inclined his head. “Some of us are worse than others. Lilith, the owner, turns a blind eye to whoever rakes in the most money. Sometimes that means shitty people have a lot of sway. It’s no different than with humans, though. There are plenty of shitty humans out there who do bad things and get away with it.”

Luke sighed. “True.” He picked up his burger and took a bite. It was, unfortunately, as good as Malachi said. He was disappointingly honest abouteverything. How was Luke supposed to hate him if he kept this up?

“People drink, they smoke, they fuck. We’re a little fonder of blood than your average kink club, I guess, but everybody has their vices.”

Luke choked on a chunk of bread at that, chugging his water until he could breathe again. “Jesus, Malachi.”

Malachi laughed brightly. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were such a prude.”

“I’m not a—it’s just not something you hear in everyday conversation.”

“Especially not with the folks you hang out with.”

“I don’t hang out with anyone,” Luke said derisively, ignoring an insidious little voice, which sounded suspiciously like Doctor Maxwell, that said that was exactly part of his problem. He’d isolated himself to the point that ademonseemed like good company.

“You’re hanging out with me,” Malachi said, capturing his foot again.

“And I shouldnotbe. If anyone sees us together, I’mgoing to tell them you approached me and I told you to leave.”

Malachi pouted. “Rude.”

“I don’t really want to get chloroformed and banished.”

“Theychloroformedhim?” he repeated, like this was a juicy piece of gossip he’d never heard before.

“Yes,” Luke said matter-of-factly. “I’d rather avoid going through something similar.”

Malachi leaned back, spreading his leanly muscled arms out on either side of the booth. “Hawk was banished forfuckinga demon. We’re not doingthat, are we?”

Luke’s eyes lingered on his pale arms, the shadowed muscles of his sides that were exposed by his ripped T-shirt. The edge of one brown areola was just barely visible, and Luke looked away, his mouth dry.

“Right.”

When he finished eating,Malachi wordlessly slid from the booth and went to the counter. Luke drained the last of his water, his eyes falling to Malachi’s plate. He hadn’t touched his food.

Malachi returned with a receipt and a styrofoam box. He slapped the receipt down in front of Luke and then transferred his food into the box. Luke pulled the slip of paper closer, going blank with surprise when he noticed both meals had been paid for.

“You paid for my food?”

“Of course. I want you to be happy. That means feeding you and telling you you’re pretty.”

Luke flushed. “You didn’t tell me I’m—” He broke off.He didn’t care, didn’t care, didn’t care.

Malachi didn’t miss it. Malachi didn’t missanything. He leaned in, bracing one hand on the booth behind Luke and one on the table in front of him. His nose skimmed Luke’s temple, and Luke inhaled the scent of clove and citrus.

“Luke,” Malachi breathed, the words tickling Luke’s cheek, “you’re beautiful.”

Luke’s throat clicked on a dry swallow. No, he wasn’t, but he’d never heard a more genuine statement. There was real emotion in Malachi’s voice, longing and conviction. He tipped his head back to meet crimson eyes, and Malachi’s smiling lips brushed his own.

A jolt of panic went down his spine. “No, no, stop it.” He planted a hand on Malachi’s chest and pushed him away, relieved when Malachi didn’t resist. “Wecan’t.”

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