Page 6 of Unholy

He sensed when the demon arrived, like a burst of cool, foul-smelling air on his skin. Luke must have set up some kind of ward around the children’s rooms, because he burst into motion right away, his footsteps pounded toward the demonic presence. Malachi risked peering around the doorway to watch as Luke launched himself into the child’s room. There was a scream, followed by Luke’s hastily barked orders. A moment later, a woman burst out of the room, carrying her son, who wore a hospital gown.

Something flung Luke from the room. He slammed into the wall, and the sagdrannon—a hooded demon with skeletal features and a mouth full of sharp teeth—bore down on him. A trill of panic went through Malachi. He’d step in to help even if it would blow his cover, but Luke brought both knives up into the sagdrannon’s chest with a snarl. It shrieked, its back arching, and it tumbled to the floor. Another well-aimed jab to its chest pierced its heart, and the demon went limp.

Malachi grinned. He should’ve known his human could handle it.

Chapter 3

Luke

Luke didn’t expectto keep his disobedience a secret, so he decided to lean into it instead. After he killed the demon and spent some time talking the nurses down about what they saw, he dragged himself out to his car and drove home. His back felt like one giant bruise after his harsh introduction to the wall during the fight, but he felt accomplished. He saved that little boy and killed the demon.

He didn’t even bother to shower, leaving his clothes in a trail toward his bed and collapsing in exhaustion. In the morning, he would admit what he’d done to Sloan and accept whatever came next.

Bright and early the next day, he braced himself to return to HQ to type up his official report. Sloan wouldn’t be happy, but facing his punishment with honor was better than continuing to lie about what he’d done. With a travel mug full of the blackest coffee known to man, he made his way to the library to type up his report. The papers were still warm from the printer when he reached Sloan’s office. He rapped his knuckles on the door and waited for Sloan to callout.

“Come in.”

He opened the door and stepped inside. Sloan was standing like he’d just barely gotten in for the day. His messenger bag with his laptop was sitting on his desk, not yet put away, and his personal coffeemaker in the corner was gurgling softly.

“Paladin Morgan, what can I do for you this morning?” he asked. “I hope this isn’t about what we discussed yesterday. I consider that matter settled.”

“It is settled, sir, but not in the way you think.” He strode over and handed Sloan his report. “My report for last night.”

“Last night? You weren’t scheduled to patrol last night.”

“I know, sir. Please, just read it.”

Pursing his lips, Sloan sat down and focused on the report. Luke sat across from him, waiting patiently as Sloan flipped to the next page, leaning over on one elbow. The minutes ticked by, and Luke resisted the urge to fidget. Finally, Sloan looked up, laying the form down on his desk.

“You went to the hospital anyway.”

“I did.”

“You disobeyed a direct order.”

He winced. “I did.”

“I should have you suspended,” Sloan said sternly.

Luke wilted. “Yes, sir.” He would accept his punishment, no matter what. His conscience was clear. He’d saved a child last night. Suspension would be boring, but it was better than living with that guilt.

Sloan studied him for a long, hard moment. “But,” he said slowly, begrudgingly, “as it turned out, you were right. Therewasa sagdrannon stealing kids from the hospital. So, while you’ll be reprimanded appropriately for insubordination,I am willing to concede that I shouldn’t have been so quick to dismiss the halfling’s intel.”

Luke ducked his head. “Thank you, sir.”

“It does, however, also make me question that halfling’s motives. Why would it willingly give up a fellow demon? What does it want?”

“I don’t know, sir, but I don’t think it matters. Whatever his motives are, the children are safe. That’s the most important thing.”

Sloan passed his fingers over his jaw, thinking. “Agreed,” he said, if reluctantly. “However, we have to assume we played into the halfling’s hands by doing this. If it approaches you again, do not engage it in conversation. Just kill it. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.” All that remained now was the punishment for his disobedience. He waited stiffly.

“I don’t want to suspend you for protecting the innocent. You followed your gut, which is a good thing, even if I don’t like that it meant disobeying my order. So,” Sloan paused, tilting his head in consideration, “I’ll put you on archive duty. After your regular training drills, you’ll go downstairs and do that. Log your hours with the desk downstairs. Four hours every weekday for two weeks.”

Luke relaxed. Archive duty wasn’t so bad. Four hours of training, four hours standing in the cool basement and scanning old documents into the computer system. It could be worse.

He stood, gave Sloan a salute, and turned to go. With his hand on the doorknob, Sloan’s solemn voice drew him to turn back around.

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