Page 79 of Indecent

“I…” Ira looked at Wolf, hesitating.

Wolf smiled and nodded at him. “Go. I’ll feel better knowing you’re safe.”

Ira’s face cleared, and he nodded seriously. “Okay. I’ll go.”

Daniel hoped that meant Ira knew this would all turn out okay.

“Everybody ready? Grab on to someone who can teleport,” Talon said.

Daniel threaded his fingers through Chaol’s and offered a hand out to Julian, who took it with a tight smile.

“Here we go.”

Teleporting was still new and unusual. Daniel wasn’t sure he’d ever get used to it. The flames dissipated around them, and Julian gasped, wheeling around to take in their surroundings. Daniel’s hand tightened in Chaol’s, though Chaol made no indication that he wanted to pull away.

“Jesus, that fire is crazy!” Julian exclaimed. “Where are we?”

They were in an alley near the club. He thought it was a safe enough place to appear. He could hear shouting down the street, paladins barking orders back and forth and people screaming inside the club, muffled and distant. Beside him, Chaol looked grim, no doubt hearing everything Daniel was. Julian’s human ears couldn’t pick up the sounds from here.

“Right down the street from the club,” Daniel said. “I wasn’t sure what we’d be walking into if we appeared right inside. I thought we should sneak up on them and break the warding.”

“Good idea,” Chaol said, looking around. “Where’s everyone else?”

“Probably around the area,” Daniel said. “That’s good. We’ll be coming from different directions. We’re more likely to take them by surprise that way.”

“Great. Let’s go.” Chaol pulled his shirt off and tucked it into his back pocket. “Julian, you ever wanted to fly?”

Julian laughed giddily, drawing his sword. “Sure! Just don’t drop me.”

“I’ll meet you guys in front of the club.”

“Be careful, darkling.” Chaol swooped in for a deep kiss, dipping his tongue into Daniel’s mouth for a quick taste, and then pulled away to hook his arms under Julian’s and lift him into the air.

Daniel watched them disappear into the night sky for only a moment and then strode out of the alley. The kernel in his chest ignited, burning hot and bright. He tamped down on it, determined not to give his position away yet by setting everything around him on fire. He felt like a dragon, like he might be able to open his mouth and breathe flame and smoke. It roiled under his skin, seeking an exit. The air around him shimmered with heat. He couldn’t wait to let it explode.

Up ahead, he could see the paladins. Their SUVs were parked in the alley where the main door was located. Daniel’s old apartment had been right upstairs. Most of the Sentinels were living in this building, actually, or at least used the many penthouses in the high-rise above the club as a hideout, of sorts. It didn’t bode well that the paladins and Ramiel had found it. They should have insisted Menadel come and ward it.

The paladins didn’t see him until it was too late.

With a roar, hellfire consumed him. Thrusting one hand out, it engulfed one of the SUVs. Rubber and metal melted, and then the whole thing exploded, blowing paladins in every direction. Shouts of panic filled the air as they turned to find the source of the fire, and Daniel reached into the aether for his blade. A row of fire streamed out in front of him, melting asphalt and igniting everything in its path.

“What the hell is that?” someone screamed. They couldn’t recognize him while he was consumed in fire. It was too bright, burning too hot. He was a living inferno.

“Kill it!”

Two paladins rushed toward him, but a wall of white-hot fire met them instead, and their agonized screams tore through the night.

Across the scene, two paladins were flung into the brick wall of the building. The others had arrived. Daniel caught a glimpse of Draego’s glowing hellblade and Ashmedai’s bright orange eyes.

It was chaos. Daniel’s blood sang with adrenaline, his teeth gnashing with the urge to sink into something. The sound of wings had him glancing up just in time to see Chaol swoop down and drop Julian into the fray. He blocked someone’s blade, and Chaol grabbed the offending paladin, twisting a powerful beat of his wings and launching him into the air. When he landed on his feet, he spun, bending as he did and sweeping the legs out from under two others with his wings.

Daniel stayed at Chaol’s back, cutting down paladins who got too close. They stood no chance as the other demons joined the fray, and soon they were all standing in front of the door to the club.

“Valac?” Talon asked, glancing around the group.

“No sign of him yet,” Julian said, panting. “I hope he finds Menadel.”

“Me, too,” Talon said. “Let’s do this.”