Page 17 of Forbidden (Dark Delights #3)

Hours passed before Ira saw another soul. He tried to sleep, laying on the cot with his eyes closed, but he struggled to relax his body, muscles winding tight every time he remembered his current predicament. Sleep was a fantasy when his future was so uncertain.

The door squealed open for the second time, and Ira pushed himself to a sitting position, wondering if Sloan and Rousseau were back to tell him his fate. It was just as well. He’d take anything over the deafening silence of his own anxiety.

But it was Isaac Morrow who came to a stop in front of his cell, stuffing his hands in his khaki cargo pockets. The ugly fluorescent lighting gave his red hair a sickly, pale tinge and threw his freckled skin into garish relief, but he was still a more welcome sight than plenty of other paladins Ira could think of. Better the psychopath you knew, after all.

Isaac tsked . “Poor little Ira,” he said coolly. “You had a taste of freedom, but the bird’s been caged once more, haven’t you? ”

“What are they going to do with me?” he asked, cutting to the chase. Isaac was a strange one, and Ira didn’t have time for games.

“They don’t know yet.” Isaac reached for one of the bars, scraping his thumbnail through the gritty salt stuck to the iron. “Nate’s been in with Sloan for,” he blew out a breath, “three hours maybe? It’s not technically his place, as a paladin captain, but he’s been arguing your case. I got bored with waiting, thought I’d come and see if you were awake.” He nodded at the pills on the paper plate. “Those are ibuprofen, by the way. I saw Maxwell take them out of the bottle and put them there.”

Ira didn’t need them, but Isaac didn’t know that. He picked up the pills and swallowed both with a sip of water, wincing as they went down. It was a display of trust, too—one Isaac didn’t miss, if the gleam of his cold green eyes was any indication. He trusted Isaac’s word, and he wanted him to know it.

Isaac threaded one arm through the bars, leaning his elbow on the crossbar, and said, “Is it true you’ve turned on the guild like the others?”

Ira scowled. “I don’t really consider it ‘turning on the guild,’ and neither did Hawk and Morgan.” He studied Isaac’s mirthful expression and belatedly realized he’d been baited. “But you know that.”

“Of course I do. I’m just repeating the party line. That’s what we’re meant to do, isn’t it?” Darkness filled Isaac’s green eyes, like a midnight forest. “They never really wanted us to think for ourselves. Go, fight, and keep your mouth shut.”

“It doesn’t have to be like that,” Ira said, pushing himself to his feet .

Isaac gave a sarcastic, scandalized gasp. “Are you trying to tempt me, Ira Faer?” he asked, his voice throaty and low.

“Maybe.” He was trapped anyway. Might as well throw caution to the wind. “You’ve been meeting with Nate and the others. I know you don’t like the direction things are going. You don’t have to stay.”

Isaac’s cool expression didn’t waver. He’d always been an impossible one to read. “Anyone who sticks out is likely to get the hammer these days.”

“Since when have you been afraid of sticking out?” he asked bluntly. “You know what people say about you.”

Isaac leaned in. “And what is that?”

“That you’re crazy.” Blunt honesty worked best with Isaac. “I even heard a rumor they had you tested when they brought you here.”

Isaac snorted, relaxing. “They did. And I am, but apparently my diagnoses suited the guild well enough.”

Ira didn’t actually know what that meant. He only had rumors and his partial knowledge of the future to guide him.

“You might find someplace else better suited for you, then.”

Isaac shook his head, looking weary. “It won’t work, Ira. Despite my misgivings of the guild’s current direction, I’m not like you. I’m not willing to face the consequences for true disobedience.”

For now .

“Then what are you doing here?”

“Oh, that’s easy.” Isaac reached into his back pocket and withdrew a heavy iron key, dangling from one finger. “I came to help you escape.”

Ira’s heart leaped. “ You what ?”

Isaac slid the key into the lock without looking away from him, smirking. “I just wanted to see what you’d say.”

