Isaac frowned. “Questioned them about what?”
Nathan sighed. “I guess this is our fault. We should’ve explained. There are some things you should know. The paladins aren’t the only ones with a grudge against us right now.”
“Oh?” Isaac prompted.
“The halflings,” Nathan replied, gesturing to the slowly decaying bodies. “Otherhalflings.” He sighed heavily. “Come on, let’s head back. I’ll explain on the way.”
Chapter 20
Shadrach
When Isaac returned,he was splashed with black blood, his expression light, and Shadrach’s mouth watered.
“Black is the new red,” he said by way of greeting as Isaac approached him. “Love the new style. Very murder-chic.”
“Very funny,” Isaac said, walking right into him and sealing their mouths together. Shadrach growled deeply, sweeping his tongue into Isaac’s mouth. “I made a tiny mistake.”
“Surprising no one,” Talon drawled from the snack bar.
Isaac threw a scowl over his shoulder.
“What mistake, killer?” Shadrach asked, more interested in the warmth of Isaac’s body under his palms than in whatever happened on the patrol. His human was unharmed and happy; that was all that mattered.
“We ran into some halflings.”
Behind him, Talon perked up.
“Turns out Nate wanted to question one of them about Lilith’s whereabouts.”
“And?” Shadrach asked.
“I sort of killed them all before he could.”
Talon groaned loudly in frustration, flinging his head back and then grabbing a bottle of liquor from the shelf.
“Were they good kills?” Shadrach asked, because where those halflings came from, more would follow. There would be another chance to nab one. The most important thing to him right now was how happy Isaac looked.
Isaac brightened. “They were. Very bloody.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He leaned in, unable to resist the gravitational pull of Isaac’s smiling lips. He nipped the plush bottom one, longing to sink his teeth deep enough to taste the rich blood that teased him below the surface. But not here.
“Groooss,” Angela sang as she passed.
Isaac whispered, “Why are there children here past curfew?”
“Hey, screw you,” Zachary said without heat. “I’m eighteen now.”
“You look twelve,” Isaac responded, and Zachary’s mouth fell open in indignation, causing Angela to cackle.
“Their dad’s not home,” Shadrach explained. “They spend the night here sometimes.”
“Once again,” Talon said, “this human is proving to be the worst thing that’s ever happened to this place.” He rounded the broken glass snack bar with his fresh drink and joined Alex on the sofa. The latter appeared barely awake, slouched down in soft joggers with his cheek propped up on his fist. When Talon sat, he shifted to lean over on him instead of on the armrest.
“Hey, fuck you,” Shadrach said, parroting Zachary—but more vulgar. “I like him.”
“You’ve always had questionable taste,” Talon said with a dismissive wave.
That man’s head was worth a million dollars, Isaac thought with awe. He was pretty sure he could take Talon, if he absolutely had to. Hewouldn’t, for a lot of reasons—mostly Shadrach and Alex—but the idea that a million dollars was close enough to reach out and take was a little mind-boggling. At one time, that would have been life-changing money. Now, it didn’t really register. Shadrach had more than that, and he’d made it clear Isaac could have anything he wanted.
