Page 39 of Indecent

Tension thickened the air, and Chaol’s focus narrowed as survival instincts started to kick in.

“Kalmach,” Alex repeated, looking between them with growing concern.

“Yes,” Chaol bit out. “So?”

“We had a problem a while back with a kalmach,” Shadrach said, studying Chaol and Talon, who were staring at each other.

Daniel took a step closer. “Chaol is mine, Talon.” Steel threaded through his voice.

“I just want to make sure he means no harm,” Talon said. “The last one we met was volatile.”

Chaol’s jaw pulsed. “Volatile?” he repeated. They helped the paladins kill him, hadn’t they? Amon wouldn’t have been volatile if they hadn’t gotten involved. The paladins were their enemies, too, after all. Why would they help them?

“Chaol,” Daniel said softly, but Chaol couldn’t look away from Talon’s glittering black eyes. Did he know?

“He attacked the Paladin Guild,” Talon explained calmly, his midnight eyes unblinking. “Tried to kill a lot of people, using a method that also killed a lot of people.”

“Maybe if you’d minded your own business, you wouldn’t have found him so volatile,” Chaol growled.

Talon’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “How did you know him?” he asked. The rest of the room had gone silent, and the crowd of humans inched away from the pair of posturing demons while the other demons in the room closed in, preparing to intervene.

Chaol fisted his hands at his sides. The colors in the room sharpened as he fought the transformation, the color bleaching from his skin despite his best efforts.

“He hasn’t said anything about another kalmach,” Daniel said. It was angry, defensive. “Chaol, look at me.”

Chaol couldn’t. He was already bending. Looking into Daniel’s earnest eyes would break him, and he didn’t know which direction the pieces would fall. He couldn’t afford the weakness.

“But you did know him, didn’t you?” Talon needled. “I know you kalmachs do things differently than the rest of us. You flock together, don’t you?” There was a mocking edge to it, challenging Chaol to keep his calm, and he bared his teeth in response.

Daniel stepped closer, wariness and confusion and irritation warring for dominance on his face.

“Don’t talk about things you don’t understand, leviathan,” Chaol warned.

“I understand perfectly,” Talon replied coolly. “And I think I know why you’re really here.”

Against his will, Chaol’s gaze cut toward Daniel, who’d stopped halfway to him, looking between them. Something vulnerable flashed across his face as he said, “He’s here with me.”

Talon wasn’t swayed. “And for what other purpose?”

Daniel looked plaintively at Chaol. “Tell them. Tell them they’re wrong.”

Guilt flashed through him. He’d had his chance to tell Daniel the whole truth, and he’d chosen not to. Here was his consequence.

“Chaol, tell them,” Daniel said again.

“Yes, Chaol,” Talon said. “Tell us.”

He lunged toward Talon, and the words tore from his lips in an angry snarl. “He was my brother!” His fist made contact with Talon’s cheek, and then chaos ensued. Demons rushed forward to stop them, but none were as fast as Daniel, who wrapped both arms around Chaol and spun their backs to Talon, putting Daniel’s body between them.

“No, don’t! Don’t do this, please!” Daniel said in his ear.

Chaol roared, trying to pry off Daniel’s arms. “Let me go!” Goddamn him, he was stronger than Chaol now. He couldn’t possibly pry himself loose unless Daniel wanted him to.

“Promise me you won’t hurt him.”

“No!”

“Then I can’t let you go.” His mouth pressed to Chaol’s throat. “Please, Chaol. Please don’t do this.”