Page 43 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

“No, it’s the right amount.” Darius pecked Bale’s cheek, and Bale clenched his fists tightly. Darius’s smattering of touches and kisses sent an endorphin rush to Bale’s brain, and he didn’t know how to respond. Darius had forgiven him. Bale had a second chance. There was no way Bale could fuck this up. What he was doing with Darius was working. He was finding a place beside Darius once more.

Despite the pleasant atmosphere and the light conversation, the furrowed line in Darius’s brow never fully went away. He was participating, but his attention was noticeably elsewhere.

“What’s wrong, Dare?”

“I’m not sure. I thought I had a handle on things, but I still feel a bit discombobulated. What do you think Hakko wants to talk about?” Darius asked as he sipped his wine. Food was eaten, and all that was left was the bottom of their wine glasses. Darius was obviously a bit mellow as he admitted his concerns.

Bale drummed fingers on the table as he thought. “Maybe Hakko wants to help. You said something about his exhibit? What about it?”

“The magic in the letters felt like home. And the handwriting seemed so damned familiar.” Darius ran a hand through his hair in agitation.

“Maybe we should go visit? Just check it out? You won’t sleep until you do,” Bale suggested. He ached to clear the dismay from Darius’s eyes. He had been spinning all day, and Bale hadn’t been able to solve that problem for him.

“Darius! I’m not supposed to bother you, but there was an accident, and I don’t know what to do.” Isaac burst into the cottage. He paused at the sight of Darius and Bale sitting at the table. “Shit, you’re having a date, and I fucked it up. I am so sorry. Don’t worry. I’ll fix this.”

Darius shook his head as he stood. Bale remained seated, unsure if he was needed. “I’m always here for you. We were just talking about the bad things.”

“Bad…things?” Isaac cocked his head to the side, his problem pushed to the side for a moment.

“Nothing to worry about. Let’s get you sorted out, first. Bale, you can distract Caspian.” Darius ordered. He never answered Isaac’s question, and Bale had to wonder if that was deliberate.

“Dare, bad things?”

Bale grinned at Isaac’s determination.

“At your house, Isaac. I will tell you there.” Darius herded Isaac out, and they made the quick walk to Isaac’s cottage.

Caspian was sitting on a chair, his paws resting on his fluffy tail. He chirruped once before leading everyone into the space.

Bale gasped as he took in what had occurred. Ice stalactites and flowers coated every surface of the kitchen. The temperature seemed to be at a normal comfort level. “What happened?”

“I don’t know!” Isaac wailed. “I was trying to practice some defensive stuff because I thought it’d be a good idea. I didn’t want Bale to get hurt again and so I thought to try and make the spiky icicles. I did it everywhere else but then I started thinking, and now I can’t get rid of them. Cas’s already cut a paw, and oh my God, Darius. I fucked up.”

“First of all, breathe,” Darius suggested. Isaac nodded rapidly and took a multitude of breaths before grabbing onto the icy counter. He snatched his hand away immediately. “No, Isaac, look at me. Takeslowones.”

Bale lifted Caspian in his arms and cuddled the shaking fox. Distracting the nervous fox was likely his task as Darius worked to soothe Isaac.

He wandered to the front room where the fireplace sat dormant. He gazed at it. Worry prickled his mind. This was always going as the fire sprites loved taking care of their foxy friend and his mate. “Where are your sprite buddies, Cas?”

The fox only shrugged. He wiggled in Bale’s arms, a request to be set down. He nosed the cold ashes and sneezed. Bale knelt and searched but found no evidence.

“Hey, Eye, where are your sprites?”

“I don’t know! Something happened. I don’t get it.” Isaac’s voice pitched, and Darius could be heard soothing him once more.

“We will figure this out, Eye. Don’t think about them. Focus on withdrawing your magic.” Darius continued to instruct Isaac while Bale picked Caspian up again and snooped around the ground floor. There was no sign of sprites anywhere in Isaac’s home. These were creatures that had attached themselves to Isaac the minute he started using guardian magic and protecting the small cryptids. To see his house devoid of his mini houseguests was eerie.

Caspian snarled as they passed by a window, so Bale peered out, trying to see what had made Caspian angry. Nothing could be spotted, but fox eyes were different than his. Setting Caspian down, Bale snuck quietly out the front and spotted black ichor dotting the deck boards. It was repulsive, and even Bale wanted to step away.

“Hey, Dare! You might want to check this out,” Bale called, using his leg to keep Caspian from snooping.

“Oh gross. That’s just nasty.” Isaac peered around Bale’s shoulder as he came outside. “It’s… I can’t even begin to describe it.”

Darius never came out to investigate, which was unlike him. Bale jerked his head around to find Darius and swore as he spotted him on his knees gasping. “Darius!”

“It’s the smell. I can’t deal with it. Isaac needs… Isaac needs to use his magic on the things and just keep pouring magic on to it. It will work. Fuck.” Darius panted as he fell back on his ass. His colour was the worst Bale had ever seen on Darius, and it made him worry. He hovered over Darius’s shoulder trying to help, but that got him a slap on the leg. “Bother Isaac. Show him where to aim.”

“But, Darius, you’re about to keel over. I can’t leave you.”

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