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“Touch me, please,” Ira gasped.

Wolf wrapped him in a tight fist, letting Ira fuck himself into his grip and back on his cock.

“That’s it, seidhr, take what you need.”

Ira threw his head back, helpless little “ah, ah, ah” sounds falling from his bloodstained lips. His damp curls were wild, his eyes hazy with pleasure. Wolf wanted to memorize the sight for all time.

He squeezed his eyes closed as he came, onehand flying down to grip Wolf’s wrist for purchase as his cock bucked, his seed splashing Wolf’s stomach.

Shuddering with aftershocks, Ira collapsed against him, panting. Wolf growled in contentment, wrapping his arms around him and peppering whatever part of him he could reach with kisses.

“I am, you know,” he said, breaking the silence.

Ira lifted his head, his soulful eyes questioning.

“Yours.”

Ira’s face split into a grin.

Chapter 11

The night wasas clear as it could be beneath the smoggy clouds of LA. A stray sheet of newspaper blew across the parking lot as Ira emerged from Wolf’s black car, and his stomach fluttered with nerves as he faced the unassuming façade of In Extremis. Storm had texted them ahead of time, letting them know there was no sign of paladins and that it was safe to use the front door. Still, anxiety sat like a stone in his gut.

“I don’t like this,” Wolf said as he led Ira with obvious reluctance toward the front door.

“Neither do I, but at least if we get it over with now, we can hopefully get her off our backs for a while,” Ira said. He didn’t want Wolf to worry about him, so he’d been maintaining an air of confidence all afternoon in an attempt to soothe his halfling’s frayed nerves. Truthfully, he was terrified to be in the room with Lilith. Even knowing Talon would be there to have his back wasn’t enough to quell the lowly simmering fear he felt. Lilith was formidable. She had hundreds of halflings in the city cowed. If she ordered themto do something—like hunt Ira down and cleave his head from his shoulders—most of them wouldn’t hesitate. Getting on her bad side would make all of their lives significantly harder. The best thing he could hope to do was show her the deference she wanted, swear he meant no harm, and maybe it would be enough to appease her interest in him.

“It’s not too late to turn around,” Wolf said. “I can take you back home. Lock you up and throw away the key.”

“Is that supposed to be threatening or reassuring?” Ira asked with a laugh.

“Both?”

He chuckled, reaching over and threading their fingers together. “Talon will be with me. Everything will be fine.”

“I still don’t like it.”

“I know. I’d worry if you did.”

Wolf cast him a halfhearted smile.

Storm stood like a sentry at the reinforced metal door, his hair like a beacon in the darkness. “Good luck in there,” he said, and Ira was strangely endeared. The halflings weren’t anywhere near as frightening as the guild would have their members believe. “Talon and Hawk are already inside,” he added, opening the door for them.

Ira blew out a breath as they stepped inside, and Wolf’s fingers tightened around his. He drew strength from the touch. Wolf wouldn’t let anything happen to him, and he would protect Wolf, too. They would be fine. He would make sure of it.

The crowd out on the dance floor was a gyrating afterthought as he followed Wolf to the bar. Xyra was cleaning a glass, her midnight blue hair spilling down her back, and she gave them a wave when she noticed them.

“Are you good?” Wolf asked, cradling one side of Ira’s face. “Thirsty?”

“I’m fine. I just want to get this over with.” His stomach might revolt if he tried to put anything in it right now, and that would ruin his calm, confident appearance.

“I’m ready when you are,” a new voice said, and Ira turned to see Talon standing beside them. He jerked his head toward the booth where Alex, Luke, and Malachi were sitting. “Malachi’s keeping an eye on those two while we’re away.”

Wolf nodded. “I’ll keep one eye on them, too. Don’t worry.”

Talon inclined his head. None of them were taking any chances. They had enemies on both sides, and they could only trust each other.

“Whenever you’re ready, then,” he said to Ira.

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