“You asshole.”

Isaac opened the door with a laugh. He clearly didn’t share Ira’s sense of urgency. He was pressing at the door before Isaac even turned the key, desperate to be free.

Ira breathed a sigh of relief as he emerged from the cell. “Why are you helping me, then? If you have no intention of leaving the guild?”

Isaac shrugged. “I got bored of their circular arguments, like I said. They won’t execute you, because you’re a prophet. They won’t banish you, because you’re a prophet. They can’t keep you here forever, forcing you to tell them your visions, because that’s slavery. I’m just cutting out the middle men. Metaphorically. I’m told cutting people literally is wrong.”

Ira couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. “You had to be told that?”

If Isaac was using a poker face, it was a damn good one. “Didn’t you?”

Ira shook himself. “I don’t have time to debate with you. I need to get out of here before somebody comes to check on me.”

“Right. This way.”

Isaac hung the key at the top of the stairs where it normally rested and pulled the door open. There was no guard waiting outside when they emerged into the cool night air. No demons could enter the grounds, and they had no reason to distrust anyone here.

The dungeon was a lonely little building kept separate from the rest of the compound, huddled near the exterior wall a short distance behind the administrative building. The darkness around them was quiet, only the golden glow of the dormitory and administrative windows cutting through the black. Isaac gestured for him to follow and led him around the side of the squat building.

“Come on. You can’t go out the front gate, and all the side exits are locked at this hour.”

“How am I getting out, then?” Ira hissed.

“I’ll help you out. You’re on your own after that, though.”

Isaac braced his back against the imposing brick wall that circled the premises and laced his hands together between his spread legs, creating a step for Ira’s foot. Only…

He looked up doubtfully at the top of the wall. “Isaac, I still won’t be able to reach the top.”

“I know. I’m a big, strong guy. I’m going to help you. Get ready to grab the edge.”

Ira’s eyes blew wide. “Are you kidding me?”

“Nope. Hope you’ve got some muscles hidden under that shirt.”

The wall was probably twelve feet high. Isaac might’ve been six feet tall, but Ira wasn’t. It would be a stretch for him to reach the top.

“When you step in my hand, put your other foot on my shoulder,” Isaac instructed. “I’ll straighten, and then raise my hands higher for you to step into again. That should give you enough height to reach the top.”

“Isaac, you’re nuts ,” he hissed. He was going to fall and crack his skull open, and then the guild wouldn’t have to lock him up because he’d be too injured to run anywhere .

“We established that already. Do you want to get out of here, or do you want to go back in that cell for however long it takes Sloan to realize the foundation of this whole damn place was built on quicksand? Start climbing. ”

Ira blinked in shock. He didn’t realize anyone else could see where things were headed with the guild. Isaac didn’t even have the benefit of visions on his side. He just saw things others didn’t.

Blowing out a breath, Ira planted his foot in Isaac’s grip. Scrabbling at the wall, he let Isaac lift him, placing his next step on Isaac’s shoulder as instructed. He rose into the air as Isaac pushed him up, standing tall and then raising his hands again, bracing them together, palms up, just above his head.

“Don’t lose your balance,” Isaac said.

“That’s a lot easier said than done,” Ira said, putting his sneaker in Isaac’s hands once again.

Isaac grunted, pushing until his arms were extended above his head. He was really lucky that Isaac trained as much as he did. Not many would be able to push Ira’s body-weight above his head like this. Ira’s head popped over the top of the wall, and he quickly grabbed it, lifting his weight off Isaac’s hands. For one terrifying moment, he dangled, sneakers scraping at the brick. He swung one leg up over the edge, and then he was there, breathing a sigh of relief.

Straddling the wall, he looked down to his left as Isaac backed away, peering up at him.

“Nicely done,” Isaac said, panting slightly. His forehead gleamed with fresh sweat in the moonlight. “Just hang down before you drop from the other side. It’ll be a little jarring, but if you roll off your feet when you land, it’ll make the impact easier.”

