Page 5 of Forbidden

“They’re customers,” Wolf said blankly. “The fuck does she want me to do about it?”

Xyra waved a hand. “Don’t tell me, tell the bitch. She’s waiting for you in her office.”

Wolf sighed. “Why is it always me?”

“Because she knows Talon likes you.”

“Talon doesn’t like anybody,” Wolf protested. “Except maybe Alex.”

She bobbed her head, sipping her drink. “We got the boy’s shipment of schnapps in, did you see?”

He smirked. “Yeah, I did. Gave them a bottle.” He nodded over at the booth, where a white bottle sat next to a crystal glass.

“He’s precious.”

Wolf snorted. “Don’t let Talon hear you say that.”

“Talon’s possessive,” she dismissed. “I can like the human without liking him the way Talon likes him.”

Wolf sighed. He’d put it off long enough. Keeping Lilith waiting would just make this even more difficult. “Hold down the fort. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Pretty sure I can manage to pour drinks without you for a while.” She refilled her glass as though for example.

“Pour them for thecustomers,” he said pointedly.

“I’m a customer!”

“Not tonight you’re not.”

She laughed. “Buzzkill.”

“Asshole,” Wolf rejoined good-naturedly as he walked away.

Dread coiled uneasily through him as he took the side door hidden behind the bar and went upstairs. For all their jokes, Lilith was dangerous. Wolf didn’t like that he’d somehow been put between her and Talon. He liked his job well enough, and if she decided, she could make his life a living hell. She’d made herself the de facto queen of the halflings in LA and had a legion of loyal followers who did her bidding. Like the head of the mafia—complete with loan sharking, drug- and arms-dealing—what she said was law as far as the halflings were concerned. She’d run In Extremis for two centuries and other bars before that, always the hub for demonic activity on the west coast. Crossing her would be no easy feat. If anyone could, it would be Talon, but he was largely uninterested in being any sort of leader to the demons.

The hallway was painted black, with pale fluorescent bars creating pockets of light and reflecting off the polished,dark surfaces. When he reached her office, he took a breath and knocked.

“Come in,” she called.

He swept the door open and stepped inside.

“Wolf,” Lilith crooned. Everything in her office was black. Black walls, black floor, black desk, black chairs, black rug. Her long black hair was straight as a board, and her lips were painted as red as her eyes. She gestured to the chair across from her desk. “Sit.”

He obeyed stiffly, unease slithering through him when she stood. She dressed not unlike the customers downstairs, in towering heels, skin-tight leather pants, and a leather corset.

“They’re here again, aren’t they?” she asked, rounding her desk slowly. “What are they doing?”

“Talon and his human were sitting in a booth. Malachi and his were dancing.”

She scoffed. “What do they think they’re playing at, bringing those holy men here?”

“They’re not holy anymore,” he pointed out, not for the first time. “The guild banished them both for?—”

“You think they’ve stopped carrying their faith with them just because they’re no longer working for those sanctimonious assholes?” She shook her head.

He lowered his gaze. “Perhaps you’re right.”

She stopped in front of him. “I want to know every move they make, Wolf, understand? The minute something about their situation changes, you come to me. And if I find out you’ve been keeping things from me…” She leaned in, curling narrow fingers around his throat. Her sharp nails dug into the tendons of his neck, and he fought to contain his snarl. “It’ll be your head I take next. Understand?”

---