Page 57 of Forbidden

He flopped down on the sofa and opened up the group chat he’d started with Alex and Luke.

Wolf’s convinced me to stay home tonight. Are either of you going to In Extremis?

Alex

We are. Talon wants to keep an eye on things.

Luke

So are we. We’ll hang near the bar. Don’t worry.

Ira blew out a breath. They were good men. The guild was stupid for letting them go.

Thanks, guys.

A pizza arrived at the apartment thirty minutes after Wolf left for work. Ira accepted the box and gave the delivery guy a tip—the food was, of course, already paid for. He ate his fill, stowed the rest in the fridge, and went to shower.

The apartment was very quiet without Wolf there to fill the space. Even when he wasn’t speaking, Wolf’s presence was enough to drive away the loneliness. They’d been glued to each other’s sides since they met. Being apart didn’t feel right.

He emerged from the shower with a cloud of steam and laid naked under the blankets, his cock twitching at the thought of waking up in the morning with Wolf’s mouth on him. He pulled Wolf’s pillow closer, inhaling the scent of the halfling’s musk.

He barely felt the vision take hold, falling over his eyes like a curtain rather than hitting him like a bat.

Salt lined the exits of In Extremis, and Malachi slammed his fist against the invisible shield it created, mouth snarling and red eyes wild.

“We can’t get out! Luke, come break this salt line!”

A crash. Something flew through one of the high, blacked-out warehouse windows, and the floor exploded into flame.

“Fuck! I’m trying! Hold on!”

“Somebody break the salt line!”

“They’re coming in the back door!”

Chaos. Swords gleamed in the firelight. Black and red blood spilled on the polished wood dance floor.

“Wolf!” There was a voice that sounded like his own, coming from outside the club. He appeared in the doorway, his foot skidding through the salt and breaking the line. “Wolf! No, let go of me! Wolf!”

Wolf roaring, “Ira! Get the fuck out of my way! Ira!”

He barreled through the broken salt line.

“Ira! Ira!” he screamed into the night, but only the sound of squealing tires answered.

Ira came back to himself with a gasp, jackknifing upright. The club was going to be attacked. He had to do something.

He nearly face-planted when his foot tangled in the blanket, but he flailed himself free and grabbed the nearest clothes he could reach, dressing as he fumbled for his phone. His fingers trembled as he dialed Wolf’s number and waited impatiently while it rang.

No answer. Oh God, was he too late?

Pocketing his phone, he rushed from the apartment. He had to get to In Extremis before the paladins killed everyone.

He would get there in time. He knew that much. And whatever happened to him after that would be worth it.

Chapter 14

Wolf’s shiftso far had been fortunately uneventful. The others had all shown up in solidarity after last night’s excitement, and Wolf wondered if it was of their own volition or at Ira’s behest. Talon and Alex were in their booth, looking deep in conversation about something, both with teasing glimmers in their eyes. Malachi and Luke bounced between the bar and the dance floor. Storm had been standing at the door like usual when Wolf arrived. Wolf thought about ordering Storm home, but the big halfling had stubbornly jutted his jaw out before he could open his mouth to try it.

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