“Yes, I’m sure I’ll make that look very graceful,” Ira drawled.

Isaac’s quiet snort was barely audible.

“Oh, and Isaac?”

“Don’t thank me. I was never here. ”

Ira smiled lopsidedly. “Okay, I won’t. But I will remember this when the time comes.”

Isaac tilted his head. “No spoilers, now. Get out of here.”

“Goodbye, Isaac.”

He tried to do as instructed, lowering himself to hang off the edge of the wall. His grip strength left something to be desired, and when he finally let himself fall, he hit the ground hard, rolling backward in the grass.

“Ouch,” he grumbled as he rolled over.

Hands hauled him to his feet, and he shrieked, slamming his fist into a solid chest and receiving barely a grunt for his efforts.

“Little psychic,” Shadrach said, raising his hands in surrender. “Do you want me to take you back to Wolf or not?”

“You—How did you know I’d be here?”

Shadrach tugged on his earlobe, and Ira dared to think he looked sheepish . “Talon’s human got a text from someone behind the holy wall there,” he gestured to the brick behind Ira, “and said they’d be breaking you out. I was keeping an eye on the place for Wolf, so Talon relayed the message to me. Alex wanted to come, but of course Talon wouldn’t agree to that. Wolf wanted to come, too, but he doesn’t have some of the advantages of a leviathan. To shut them all up, I told them I’d grab you and bring you to that adorable little skating rink.”

“You volunteered,” Ira said dumbly. “You volunteered to come and get me.”

Shadrach’s expression shuttered. “What can I say?” he said coolly. “I’ve never been so close to the guild’s walls before. It was too interesting to pass up.”

Ira glanced back at the wall. How ironic, he thought to himself, that the pot should wave goodbye just as the kettle arrived in his place. And they had no idea how close they were.

But these things happened in their own time, so Ira shook himself and nodded.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t question your motives. I’m very grateful you’re here, Shadrach.”

Shadrach narrowed his eyes, like he suspected Ira of sarcasm, but after a moment he seemed to decide he was genuine. He extended a hand. “Whenever you’re ready, then.”

Ira put his hand in Shadrach’s, and the world blurred around them.

When it all came to a whirling stop, he was standing under the twinkling light of the Rink’s disco ball. Ira took a sharp breath, wobbling in place with vertigo from the sudden travel, when big arms wrapped him in a desperately tight hug.

“You’re back! You’re back,” Wolf said in his ear, and Ira sagged in relief, bringing his arms around Wolf’s neck and letting him take his weight. Wolf was safe, and they were together again. All was as it should be.

“Thank God you’re okay,” Ira murmured, kissing the soft curve of his neck. “I wasn’t there long enough to see if any of you were hurt.”

“No, because they took you . Are you okay? What happened?” Wolf pulled away and took his face in both hands, searching him for injury and upset.

Ira gripped his wrists, smiling so hard his face hurt. “ I’m fine. They mostly just had me in a cell the whole time. I think they were trying to decide what to do with me. One of the good ones busted me out and helped me climb over the wall.”

“Isaac,” Alex said, leaning against the partition wall. “Yeah, he texted me a little while ago, said he’d be helping you over the eastern wall.”

“The one you all say is crazy,” Talon said, looking from human to human.

“He’s not crazy ,” Luke said.

“He’s a little strange,” Ira confessed, thinking about ‘ apparently my diagnoses suited the guild well enough .’ “But that doesn’t make him a bad man.”

“A crazy paladin?” Shadrach repeated, going to the concession counter and grabbing a beer from the drink fridge. “And here I thought they were all paragons of mental health.”

Alex snorted. “What, them? With their minimalist-style healthcare and love of confession booths? Why wouldn’t they be?”

“The club?” Ira asked, looking to Wolf. “Is everyone okay?”

