Page 34 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

“Yes, so I suggest you leave your comments at the door. You think you know everything now because you’re one of the cool kids? That because your boyfriend is a wanna—” Another piece of bacon was stuffed in Darius's mouth. He dutifully crunched down on it.

“That’s rich coming from you, Darius. You’re so fucking lofty that you can’t even tell when—”

“Trey, stop talking. You’re making the grumpy man’s hair stand on end.” Adam’s loud whisper could be heard across the room, and Darius immediately patted his fuzzy hair.

“Why do we care what Lord Darius thinks? Both Bale and Dare both fucking ghosted us, and since the monsters are after them, we have to—”

“Trey!” Isaac and Adam’s voices blended into one, and a unique ice plant formed in the centre of the table.

Trey closed his mouth with a snap and sat down hard.

“Lord Darius? What the fuck does that mean? When have I ever—” Darius sputtered as he tried to bring his thoughts into alignment. To hear a friend call him that was disturbing and terrifying. Trey used it as an insult, but what if it were true? What if Lord Hypnos knew something Darius didn’t?

“You go around town with your nose stuck up in the air, think you’re better than anyone else and sneer when people ask you to help in ways not related to magic. You can’t even—”

“I swear to God, Trey. You’re almost as bad as Darius. Maybe we can get some answers. How’d you like that?” Adam pinched the bridge of his nose tiredly. “We’ve discussed this, remember?”

“I don’t like it when they hide shit from us.”

“He tortured me, you fuckwad. Do you want to know how often this occurred or what he did? Do you need to hear in detail what he said to me as he burned me with coals? How ‘bout when—”

“Darius.” Bale’s soft words halted Darius’s recitation. Darius took a deep breath and released it. He kept eye contact with Trey, making sure Trey understood the gravity of the situation.

“We can start figuring out what those creatures were and how to stop them from coming back.” Adam’s quiet suggestion was loud in the still room. Trey and Darius were trapped in their standoff. Darius wasn’t going to budge. Trey needed to learn some discretion and manners.

“I can go into town and see if anyone else had a similar encounter?” Isaac suggested. “We need to check in on the Centre. Make sure it wasn’t targeted.”

“The Valentine gala is either tonight or was yesterday. We can see if Hakko had any incidences. I know he was concerned with His Majesty.” Adam stepped in between Trey and Darius, deliberately creating a ceasefire. “Darius should see about using the Stones. They might offer some insight.”

“They’ve been cued up for you. Don’t want to ruin your training,” Darius said automatically. He blinked rapidly and stepped away. This wasn’t how anything was supposed to go.

“I’m sure Lord Typhon took you into account as well. They are yours. Don’t deny yourself peace because of me.”

The kind look Adam gave him with the soft reprimand settled some of the jagged edges from the day.

Darius jumped at the soft touch on his shoulder as Bale squeezed it lightly before going to the kitchen with Isaac.

“I’ll ask the Mushrooms. They’ll tell me if it’s worth the fight and energy.” Trey’s words rankled, and it took everything in Darius not to make a biting comment back.

“Thank you, love. I appreciate it.” Adam kissed his cheek and rolled his eyes. The tension in the room dropped considerably. They gathered up their stuff and left. Adam waved goodbye.

“Do you feel better now, Dare?” Isaac’s question was heard only by him and Bale. Darius paused and did a quick mental check. Isaac’s concern made him not want to lie.

“Not sure. Less likely to tear off the heads of my enemies if that counts?” Darius sighed. Bale and Isaac were right. He needed to gather his tools and think this fight through logically. There was no way he could win against anyone as he was now. He wasn’t strong, and he wasn’t stable. If Trey could make him that angry with a few ill-timed words, what would Hastur do?

“That’s a start. Thank you for not being too mean. It was very nice of you to not rip Trey apart. You held back very skillfully,” Isaac praised him. Darius raised an eyebrow at the compliment. He wasn’t sure if Isaac was blowing smoke.

“Has he always been that confrontational?”

“It’s gotten a lot worse since his change.” Isaac sat at the table and dropped his head against the smooth surface. “I don’t know what we’re gonna do.”

Darius sighed and bit down on a cold piece of bacon. He wasn’t sure what was next either.

ChapterFifteen

The morning’s emotional toll on everyone wasn’t what Bale expected after the attack. He had assumed the shadow creatures would have been the worst of it. Playing referee with Darius and Trey was exhausting. Thank the Stars Bale had Isaac to help soothe Darius’s snarls.

Something about Trey had begun to rub Darius the wrong way. Bale didn’t remember the friendship being so fractious. However, since the fight in the summer and Bale’s return to the fold, everything had been shifted off-kilter. Trey had become more vocal and confrontational, which messed with Darius’s head. Bale had to soften the edges of Darius’s emotions before more lights shattered.

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