When the time came for them to go, they all filed out of the Rink and toward the cars. Because Isaac didn’t have one, they agreed that it would be plausible enough for him to ‘steal’ Alex’s truck and drive that to the meeting point. The backseat was better than a trunk, at least.
“I don’t like this,” Talon said as Isaac bound Alex’s wrists together behind his back with duct tape. He viciously rubbed at the back of his neck, where the evening sun prickled. Shadrach felt it, as well, but resisted the urge to fidget in discomfort.
“Weknow,” Shadrach snapped, ignoring Talon’s warning snarl.
Alex sidled up to Talon, smiling calmly, until their chests were pressed together. “I trust you all to watch my back. Isaac won’t let me get hurt, and I know you’ll be close by. I’ll be fine.”
“We’ll all be close by,” Nathan promised. “As soon as wecan, we’ll move in and secure the area. Everything will be okay.”
“See?” Alex said to Talon. “Everything will be okay.”
Talon cradled Alex’s face in his hands, his gaze going soft with emotion, and Shadrach turned away, reeling Isaac in and kissing him to better muffle whatever Talon was saying.
Isaac parted from him with a teasing grin. “Don’t tell me you’re worried, too.”
Shadrach scowled. “I might be,” he said defensively. “That’s my right as your demon.”
Isaac hummed, draping his arms around Shadrach’s shoulders. “Y’know, it wasn’t that long ago that you had me tied up in a closet and were threatening to torture me.”
“Technically, that was Talon’s fault. You should definitely blame him for that and not me.”
“You were the one with the knife to my skin, though. At first, anyway.”
“That was a love tap,” Shadrach said, slipping his thumbs under the fabric of Isaac’s shirt and pulling him closer, longing for the press of his body. He wished they had time to lock themselves away in the apartment for a week. He hadn’t spent enough time worshiping Isaac’s beautiful, naked body. After this, he would correct that.
“Are you allergic to apologies?” Isaac whispered, his eyes bright with amusement.
“Odds are good.” Shadrach kissed him again. “It’s been a long time since I’ve given one.”
Isaac chuckled as he pulled away, catching Alex’s eye. “Ready?”
Alex sighed. “Yeah.”
Isaac opened the backseat door for him, and Alexawkwardly flopped onto the bench seat. When he was in, Isaac duct-taped his ankles together.
“Hey!” Alex protested, kicking at him.
“Hey yourself! Don’t kick me. It’s got to look realistic, and realistically, if I wanted to kidnap you, I’d tie your ankles to make sure you can’t run away.” Isaac crowded into the backseat, and Alex’s protests became muffled. “And a little something to stop you from screaming and cursing at me, too.”
Shadrach glanced over at Talon, who was glaring poisonously at Isaac as he emerged from the truck and closed the door.
“So help me Lucifer,” Talon began.
“I know, I know, bloody death, entrails on the pavement or whatever.” Isaac flapped a dismissive hand. “I’m shaking in my boots. Anyway. How do you want to do this? Are you guys following behind me?”
“They are,” Shadrach said, pointing to the halflings and their humans. “Talon and I will be arriving early, well away from the meeting point, to scout the surrounding area. If we sense any demons where there shouldn’t be any, we’ll end them quickly and quietly.”
“She’s not stupid enough to come without backup,” Talon added, his eyes on the backseat door. “We’ll handle it.”
“Great. I’ll see you there, then.” He spoke so flippantly, it was hard to believe he had a friend duct-taped in the backseat of his borrowed vehicle. With a wink at Shadrach, he climbed behind the wheel and started the engine.
No one moved as it pulled out of the craggy parking lot. There was a floaty feeling in Shadrach’s chest that he didn’t quite have a name for, Isaac’s wink lingering in his mind’s eye. When he turned, he found Talon glaring at him.
“What?” he asked.
“I still don’t like him.”
He rolled his eyes. “You don’t like anybody.”
