4. Talon
Chapter 4
Talon
A shiver of delight went down Talon’s spine when the paladin followed him into the dark VIP hallway. The walls were painted a glossy black, like most everything else in the club, and the dim red lighting made it look wet with blood, magnifying Talon’s hunger for the sweet-smelling human trailing behind him. His scent was uniquely appealing, but Talon couldn’t put his finger on why. He would need to lean in and investigate, but he doubted that would be appreciated.
The paladin was a beautiful man. Tall and muscular, his youthful skin smooth. He was probably barely old enough to have bought the beer he still clutched, forgotten, between his hands. His dark brown hair was cut high and tight, his face cleanly shaven. And his eyes were the bluest blue, like the ocean at dawn. A rare sight for a demon such as himself, to whom sunlight was no friend.
Talon led him into an empty room and stopped just inside the doorway. The room was also lit like blood, the walls mirrored. He barely gave the paladin room to step inside and shut the door behind him.
There was a pole and a small, knee-high stage in the middle of this room, with a half-moon sofa that lined one wall. Behind the sofa was a shelf for people to set their drinks, and the human stretched toward the nearest end, setting his bottle down and wiping the condensation from his fingers on his jeans. His eyes roamed Talon’s face, searching for signs of treachery as he leaned against the door, putting as much distance between them as possible.
Here, in the small VIP room, his scent was overpowering. Like fear-sweat and bitter anger and the honey-sweet pulse of fresh blood. Many of the demons at In Extremis liked to play with the clientele, but Talon wasn’t one of them. Humans were boring. They lived mundane lives and died quickly. But this one… Something about this human was different.
“You smell good, human, did you know that?” He stepped closer, and the paladin stiffened.
“Gee, thanks, I’m trying out a new soap,” he quipped breathlessly. “Don’t make me stab you. I really don’t want to have to fight my way out of here.”
That startled a laugh out of him. This human didn’t lack courage, that was for sure.
“Stab me with what, little human?” Surely the bouncer, Storm, hadn’t let a paladin walk in here with a weapon.
One of the human’s hands slipped behind his back—and Talon drank in the sight of his lithe body arching gracefully—and then he held up a holy dagger between their faces.
Precious human, Talon thought. He had no idea how easily Talon could rip that out of his hand. Holy blades were only good if they actually cut their target. It was very unlikely he would be quick enough to deal Talon a killing blow. One little knife wouldn’t do more than piss a demon like him off. He was old and not easily overpowered.
Let him have his security blanket. Talon was having too much fun to end this so soon.
He tsked . “I don’t think you had that weapon cleared by security.”
“I didn’t exactly feel comfortable coming in here alone and unarmed.”
Talon smiled. “What’s your name?”
He hungrily drank in the way the paladin’s soft lips parted, his pretty blue eyes blinking in surprise. He lowered the blade as though Talon’s interest was the most disarming thing about him. “You don’t care that I have this?”
“If it comforts you to have it, then keep it. Just know that no one here will help you if you kill one of us on our own turf.”
“You’re not worried?”
Talon fought to hide his amusement. He didn’t want to offend, after all. “I trust that you’re smart enough not to do something so stupid, especially when you came here seeking help.”
The human nodded dubiously.
“So? Your name?”
“Alex. Alex Hawk.”
Talon drifted closer and tilted his head, leaning in until blue eyes darted down to his mouth and back up. They were near enough to touch now, but Talon didn’t dare. His eyesight was good enough, even in the low light, to see the crimson flush that spread from the human’s face down his neck. Talon’s proximity had him wrong-footed. Good. He liked him like this. Wary but not threatened, like he didn’t know what to make of Talon.
“You?”
It was Talon’s turn to be surprised. He wasn’t used to people, especially paladins, bothering to learn his name. He was a monster to them, but Alex wasn’t looking at him like that. He was looking at him like… he was intrigued by him. A sentiment Talon understood.
“Talon.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Is that a Hawk joke?”
Talon’s lips spread into a slow smirk. “No. Perhaps we were just fated to meet like this.”
His brow furrowed, confusion and discontent warring for dominance. He tucked his knife away, and Talon felt a curl of satisfaction.
“Tell me your story, bird of prey,” Talon said, unable to resist pressing closer, until Alex’s body was a line of heat brushing his own. Alex’s body was taut, and his throat bobbed nervously. He squirmed but didn’t push Talon away, so Talon considered it a win. “What brought you flying to request my aid?”
Alex scowled like he suspected he was being made fun of, but necessity won over pride. “I’m looking for the demon who killed my family.”
“Wouldn’t the paladins be able to help you with that? Why come here?”
His gaze skated away, jaw pulsing with distant anger. “They don’t want me going after it. They’ve assigned the case to another squad. I’m not… objective enough.”
Talon hummed. “It seems short-sighted not to harness your focus for this. There are none more determined than those driven by the need for revenge. Just look at you, entering a den of wolves to cut the head from the one you hate the most.”
A flicker of doubt crossed Alex’s face. “Maybe they’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t be doing this. I’ve come here recklessly, right? And now I’m alone with a black-eyed demon and no backup in sight. I’m not stupid. Black means you’re worse than the red-eyed halflings, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” Talon crooned. “But I can also be oh-so-sweet.”
