“Ugh.” Shadrach turned away. They were always so mushy with each other.
A shout from outside caught the demons’ attention. Shadrach turned as Talon set his glass down hard and rushed toward the door as it swung open. Alex and Luke stumbled inside, and Luke doubled over, breathing hard. Malachi leaped off the wall and ran to his side, tugging him up and cradling his face to peer at him.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
Alex, right beside the door, had collapsed to the floor, leaning back against the wall. Talon knelt beside him, brushing his sweat-damp hair back from his forehead.
“We’re okay,” Alex said. “We were attacked by halflings. Some of Lilith’s people.”
“What?” Talon snarled. He tried to stand, but Alex snagged his hand and pulled him back down.
“Chill out. We killed them. And we’re already healing.”
“What do you meanalreadyhealing?” Malachi asked. Softer, he asked Luke, “You were hurt?”
“Maybe a broken rib or two,” Luke said, putting his hands on his head to ease his breathing. “It’s better now. One of them had a baseball bat.”
“Theywhat?” Malachi’s red eyes blazed with fury.
“What about you?” Talon asked Alex. “Are you hurt?”
“My leg. They dislocated my knee. It’s okay. I can tell theswelling’s going down, because my jeans aren’t so tight around it anymore, and it’s not hurting as badly.”
With a growl, Talon scooped Alex into his arms and picked him up. “You’re sitting somewhere comfortable until I can be sure you’re well.”
Alex chuckled, curling against Talon’s chest and resting his head on his shoulder. Talon settled him on the sofa, fetched him a bottle of water from the fridge, and when he returned to his side, he knelt at his feet.
“How many were there?” he asked. “Did they say anything?”
Alex and Luke looked at each other, and Alex shook his head minutely. Talon’s eyes narrowed as he glanced between them.
“No, no secrecy,” Talon protested. “What did theysay, little bird?”
Alex sighed. “They said… the easiest way to draw you out and get the money was by using me.”
Talon went dangerously still, like a cat about to strike. Shadrach recognized it, but as usual, Alex held no fear toward the frightening leviathan. He reached out, cupping Talon’s face.
“We killed them,” he said. “All of them.”
“How many were there?” Talon asked.
“Five,” Luke said, lowering his arms with a wince. One hand brushed his side, but he gave Malachi a reassuring nod. “We’re probably lucky their goal was capture and not kill. Otherwise they might’ve brought guns.”
It wouldn’t be the first time demons had turned guns on mortals. Shadrach’s gaze slid to Nathan, who’d been shot during the battle at the guild not long ago. Yes, theywerelucky the halflings hadn’t thought to employ the possessors’ tactics.
Talon’s fingers curled around Alex’s thighs. “I’m going to find her,” he swore. “And I’ll rip her fucking head off for this.”
Alex smiled, sappy and fond. He pressed a sweet kiss to Talon’s lips. “I know, Tal. And I’ll be cheering you on when you do. Just don’t forget that I’m a fighter.”
“I know you can take care of yourself, but they shouldn’t be coming after you.”
Shadrach spoke without thinking. “Of course they’re coming after him. He’s your weak link.”
Talon shot him a withering glare, to which Shadrach just laughed.
“Give me a break, Talon,” he said. “The best way to hurtanyof you is through your humans. They might have your blood, but they’re still human. They’re weaker and more vulnerable than we are, and theyknowyou all would do anything to protect them. You have one glaring weakness, and it’s sitting right in front of you.”
As he spoke, Talon’s expression changed from furious to bleak, and when he turned toward Alex, the human softened, kissing Talon’s forehead.
