Page 41 of Wicked (Dark Delights #5)

Shadrach

They returned to the Rink early the following night to share what had happened at In Extremis. When they appeared beside the air hockey table, Shadrach spied Ira on a step-stool, hanging a white sachet above the front door.

“What’s he doing?” Shadrach asked.

“Protection spell,” Wolf explained, standing behind Ira.

“Oh, good, your mage finally finished with the ingredients,” Shadrach said. “I assume this one will keep out the bad humans?”

“It should,” Ira said. “These are supposed to go above every door and window—not that this place actually has many. The herbs inside each bag should prevent anyone who means harm to those within from crossing the threshold.”

Beside him, Isaac perked up. “That’s pretty awesome. Why didn’t you have that on the building before?”

“We had to track down a spell that would work for humans,” Nathan explained.

“I was going to try and find one in the guild’s archives to share with them before I left, but things…

took a turn for the worse, and I wasn’t able to.

Wolf fo und a mage in the city who was able to modify an existing spell to protect against humans as well as the supernatural. ”

“It took some time to find somebody who could make something that didn’t just require everyone to be invited inside,” Wolf explained. “That wouldn’t have worked, because these guys have clients come here sometimes for their PI business.”

“Nice,” Isaac remarked as Ira stepped down and folded up the stool.

Talon crossed the room, handing Alex a drink and turning to face them by the sofa. “So what happened at the club last night?”

Shadrach wasn’t happy about it, but Isaac insisted on being the one to explain the plan to the others at the Rink.

Talon wouldn’t like the idea of Alex going anywhere near Lilith, and he probably wouldn’t like that it was Isaac proposing it.

But Isaac didn’t want Shadrach fighting his battles for him, so Shadrach bit his tongue and let Isaac take the lead.

“I spoke to the bartender, Magda, who contacted Lilith for me,” he began, folding his impressive arms and drawing the fabric of his red T-shirt tight over his shoulders.

Shadrach paced behind him, his hackles already raised in anticipation of Talon’s reaction. This wasn’t going to go over well with the other leviathan. He was especially prickly when it came to his human, and he didn’t like Isaac.

“I convinced them that I’m a paladin trying to leave the guild and that I killed Talon when he snuck in and tried to grab me.”

Talon scoffed, as though the idea were preposterous, and a low growl tripped out of Shadrach.

Isaac half-turned, meeting his eyes. Impatient, even amused , exasperation lingered in the depths of his forest green eyes.

He held out a hand, gesturing for calm, and Shadrach pulled in a deep breath, loosening his tie and turning away to pace some more.

On the sofa, Ira tracked his steps with a careful eye.

“Since we all know demons decompose very quickly after they’re killed, there’s no way to prove I killed Talon when I said I did, and Lilith knew that. But there is one way to convince her that Talon is dead.”

“And what’s that?” Storm asked, with an arm thrown loosely around Nathan’s shoulders.

Isaac sighed, and Shadrach resisted the urge to gnash his teeth.

It would be fine. Isaac could hold his own.

It would be fine . Isaac wouldn’t like it if he jumped to his defense.

It would be fine .

“She wants to hear it from Alex. She wants me to bring Alex to her, and if he’s heartbroken with loss, she’ll know Talon’s really gone.”

“ Hell no,” Talon exploded. “He’s not going anywhere near her.”

“It’s the only way,” Isaac said calmly.

“I said no!” Talon said, taking a menacing step forward.

Shadrach’s body locked with tension, but Isaac didn’t look cowed.

“I told Magda he wouldn’t come willingly with the man who killed you,” he said. “She told me to do whatever I had to do. It’s the only way to convince Lilith to meet. If I don’t have Alex with me, she won’t show.”

“Then we’ll find another way!” Talon said.

“There is no other way,” Isaac said. “I can’t just cut off a finger and take it to her, can I? You’re supposed to be dust by now.”

“I’ll walk into that club and start killing demons until someone gives her up,” Talon snarled, far too close to Isaac for comfort now. He was within reaching distance, his black eyes bright with fury.

Isaac shook his head. “You guys already told me that wouldn’t work.”

“You’re not taking him anywhere near her. She blames us both for what happened to her precious club. With me out of the picture, there’s nothing stopping her from killing him.”

“There’s me ,” Isaac said. “I’d be right there with him the whole time.”

Talon bared his teeth. “I don’t trust you.”

“I know,” Isaac said calmly, despite the tension winding his shoulders tight. “But you trust everyone else here, don’t you?”

Over Isaac’s shoulder, Talon met Shadrach’s eyes.

Yes , Shadrach thought. Talon trusted everyone here. He just didn’t want to admit it, because he thought it would give Isaac leverage in the argument.

