Nathan stepped forward. “I want to talk to him.”
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Luke asked. “Apparently none of us know him as well as we thought.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” Nathan folded his arms, his deep blue eyes conflicted with emotion. “I want to look him in the eyes and ask him why he did it. I want to see what he says.”
“You might not like what you hear,” Ira warned.
Alex, Luke, and Nathan turned to look at him, and Ira did a double-take when he realized it.
“You’ve got to tell us what you know,” Nathan said earnestly.
Ira’s mouth opened, but nothing came out, his eyes wide with uncertainty.
“Come on, Ira,” Luke rasped. “He was our friend. Or—wethoughtwe were friends. If you don’t want those two to torture him, we need to know.”
“I…” Ira flailed. “I don’t know! I don’t have all the answers, okay?”
“Whatdoyou know?”
Ira pursed his lips together. “I know this has to happen. It won’t be pretty, but it’ll be worth it.”
“Worth it?” Luke repeated in disbelief. “Worth it? Letting themtortureIsaac will beworth it?”
“Why did you call us here, then?” Alex asked, soundingfaint. “Why did you have us all come if we can’t do anything to stop this? Are we supposed to just stand by and witness it?”
“Little bird,” Talon said softly, but he went silent at Alex’s sour glare.
“Yes,” Ira replied, looking bleak. “Yes, we have to be here. We have to witness it. We can’t bury our heads in the sand and pretend it’s not happening. Isaac might’ve betrayed us, but we still owe him that, because one day we’ll have to look him in the eye?—”
“Ira,” Wolf interrupted quickly, and Ira’s eyes widened again. He’d slipped up.
“Look him in the eye?” Luke asked. “Are you saying he joins us?”
Ira grimaced. “No, I didn’t say that. Nobody heard me say that. All I said was that we’d have to look him in the eye, which means they at least don’t kill him?”
Luke and Nathan looked at each other, and Luke shrugged. “I’ll take it.”
Shadrach wondered what would happen if he grabbed a knife, teleported to the storage room, and slit the paladin’s throat. Would that change things, and would they be better or worse? His eyes drifted over to the weapons table, idly curious. If they couldn’t change the future, then everything was predetermined and free will was merely an illusion. That would mean every decision Shadrach had made for a thousand years had led him to this moment. He chafed at the very idea.
“I’m going,” Nathan said.
Storm’s fingers trailed down his arm. Their eyes met, and Nathan understood whatever Storm wasn’t saying aloud.
“I’m going in alone. I’ll be fine,” Nathan promised. “Stay here, okay?”
Shadrach wondered what it would be like to have that kind of deep connection with someone, where words weren’t needed.
“But—”
“I know you don’t like it, but bringing a demon into the room when he’s already tied up and vulnerable is just asking for obstinance. He’s already going to be panicked and defensive. I don’t want to make things worse right off the bat.”
Storm sighed. “Fine. But don’t get too close.”
Nathan tried to look affronted despite the humor twinkling in his gray blue eyes. “Do you think I can’t defend myself?”
“That’s a trap I’m not falling for. Go on before I decide to come with you.” He gave Nathan a swat on the behind, and Nathan let out a halfhearted laugh as he went.
Chapter 3
