“I wouldn’t invade your mind without reason, Alex Hawk,” Valac said. “I am still in Hell, but I come with a request for aid for Julian.”
“The paladin?” Talon said.
“What’s wrong with Julian? Is he okay?” Alex asked.
“For now. He left the guild, and they are targeting him for leaving their ranks. Harassing him, threatening him.” He told them everything Julian had said, about the burning cross, the fire, and the blood. “He feels unsafe. He fears they aren’t finished, and the old members of his squad know how to disable his wards. He needs something stronger that will keep the demons out if his windows are smashed.”
Alex looked imploringly at Talon. “You put wards on my apartment at one time, didn’t you? You needed a knife?”
Talon nodded. “Yes. It’s blood magic. I can write it down for him. He needs to etch some symbols into the wood over each door and window and coat them in his blood. Is he willing to do that?”
“I believe so.” If he wouldn’t, Valac would leave Hell as soon as possible to do it himself if he had to.
“Good.”
“I have a personal favor to ask, as well,” Valac said. Julian might not be willing to directly ask the Sentinels for help, but Valac had no such compunctions. And this way, the only one who might be beholden to them was himself—though he didn’t think they would require anything untoward from him.
“Sure, what is it?” Alex asked, to a long-suffering sigh from Talon.
“Maybe we should find out firstbeforewe agree, little bird,” he murmured.
“He’s been perfectly civil,” Alex replied under his breath.
Valac didn’t suppose it was worth pointing out that he could hear them both just fine. “Deliver the warding instructions to him as soon as possible, but could you also keep an eye on his house? Make sure there are no demons or paladins lurking in the area? He cannot watch his own back, as much as he would like to, and it would… pain me for something to happen to him.”
Talon’s expression smoothed, and his dark eyes seemed to pierce straight through Valac. “Oh, I see.” He exchanged an unreadable look with Alex. “Yes, we’ll keep an eye on the human. I assume you’re going to return to the surface?”
“As soon as possible, yes.”
Talon pressed his lips together with a nod, like this was the answer he expected. “It’ll be good to have you on the team, I guess.”
Valac frowned. “What do you mean?” He was asking for a favor, not offering to join the Sentinels.
Talon chuckled. “You’ll see. Just something the prophet keeps saying. I’ll wake up Alex, and we’ll go over to your human’s house. Tomorrow, we’ll even let the other Sentinels know, and work Julian’s house into their regular patrols. At least once a night, someone will go by and make sure he’s okay. Deal?”
Relief glowed within him like the sunset beside them. “Yes, thank you. I will owe you for this, leviathan.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll hold you to that. Tell your human the instructions will be waiting in his mailbox in the morning.”
Chapter 11
Julian
Julian floatedin darkness while he waited for Valac to return. He knew he was dreaming now, so he didn’t get sucked into another nightmare. The darkness had teeth, and though he flinched away, none of it hurt him. It was just his anxiety gnawing at his sense of peace.
Hands and arms with sweeping black, ink-like lines appeared in the darkness, pressing down on his hips until Julian landed with a bounce on the sofa in his dark and quiet living room. Valac hovered over him, his eyes twin points of burning violet. Julian opened his mouth on a gasp, and Valac descended.
Valac's lips crashed against Julian's with a ferocity that stole his breath. The demon's mouth was searing hot. He tasted of smoke and heat, of forbidden desires and ancient magic. Julian's head spun as Valac's tongue swept into his mouth, claiming every inch as if marking his territory. The hands on his hips slid down, guiding Julian’s legs up to make room for Valac between them.
“Valac,” Julian moaned. “What are we doing?” He wasn’t supposed to be doing this. He’d told himself over and over again that he didn’t want Valac like this.
“I’ve wanted to taste you for so long, little jewel,” Valac said, sweeping his tongue across Julian’s lips. “Tell me you want me, too.”
Julian’s head buzzed with need. The room around them dimmed, like his brain was so absorbed by Valac’s proximity that it couldn’t maintain the dream around them at the same time.
Did he want Valac? He couldn’t deny that he was attracted to him. He’d noticed how incredibly attractive the demon was on the night they met. If he were still a paladin, this would be forbidden. But he wasn’t. There was nothing stopping him from exploring whatever this was.
“I… I do,” he replied, tipping his head back to accept another slick kiss from Valac. “I just don’t understand.”