“You’ll all be right there with us,” Isaac went on, “waiting for Lilith to show herself. The minute she does, you swoop in and take her out. Alex will be fine.”

Talon’s jaw worked for a moment, and Isaac tilted his head, studying him.

“Why exactly do you not like me?” he asked. “Is it just because I was reporting to Sloan there for a while? Because I feel like that was paladin business, and maybe you don’t care as much about that as you claim.”

Talon’s eyes narrowed slightly, and Shadrach stilled, waiting .

“You’re right,” Talon admitted. “You reported on people these humans are friends with, but no one I directly care about.”

“Then what is it?”

Talon looked away. Finally, he lifted a hand, drawing a straight, horizontal line across his chest exactly where Isaac had wounded him during his first desperate bid to escape.

“You drew blood,” he said. “It’s been a very long time since anyone has been able to do that. You’re good, and that makes you dangerous.”

Isaac straightened, glancing over his shoulder at Shadrach. He looked— hunted , and Shadrach didn’t understand why until he spoke again, his voice soft.

“Would it help if I said I was… completely and totally in love with Shadrach?”

In love with Shadrach . The words repeated in his head over and over. In love with Shadrach . He’d hesitated to say it back last night, but here he was, declaring it in front of everyone.

Begrudgingly, Talon looked between them. “It helps, actually, yeah.”

Shadrach wrapped his arms around Isaac from behind, tucking his face in the curve of his neck and sinking his teeth into the muscle. Isaac let out a short laugh, gripping Shadrach’s hair and tugging him insistently away.

“Don’t do that, I’m trying to be serious right now.” But he pecked a quick kiss to Shadrach’s smiling lips.

Talon swung his gaze toward Alex, whose face was soft in a way it only ever got when he was looking at the demon. “I still don’t want to let Alex go anywhere near Lilith.”

Alex sighed, smiling, and pushed himself to his feet.

“I’ll do it,” he declared, drifting over to wrap his arms around Talon, who, like Shadrach, buried his nose in his human’s hair, his dark eyes closing in contentment—or defeat.

“I don’t relish the idea of having to pretend Talon is dead or that I’ve been kidnapped by someone I consider a friend, but if it means getting rid of Lilith, I’ll do it.

Our lives will be easier with her out of the picture. ”

Talon took a sharp breath. “I don’t?—”

Alex covered his mouth with his hand. “I know, Tal. Believe me. You made it clear. But you’ll be waiting in the wings, right?

You’ll have eyes on us the whole time—or almost the whole time.

You and Shadrach can appear as soon as Lilith shows her face, and like you guys said, you can take her in a one-on-one fight, no problem.

I’ll be perfectly safe. Besides, you forget I’m not some fragile little human who needs rescuing.

I’m a demon hunter. I know how to defend myself— stop looking at me like that ! ”

Talon’s soft, pursed smile was patronizing at best.

“You’ve had his blood, right?” Isaac piped up.

“Yeah, of course,” Alex said, his face flushing.

“There. Far less fragile than you would be without it. Right?” The last part was directed at Talon, who begrudgingly nodded. “He’s a functionally immortal human, then. Not exactly fragile.”

“Still,” Talon began.

“No,” Alex said, poking him in the chest. “I’m doing this. We just have to figure out what our plan is.”

Isaac cleared his throat. “I tie you up in the trunk of the car and take you to the address Magda gave me. Present you to Lilith. Hopefully you can cry on cue and convince her Talon’s really dead.

Talon and Shadrach show up with the cavalry and remove Lilith’s head from her shoulders. We all go home happy. ”

Talon looked murderous. “You are not tying him up and putting him?—”

“Sounds good to me,” Alex loudly interrupted. “Good thing I’m not claustrophobic.”

Luke used a satellite map online to get a better look at the address Lilith had given Isaac.

It was a private cove north of Los Angeles, and based on the satellite imagery available to them, there wouldn’t be many good ways to approach the beach without being seen.

Shadrach didn’t like the idea of letting Isaac walk into a meeting with Lilith without him close by, but it seemed they didn’t have much choice.

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.

“We know ,” 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 we can, 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 Alex awkwardly 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.”

“I especially don’t like him.”

Beside them, Malachi folded his arms. “He reminds me of us.”

“Yes!” Storm snapped his fingers. “That’s what it is. He acts just like one of us.”

Luke shook his head in disagreement, but Nathan tilted his head thoughtfully.

“We should get moving,” Ira said. “We don’t want him to get there too far ahead of us.”

“We’ll meet you there,” Shadrach said.

“Good, go,” Nathan said as they all headed to the assorted cars in the parking lot. “We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

Shadrach didn’t need to be told twice. He had a human to protect, after all.