Page 18 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

“That explains why people were asking me where Elijah was and if Dare would run for office. It really threw me a bit,” Isaac said as he carded his fingers through Caspian’s hair. “Dare is not a politician.”

“I could have told you that,” Darius groused. “Bloody people. Are they really that clueless? I wouldn’t touch—”

“Yes, Dare, darling, I know how you feel about local politics,” Isaac teased. Darius smiled briefly, and it was like seeing the former Darius again. It made Bale yearn for those moments when he had put that look on Darius’s face.

“Oh, but dear Isaac, I need to expound rhapsodically about my flaws and my reasons as to why I’d make a terrible mayor or councillor.”

“Why would that be a bad thing? People need to see good folks in those seats. Like be the ears or something. Didn’t Dare’s dad do that? I just think if we participate more, we can do a world of good. Be the voice of the people. Tell the council what we really want,” Trey said. “Darius can be as powerful as Elijah. He can be an asset or something. And then people would back him if he had to fight the King once more.”

Bale arched an eyebrow. “Honestly, Trey, I can’t see Darius listening to anyone or offering input. He’s not that type of guy.”

“Why not? We have to show the people that we can kick ass, and what better way than to get Darius elected?”

“Because it’s never been my scene, Trey. I’m not that person.” Darius’s teasing manner shifted to serious briefly. “Whatever you heard today? Ignore it. You can do the political things but don’t ask me.”

Trey’s face went mutinous as he stomped to the front room where Adam slept. Darius closed his eyes and shook his head.

With the party over and exhaustion setting in, everyone unanimously made the decision to leave.

Isaac kissed the top of Darius’s head as he left and whispered something, but Bale didn’t quite hear what was said. It made him curious, however, he’d never ask. The bond between Darius and Isaac went deeper than anything else. Isaac and Caspian left holding hands, and as they crossed the boundary, the slinky human changed form to a bouncy fox as the sun’s last rays hit the snow.

“I’m going to give you some quiet. You should have a night without worrying about playing nice,” Bale said as he shoved his feet into his leather boots. Darius leaned on the doorframe of his living room with his arms crossed.

“You don’t have to go, do you?” Darius asked. His blue eyes were so beautiful that Bale wanted to drown in their icy depths.

“I kinda think I do. Gives me a chance to clear my own head.” Bale stepped close but didn’t know what else to do. It felt like the right moment for a kiss, but he didn’t want to spook Darius either.

Giving up, he went outside, where he discovered Adam and Trey waiting for him. Adam smiled at him a tiny bit.

“Fill us in. What the fuck is going on, and why is Darius being so cagey about it? Like I was talking to Hawk and Terra and they’re not happy with what they see. People need to know. I’d like more information so I can reassure my friends.” Trey attempted to glare at Bale. It was supposed to be intimidating, but Bale couldn’t be bothered.

“Darius hoped everyone would have a good holiday with no stress, so he didn’t want to talk shop. He wanted to enjoy his friends. I agreed. You haven’t seen him since the first snow, and it bothered him.” The light that sustained Darius, his connections to his friends, had been fading, and it killed Bale to know he couldn’t do anything about it. The ember of affection had been stoked over the past week when his friends made the effort to come visit. “Doesn’t he seem a bit better?”

Adam and Trey consulted each other with expressions and micro-gestures and faced Bale again.

“Well yeah, but that doesn’t explain why he’s hiding pertinent information. Typhon said something about him summoning the yellow dude. Why won’t he tell us?” Trey scratched the back of his head as he considered his words, which was nice to see him thinking first.

“Darius doesn’t want to fixate on the past, so he’s trying to find a way to sail through the explosive parts. I don’t want him broken. Therefore, I’m following his lead.”

“That’s fine,” Adam agreed, but Trey hissed. “It’s fine, Trey. People are allowed to keep the past in the past. Especially if it helps them cope a bit. But Bale, can you give us anything to work with? We want to be there for everyone, but I admit, I’m floundering. I don’t know if I can keep believing in Darius. He’s so closed off that I can’t see if I’m doing any good.”

Bale met Adam’s gaze head on. The dark hid his expression, but there was a thread of command and determination in his voice. The young godling was slowly coming into his own, and Bale was proud of the fact.

“The short of it is His Majesty had Darius as a prisoner of sorts, and he used Darius as anchor point to a portal here. Somehow Darius tricked him into letting him go, and that’s where we are. I think.,” Bale explained quickly. Anything else was Darius’s to share. He had done his part. Adam and Trey had to deal with it.

Adam hummed a bit before nodding. “Shit, I knew he had a nasty past, but I didn’t think it was that bad. I guess we let Dare take the lead. And this protective vibe you got going? What’s that all about?”

“What does that matter?” Bale asked. It technically wasn’t anyone’s business but his and Darius’s. Their relationship had fractured, but now it seemed to be healing, and Bale would guard that ferociously.

“Because he’s our friend, and you fucking betrayed him,” Trey said bluntly.

“Trey, back off, alright?” Adam shook his head. “We forgave him, remember?”

“He nearly killed us, Ads. How can we forgive that?” Trey returned.

“I can’t with that. Bale obviously hasn’t fallen back in bed with Dare, so you must be glad about that?” Adam asked.

“Dare should lock the house against him.”

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