Page 40 of Forbidden

“Has he told you anything about the future?”

He shrugged one shoulder, mindful not to give anythingaway with his expression. “Not much. He says he only has a small picture.”

“Come on.” Her voice was velvety smooth. “Nothing?”

He had to give her something. She wouldn’t accept nothing. “He helped the others find that building for their day job. Seems like they’re spending all their time there, fixing the place up. You might see less of them here at the club.” That should please her.

“Really?” She seemed intrigued. “Nothing about us? The demons or the club?”

“Not that he’s told me.”

She hummed. “Bring him here. I want to meet him.”

“No.” It was a thoughtless, instinctive response. He didn’t want Ira anywhere near Lilith. She would tear him to pieces. If not literally, then figuratively. She was cold-blooded and manipulative. If Ira didn’t bend to her will like all the halflings did, she would make him suffer. Wolf would rather die than let Ira get apaper cut.

Her crimson eyes sharpened. “You’ll bring him,” she said calmly. “Or I’ll hang you in the back room and flay the skin from your bones. And when there’s nothing left of you but a pile of meat, I’ll hunt him down and do the same to him.”

She’d done that and worse to others who disobeyed her. She could suspend him indefinitely in a hell of his body’s own making. Flaying him wouldn’t kill him. Only a holy blade could do that. She’d just make him wish he was dead, and he would be powerless to stop her from doing whatever she wanted to Ira.

He couldn’t let that happen.

Seeing the quiet despair on his face, she relaxed, smiling again. “Bring him to me tomorrow night,” she said firmly. “Midnight. Or I’ll make you wish you coulddie.”

He nodded jerkily.

Lilith turned away without another word, sauntering back around her desk. “You can go. Don’t forget my warning.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he rasped as he fled for the door as calmly as he could, his mind racing all the while.

He couldn’t let Ira go anywhere near Lilith, but keeping him away would only make her angry. Maybe it was just simple curiosity driving her decision to meet him, but Wolf couldn’t risk that she had some more sinister motive. The leader of the halflings had to know there would be real power in having a prophet in her pocket. Wolf couldn’t let Ira become a pawn in her wicked games.

He was so lost in thought that when he stepped out into the club, he ran right into a familiar figure.

Shadrach grabbed his arm to steady him as he frowned at the tension on Wolf’s face. “What’d that bitch say to you, Wolfman?”

Wolf glanced behind him. The door had already fallen shut, and the pounding music would mask their words. They were far enough away from the patrons, too, that they wouldn’t be overheard.

“She wants to meet Ira.”

“Ah. And you’re understandably wary.”

“I’m not justwary, I’m completely against it,” he hissed. “But I can’t tell her that without pissing her off.”

Shadrach tilted his head in agreement. “She is a tricky one. What’s the plan, then? Squirrel him away somewhere?”

No, he couldn’t do that unless he also never showed his face around the halflings of LA again. Hiding wasn’t the answer. He shook his head. He didn’t know. Ignoring her would just make things worse. Letting Ira meet her was toodangerous. There were no good options. He’d rather eat glass than let Ira in the same room as a monster like Lilith.

“I don’t know. I can’t think straight right now.” He needed to see Ira, needed to lay eyes on him and reassure himself that he was okay. Ira hadn’t even been in harm’s way tonight, but that didn’t stop the urge toseehim.

“You want me to take you to him?” Shadrach asked, sounding begrudging but not unwilling.

Wolf blinked, surprised by the generosity. Shadrach didn’t normally involve himself in the affairs of others. That he would offer to teleport Wolf to Ira without asking anything in return was a kindness he hadn’t expected.

Shadrach rolled his eyes. “Don’t look so surprised. I do nice things sometimes.”

Wolf resisted a smile. “I probably shouldn’t. I have a shift.”

“It’ll take ten minutes. You tell me where to go, and I get to see this supposed base of theirs.” Shadrach rubbed his palms together gleefully.

---