Page 53 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

Bale only ran fingers along his side, giving Darius constant goose bumps. The whisper touch made him ache, and he moaned wantonly. Bale kissed him passionately as they lay on the couch. Their legs were entwined, and their hands constantly found new discoveries while they embraced. It was perfect.

They made out slowly like teenagers for a long time into the night. It was only when Darius fell asleep on Bale that Bale carried him to the bedroom. He was embarrassed as hell when he woke while Bale was on the stairs. Bale never said anything, just set him down at the top and followed him into the darkened bedroom. There was no questioning where Bale was going to sleep tonight. In the same space as Darius.

It was okay. It was better than okay. The cats were the only ones upset at the change. They quickly adjusted and snuggled into the nook between Bale and Darius, their bodies curled up in balls. For the first time forever, Darius could believe that this wasn’t wishful thinking, that it was real.

His dreams remained quiet. Only a few of them were enough to drag him out of a deep sleep but not enough to wake Bale up as well.

He silently went downstairs, unable to find peace anymore. Master Cat followed him while Bossy stayed attached to Bale. He made his coffee and stood at the back window and stared outward.

Darius had to make sure the good remained. He had to get rid of Hastur once and for all. His happiness was at stake. But how could he do that when nothing seemed to make sense? He was blind to Hastur and his little manipulations.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sat down at the table with his compendium of creatures and began combing the pages for more information. Something helpful had to be somewhere in the notes.

He wasn’t sure how long he sat at the kitchen table, but the sun was high in the sky when Isaac barged into his home. Darius hadn’t made any inroads to his plan, and he was irritable because of it.

Isaac hesitated as he entered the kitchen with Caspian bumping into him. “Oh, I don’t like that look.”

“Isn’t he always like that?” Caspian asked as he slipped by Isaac and fussed in the kitchen, opening cupboards and generally snooping. “Do you have cookies? I can smell them.”

“Get out of the cupboards, Cas. I’ll find them,” Bale said as he came into the kitchen. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Darius grunted. He wanted Bale to sleep in for once without worrying about Darius.

“You probably don’t want to know why I’m here, do you?” Isaac wrung his hands nervously.

“You always come over. I’m not surprised,” Darius said. He sat straight when Caspian slid a hot mug of coffee in front of him and removed the remains of his original one. “Oh, thank you.”

“Well, I got a phone call from the head of the chamber. The mayor’s office is going to convene a special town meeting in regard to Elijah stepping down. They want to vote in an interim mayor,” Isaac rushed the words out and stepped behind Bale for shelter.

“What? Really? They can do that?” Darius cocked his head consideringly. “How come news of Elijah’s accident hasn’t floated around the gossip mill yet?”

“I think the word is he’s gone back to his medical retreat. He’s still in recovery or whatever.” Isaac sat at the table. “What are we going to do?”

“Someone should go, obviously. See what the hell they’re up to,” Darius said. Maybe now would be when Hastur showed his hand, ending this standoff once and for all.

“But wouldn’t that be like a red flag in his face? Us showing up?” Isaac asked.

“Well, not all of us. That’s not a good idea. But one or two for sure.” Darius looked at Bale and winced at the disapproval vibrating from his posture. “I should go. I’m a legacy. My dad always wished me to be a part of the town’s fabric.”

“That’s probably not a good idea,” Caspian said, dissenting for the first time. “We don’t want you to be that. You need to stay unseen. You’re like him. Tipping our hand is a bad idea, right?”

“Cas is right. If you show up, they will get ideas and assume you’re going to attack. And honestly, I’m not ready for a big brawl yet,” Isaac said. He glanced at Bale and smiled softly.

“Did you put them up to this?” Darius glared at Bale. Despite

everything he and Bale had shared, Bale was still trying to wrap him up in soft cotton.

“No, of course not. What the hell do you take me for? But they are right. Their reasoning is solid. You are the lynchpin, Dare. I can’t let you go strolling into danger without a solid foundation behind you.” Bale knelt before Darius and held his hand tight. “Please, don’t make any rushed decisions.”

“Are you guys… have you guys made up? Oh, this pleases me.” Caspian burst out of his seat as excitement overtook him.

“It’s progressing slowly. We’ve decided to try to let the past go.” Darius shot a glare at Bale. He wasn’t ready to tell people. Not yet, not when everything was still so chaotic.

“That’s good, right?” Caspian gazed at both men, longing deep in his eyes. Isaac’s hope was a cautious gleam. He understood Darius’s reticence. But then he always had.

“Yes, it is. It’s one more way to show Yellow Dick he hasn’t won.” Bale squeezed Darius’s hand before standing up. He stepped out of striking distance as though he knew Darius was ready to snap.

“Dare?” Caspian finally caught onto Darius’s less than gleeful mood. “Isn’t that good?”

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