Page 70 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

“Where would you like him, Darius?” Hakko’s gentle voice surprised Bale. He hadn’t thought Hakko would take Darius up on his invitation.

“Inside by the fire. I’ll get some warm clothes for him.”

“I’ll put the kettle on to help thaw the cold.”

Everyone left him alone with the cats in front of the fire. Bale dropped his head against the plush couch and slowed his breathing down to something regular. Darius wouldn’t relax until Bale was in a better state.

“You’re Bale?”

Bale opened his eyes wide and spotted a slight man hiding in the corner of the living room. His eyes glowed as he remained just out of the light. “Poe.”

“Correct. You don’t look well. There’s something alien and wrong with you. I can taste it.” Poe wrinkled his nose in distaste. “You have been wounded.”

Bale tilted his head and considered Hakko’s lover. He was reserved, but there was no mincing information with him. “Crash-landed in an area with absolutely no magic.”

“It’s more than that. You have an odour of decay clinging to you.”

“You’ve met Poe? Good, we can get that out of the way. What the fuck did you do?” Darius passed him a pair of large fuzzy pants and a blanket. He sat beside Bale and peered into his eyes. “Talk to me.”

“It’s not as bad as Poe is making it sound.” Bale took the water Hakko offered gratefully. The cool liquid soothed his burning throat. “I’ve discovered wherehe’sholing up. It makes sense, really. Though I’m not sure how he can exist. Darius, why haven’t you changed your socks? You were outside in socks.” Bale eyed Darius’s feet, and his anxiety spiked rapidly.

Darius glanced down before dropping to his haunches in front of Bale. “Once I’m assured you’re safe, I will change my socks and put slippers on. But I need you not to be shivering right now, okay? Focus on warming yourself up.”

“Darius.” Hakko’s stern tone had everyone facing him immediately. “Come here, please?”

Darius patted Bale’s shoulder before jumping up once more. Bale followed Darius’s movements until Hakko pulled him out of sight. Poe drifted closer to him, and Bale could see the striking similarities between Darius and Poe.

“You’ll be alright. It’s just something outside,” Poe said quietly. He passed Bale a cookie and another glass of water. “You stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

“It’s what we do best.” Bale sipped the water slowly this time and bit into the soft cookie. “Where are the cats?”

Poe blinked at him before jerking his chin toward the window. “They’ve been sitting on the sill all evening, tracking something.”

Bale scrambled to stand up, but his legs were so sore and painful he cried out. “That’s not good!”

“Bale, you need to relax. Darius and Hakko have everything well in hand. You must recover.” Poe tentatively reached out to push on Bale’s shoulder.

“I’m the… I have to…” Bale tried to speak, but he knew the truth. He wasn’t capable to defend anyone.

“It’s okay, Poe. I can handle this.” Darius smiled as he came back. The tension around his eyes and the small frown warned Bale that there’d be an event. “Changed my socks for you.”

“What’s going on?”

“You were followed home, so Hakko took matters into his own hands. Sit up here,” Darius suggested as he tugged Bale up on the couch. He swaddled Bale with more blankets as Hakko came over with a tray full of tea and mugs. “Oh, I haven’t seen that in a long time.”

“His Majesty has tried to bond with Jenkins at the old factory across town,” Bale began. “But I don’t think it’s working as easily as the connection with Elijah. It’s messy.”

“How do you mean?” Darius held his hand while Hakko played host and passed the tea around the room. “I thought Jenkins would have been all for it.”

“There seems to be a lack cohesion between them. It’s making His Majesty crankier that usual. Likely less focused on the world he wants,” Bale said.

“Jenkins was the one at the meeting near the end with the suspenders?” Hakko asked, sitting on the very edge of the recliner. “He isn’t the type to be possessed willingly. He’s too egotistical and would be the one to possess others.”

“His Majesty doesn’t appreciate those so much,” Darius agreed. “Maybe this is a sign.”

“A sign?” Hakko cocked his head and narrowed his eyes at Darius. “Explain.”

“We’ve been toying with the idea of striking before the spring equinox,” Darius said. His hand clenched on Bale’s thigh as he spoke. It was the only sign of nerves Bale noticed. “If we wait until the actual thinning of portals, then everything seems to go to shit. He’s more powerful, and the portal keepers are desperate. It’s messy.”

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