Page 57 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

“Elijah was there?”

“You knew! How did you find out? Who did you talk to?” Bale groused, grumpy that someone had stolen his thunder. He wanted to be the one to tell Darius about the chaotic evening.

“Pretty much everyone?” Darius confessed. A tiny blush brightened his cheeks. “I didn’t want details.”

“Elijah’s falling apart. It’s the worst I have ever seen him. I can guess who Hastur wants to be in next. Who also will be the interim mayor as Elijah steps back from his duties.” Bale sipped the whiskey and hummed at the taste.

“No. Please no.” Darius started shaking his head, denying what Bale was going to say. He knocked back a shot as he braced himself.

“Oh yes. It is exactly who you think it is.”

“Seriously? That blowhard? No one fucking likes him. Jenkins is the worst possible person to be presiding over our little town,” Darius sputtered.

“Yeah, I got that impression as well from the people leaving the meeting.” Bale went over the rest of the details with Darius, sharing what Jenkins and Elijah wanted for Granite. Darius listened well, his focus intense on Bale. He asked questions as Bale spoke, and his queries always went back to Hastur’s desire for the land.

“We’ll need Adam’s expertise about this. I know he’s a fledgling god, but he might have some ideas. Same with Hakko?”

“Hakko is beside himself. I’m pretty sure he was that close to changing to his dragon form because of the insult Elijah dealt him. I have a feeling he will be coming by soon,” Bale said around a yawn. He hadn’t done much, but he couldn’t keep his eyes open. Darius dislodged Master Cat from his legs and stood. An old book felt to the ground, catching Bale’s eyes. “Is that where the alcohol idea came from?”

“It was an experiment.” Darius shrugged. “Don’t expect it all the time. It’s not that fun or easy.”

“But I like having a drink waiting for me when I come home from a hard day,” Bale teased. He stayed on the couch. His place beside Darius still felt somewhat uncertain. Darius’s dreams had begun haunting him, and he refused to have Bale near him during those nights. Judging by the strain tightening Darius’s face, this would be one.

“I’m going to bed.”

“Dare?” Bale never asked what Darius needed. He usually assumed Darius would tell him if he did.

Darius’s expression changed in minute ways as he considered Bale’s words. He dropped to his knees and bumped their heads together. Darius remained silent as he pressed a kiss on Bale’s cheek. He rested on the couch’s arm and gazed at Bale.

“I’m here. Always here,” Bale said firmly. Darius’s icy blue eyes held such strength and conviction that Bale could see where Darius got the frozen persona from. “Promise.”

“One more night,” Darius said in return. He stood and winced. Knees popped as he straightened up. He lifted his orange beast and carried him upstairs with him. Master Cat hopped on the table and waited patiently for Bale to flatten out so he’d have his bed for the night.

Even though they were on separate floors, Bale felt that much closer to Darius and his sweet family in that moment.

ChapterTwenty-Five

Darius lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling as he tried to figure out what the hell he was doing. Why the fuck had he told Bale one more night?

He wanted Bale in his bed with him. Darius was safer with Bale curled around him, his wings resting on Darius as a blanket. Sometimes, Bale kept the nightmares away, but after a bad day, there was no stopping them. Darius never understood which way his dreams would manifest. Discussing Hastur and his ilk had Darius believing that this would be a bad night.

He had to figure out what Hastur’s plans were and how the land played into it. Hastur had never been interested in it before now. Bale specifically mentioned the River Walk and the museum. Both seemed to be teeming with magical energy. Was that why? Darius needed to see old maps of Granite to fully rationalize Hastur’s big plans.

One thought kept circling around in his head. One he hadn’t mentioned to anyone, not even Bale or the cats. Defeating Hastur was going to require more than a shoot’em up and send him packing approach. It was going to be big and almost sacrificial.

Bossy Cat paced around his body as Darius tossed and turned. He stomped on Darius’s side, making Darius freeze, and it worked. Darius fell asleep with his cat cuddled on his spleen.

Never doubt a cat when it was trying to nap.

The dreams came. And they were filled with blood and destruction. The sky was black-red as Hastur cackled over top of them. His form was the size of Godzilla as he lorded over the small town. No one was left to stand in his way, and that terrified Darius beyond his wildest imagination.

Rotting bodies filled the streets, mostly cryptid with some humans as demons tore through the streets, looking for their next meal.

It was hell on earth, and it was Darius’s fault. He’d left his town vulnerable. The portals, the museum, his friends. They all suffered because he didn’t do everything possible.

Darius fought to wake himself up, but he was spellbound by Hastur’s abyssal eyes. Words whispered into his ears, taunting him as he screamed into the void, begging to be released.

“Granite’s destruction or your own? Which will you choose, Lord Darius? Who will win? Who will die?”

---