Page 26 of Forbidden

“Well, that was helpful.” He met Alex’s eyes. “Oh, hey! Looks like we’ve got some work to do tonight. Are Luke and Malachi here?”

Alex looked intrigued. “They are. I can?—”

“So,” a new voice cut in, “this is the psychic.”

Wolf couldn’t mask his scowl as he turned toward Shadrach. A leviathan like Talon, he had black eyes and close-cropped hair that was faded on the sides. He wore tailored black slacks that probably cost more than Wolf’s carand a white button-down with the sleeves rolled up. He was a little taller than Talon, lithe like a swimmer, and his eyes held a dangerous gleam. He didn’t come to the club much, because he didn’t play well with others. Wolf lamented that he’d decided to come tonight when Ira was here.

“I’m not psychic, Shadrach, I’m a prophet,” Ira said, and Wolf watched Shadrach’s eyes brighten at the sound of his name.

“You know me.”

“They mentioned there was another leviathan around,” Ira said. That wasn’t the whole truth. He’d all but told them he’d seen Shadrach in the future, but Wolf understood the impulse to deny Shadrach’s curiosity.

“Did they?” Shadrach asked gleefully, glancing from face to face.

Talon, looking unamused with one arm draped over Alex’s shoulders, said, “Shadrach, don’t be a dick.”

He pressed a hand to his chest, but the innocent look was belied by the wickedness glittering in his eyes. “I would never.”

Talon rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to Ira. “What’d you see?”

“Uh, something for us to do tonight,” Ira said to Alex. “You, me, and Luke. Of course, your partners are more than welcome to come along. We could probably use their help.”

A low growl pitched out of Wolf. They were going to leave? He had to stay for his shift behind the fucking bar. He didn’t want Ira to go anywhere without him. He needed to protect him, and he couldn’t do that if they were off on some crazy mission while he was slinging drinks for a crowd of horny drunk people.

“You don’t have to worry, Wolf, I’ll be okay,” Ira said,leaning back against him. He reeled Wolf in, his lips brushing Wolf’s ear and adding for him alone, “You gave me your blood. It’ll protect me even when you can’t be there to do it yourself.”

He knew Ira was reassuring him with more than empty words. Iraknewhe’d be okay, because he’d seen it. But Wolf couldn’t quell the anxiety that roiled within him. He would only know for sure that Ira was okay when he had eyes on him.

“You can’t keep me with you twenty-four-seven for the rest of my life,” Ira said, as though he could read his mind. Hell, at this point, Wolf wasn’t entirely sure he couldn’t.

“Is that a challenge?” Wolf quipped.

Ira chuckled. “No, definitely not. Listen, you have my word that I’ll be okay.”

Wolf sighed. “Okay. In the morning we’re getting you a phone.”

“I’ll have one of the others text you when we’re safe.”

Alex murmured that he would go find Luke and Malachi and patted Talon’s stomach as he stepped away. Talon watched him go, his hungry gaze lingering on his partner’s body. For the first time, it was a sentiment Wolf understood. He couldn’t get enough of Ira.

A warm hand wrapped around his wrist, and he looked down to see Ira staring at the black door hidden in the corner. The door that led up to Lilith’s office.

“Will you be okay here by yourself?” he asked.

Wolf opened his mouth to speak, but Shadrach beat him to it.

“Don’t worry, little psychic, I’ll stay with him.”

Ira shot him a contemplative look.

“She’s not here tonight,” Talon offered. “For what it’s worth.”

Wolf added, “And with Storm and Xyra here, I’ll be fine.”

Shadrach raised both hands. “What am I, chopped liver?”

“Right now, yeah,” Ira said boldly.

---