Page 20 of Indecent

Chaol didn’t know. Was it a betrayal to his brother, the last of his clan, if he gave up his quest for vengeance for a human? Not that he would be a human for much longer, if they succeeded. Daniel’s opinions on a lot of things might change after his transformation.

He kept his hand on Daniel’s thigh as the night wore on. It was a small allowance, this single point of contact, and one he didn’t think Daniel would take exception to. He liked the sensation of warm, jean-clad muscle beneath his palm.

When the sky began to lighten, he gave Daniel a gentle shake. The man groaned, and it sounded so much like the wanton sounds from his earlier dream that Chaol had to reach down and adjust himself before Daniel’s eyes opened.

Raising a hand to scrub at his face, Daniel blinked his eyes open. His other hand fell, absently, to cover Chaol’s on his leg. When his eyes met Chaol’s, his cheeks flushed with color.

“Morning already?” he asked, ducking his head.

“Afraid so.”

“No wraiths attacked in the night?”

Chaol bared his teeth. “They wouldn’t dare.”

Daniel shot him a weary smile. “Glad to hear it. Did you sleep at all?”

“No.” At Daniel’s frown of concern, he added, “Demons don’t need sleep as often as humans. I’ll be fine.”

The furrow between his brows didn’t abate. “Right. Is that true for all demons?”

“I believe so. I mean, I haven’t done a survey.” His fingers curled under Daniel’s. “Ready to go?”

Daniel looked down at their hands on his thigh like he was noticing them for the first time. “Uh. Yeah.”

Chaol turned his hand, capturing Daniel’s, and tugged him from the narrow hideout. Neither of them mentioned the hand-holding, and Chaol reluctantly let go when they stepped outside.

“We reach the city today, right?” Daniel asked.

Chaol nodded. “Yes. Stay close.”

“And how far is the transformation thing beyond the city?”

“Another day’s walk at least, depending on how quickly we move. It’s near the Pit. ”

Stress lined Daniel’s face as his gaze turned toward the city spires looming ahead of them. “Okay.”

“Don’t worry, darkling,” Chaol said, throwing an arm around Daniel’s shoulders and pulling him into a walk, “I won’t let anything harm you.”

A thrill went through him when Daniel tucked himself against Chaol’s side like he was content to stay there, and the brush of his hand at Chaol’s lower back had warmth blooming in his chest. He was downright giddy over the human’s closeness, and he turned away to hide his pleased smile under the guise of watching their surroundings.

Their path eventually led them to a road made of smooth white bones. Daniel tilted his head back to stare up at the spires of Pandemonium as they approached, towering above them.

“Are those buildings? Like the skyscrapers on Earth?” he asked.

“Yes. They’re hollow, and many demons inhabit them. The first demons to reach sapience carved their homes out in there. One by one, networks and communities were built. We won’t be going in any of them.”

“Good, that’s good,” Daniel said faintly. “I’d rather not get caught inside something like that with no way out.”

The road took them over a bridge, and Daniel eyed the red river beneath them.

“You’ve heard of Styx, I take it?” Chaol asked.

“That’s the river Styx?”

“Yes. Look closer.” Chaol tugged him to the edge of the bridge. In the river below, human souls were visible, their faces pale and gaunt as the river guided them to the Pit.

Daniel’s face twisted with horror. “All those people…”