Alex leaned in, and for a moment Talon thought he might be about to surrender. “Then perhaps you can oh-so-sweetly tell me where I might find a demon who kills only families of five and leaves their corpses in the shape of a pentagram.”
Talon grinned. He liked this human. “It rings a bell. Do you know any more?”
His expression darkened, staring into the middle distance. “He had black eyes, too, but not like yours. They were all black. His teeth were sharp, and his mouth was… wrong. Too big. Too wide. But he spoke English.”
“He spoke? What did he say?” Talon asked softly. It seemed as though a spell had descended over them, that speaking too loudly might break it.
“‘Come closer, little boy, it’ll only hurt for a moment.’” Alex was no longer adorably flushed. His face was white as paper, and he stared in horror at something only he could see in his memory.
Talon didn’t like it. He didn’t want this human to wallow in this memory. He wanted him focused on him . Before he could think better of it, he curled his fingers around Alex’s chin and jaw, guiding his gaze to Talon.
“Look at me ,” he growled, and Alex’s gaze cleared, blinking rapidly.
Alex looked despairing. “I shouldn’t be here. This was stupid.”
Now that Talon was touching him, he couldn’t seem to stop. He slid his hand more firmly into place, pressing his palm against Alex’s throat and noting the way it bobbed. Alex’s hand came up, wrapping around his wrist but not pulling him away. Not yet. His pulse thrummed under Talon’s fingertips, his life-blood so close that Talon’s mouth watered.
“You’re perfectly safe here,” Talon said.
“A black-eyed demon has his hand around my throat,” Alex said, as though dazed.
“Am I hurting you?” Talon asked.
“N-No.”
Talon leaned still closer, resting his forearm on the door beside Alex’s head. “We don’t kill people here, little bird. Not even holy men who think this place is some kind of forbidden sinning ground.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Well.” He stopped, considering. “Yes. But it’s only forbidden because your people say so.”
Alex tugged, and Talon reluctantly lowered his hand. He felt the loss of Alex’s heated skin on his palm keenly, but it was worth it for the way the man relaxed, like Talon’s easy acceptance set him at ease.
“The demon sounds familiar,” Talon said. “If I had to guess, I would say you’re looking for a mozgoran. Wicked things who pretend to be human while indulging their nastiest fantasies. Each one kills in a different manner, but they usually abide by certain patterns known only to them. They don’t come around here, because even halflings find them distasteful. For all that they can speak and walk upright, they’re little more than animals. I haven’t heard anything recent, but I could be persuaded to keep my ear to the ground.”
Alex shifted anxiously, his clothing brushing Talon’s. “In exchange for what?”
Talon didn’t like the dread masking his face. It dimmed the light in his eyes. “Perhaps a favor. One I might like to cash in on in the future.”
“A favor,” Alex repeated.
“Mm-hm.”
His chin jutted out stubbornly. “I won’t harm an innocent.”
Talon tsked . “I would never ask you to.” A meaner demon would, certainly. Any number of them would use this kind of power over a paladin to make him do despicable things. Talon didn’t want to make an enemy of him, though. No, he wanted to keep him. For reasons he didn’t understand, this human intrigued him. He’d never felt so drawn to a human before. His trust would be hard-won, but Talon was nothing if not patient.
Alex studied him dubiously. “This is so stupid,” he murmured under his breath. “Fine. One favor.”
“And your phone number,” Talon tacked on.
“Wh-What?”
“How else will I let you know when I’ve found something?” he asked innocently. “Your guild friends don’t have to know.”
Alex hesitated, his mouth opening and closing as he thought. Talon tugged his expensive phone from his back pocket and handed it over for Alex to put his contact information in. When he handed it back, their fingers brushed, and sparks shot up Talon’s arm. He wanted to chase that heat, bury himself in the sensation of it. He’d never reacted to a human like this before.
He typed out a quick ‘ Hello ’ and sent it to the number Alex added to his contacts, pleased when the human’s phone chimed in his pocket. Good, he hadn’t tried to give a fake number.
“I will let you know when I’ve found something, then,” he said, tucking the phone away again.
Alex nodded. “Okay. Thanks.” He fumbled for the doorknob, but before he could twist it open, Talon caught his wrist, drawing his hand up. On his left ring finger, he wore the same silver signet ring that identified all of the paladins, a ruby with a pearl cross inlaid in the center. He’d never been so close to one before, close enough to see the flecks of light inside the gem.
“And in the future, it would be wise to remove this from your finger before you enter a place like this,” he said, brushing the signet ring with his lips and delighting in the way that flush spread across Alex’s face again at the soft touch. “It sets us on edge.”
“You don’t seem all that concerned.” He was breathless. Talon wanted to sink into him and never come out.
He smiled wolfishly. “I’m only looking out for you , little bird.”
Alex jerked his hand free, scowling. “I can look out for myself, thanks.” He twisted open the door, slipping away from Talon and out into the hallway.
“Could’ve fooled me,” Talon said to the empty room, inhaling the last of Alex’s spicy-sweet scent before it faded away. He picked up Alex’s abandoned beer and took a long drink.