Wolf shrugged one shoulder. “Our people are all fine,” he said, gesturing to the group behind him. “Some other halflings didn’t make it, but no one you knew. Most of the paladins didn’t make it. Xyra called in some people to deal with the clean-up, and we all got the hell out of there before Lilith could show up and go on the warpath.”

“What are you going to do? You can’t just hide from her forever, can you?”

“That might be the wisest thing to do right now,” Talon said, wincing even as he said it. “I don’t like the prospect of hiding from anyone, but with the paladins on one side and Lilith on the other, keeping our heads down and staying out of the way until the waves die down might be our best option.”

Ira nodded. “I think so, too.” He fisted the back of Wolf’s shirt. “That means no more bartending.”

Wolf rolled his eyes. “Like I’ll be so heartbroken without it. Besides, the club needs repairs after the fight. It took some fire damage. I’d be out of a job until the repairs were finished, anyway. And if you think I’m letting you out of my sight ever again after tonight, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Ira smiled. “I’m fine with that.”

“Good.” Wolf circled around Ira so he could hug him from behind and still see everyone.

“And Lilith?” Ira posed the question to the room. She was something of a wild card, even for him.

“I’ll handle her,” Talon said. “I started this—technically. I won’t let Wolf take the brunt of her anger over this.”

Ira relaxed. “Okay. Thank you.”

Talon inclined his head.

“What about them?” Wolf asked, jerking his head toward Storm and Shadrach, hovering by the snack bar and drinking. They would need to start a liquor fund to keep the fridge stocked with drinks for all the self-indulgent demons they’d been acquiring.

“They can come here,” Ira said. “I trust that they won’t betray us.”

“You do ?” Shadrach asked eagerly.

He sighed. “Not everything I say is some declaration about the future, you know.”

“On the contrary, when you’re espousing your trust in a bunch of demons, that’s exactly what it is,” Shadrach said. He gestured to Storm. “Does he find love with a human, too?”

Storm’s eyes widened, like that was a possibility he’d never even considered.

What was it Isaac had said?

“No spoilers,” Ira replied coolly.

Shadrach smirked, rolling his eyes lightly and taking a sip.

“You hungry, seidhr?” Wolf asked softly, fingers stroking Ira’s cheek and calling his attention back to him. Warm affection and relief filled Ira. It had been so hard to have faith while he was locked in that cell. He never wanted to take Wolf for granted. He’d felt far too close to losing him forever tonight.

“Tired,” Ira said. “I don’t even know what time it is.”

“Almost six in the morning,” Luke supplied, leaning against the partition wall. His shoulders sagged, and he looked as tired as Ira felt. They’d all had a very long night.

With a groan, Ira let his head fall against Wolf’s chest.

“Want me to take you home?” Wolf asked, his fingers carding up through Ira’s wild curls to massage his scalp.

Ira pressed closer, tucking his nose by Wolf’s neck, his hands roaming the broad plane of Wolf’s back. “Yeah. I’d love that.”

Wolf told the others they were heading home and ushered Ira toward the door. When the pale dawn sky was visible through the glass doors, Ira paused, glancing back at Shadrach.

“Thank you for coming. I won’t forget it.”

Shadrach smirked, looking pleased with himself, and inclined his head .

Outside in the brisk morning air, Wolf said, “You know that’s probably exactly why he did it, to get on a prophet’s good side.”

“I know. He doesn’t know he’s moving in exactly the direction he’s supposed to.”

Wolf glanced down at him slyly. “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

Ira grinned. “Can’t spoil everything for you, can I?”

He laughed, dragging Ira tighter against his side. “I’m so glad you’re back, seidhr. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.” His lips pressed to Ira’s temple.

Ira’s eyes burned, and he hugged Wolf tight. “Me, too. This is where I want to be from now on, no matter what. Right here with you.”

Beside his car, Wolf swooped down and claimed Ira’s mouth in a deep, searing kiss.

“You’re mine,” he growled. “They’ll never take you away again.”

Ira nodded, curling his fingers around either side of Wolf’s neck. “I am . And no they won’t.”