Page 47 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

“Dare’s family was super small, which is weird for a farming community right? And then with his parents dying, his world shrank even more. But to have this, even if they just met and they’re like a hundred years apart, I think it’ll be good for them both.” Isaac’s insight was always fascinating. He had a unique and positive spin on life, which drew Bale in. It was no wonder Darius was hyper-protective of Isaac.

“He seems already uplifted,” Bale agreed. There was a light in Darius now. Something had happened, and it opened Darius up, making the darkness recede finally.

“Maybe we have a chance at kicking some demon butt… no offense,” Isaac said as he pulled into his driveway. Caspian was waiting on the front step with a cascade of sprites surrounding him. “Oh, they came back.”

“I thought they might. It’s a sign all is well at your home.” Bale stood and stretched his wings out, feeling the bones pop and blood flow return. “Oh, that’s nice.”

“Dammit, Bale.”

“I’m okay, Isaac. Don’t worry about me.” Bale’s skin started buzzing as Darius strode across the yards. “Seems like my way home is here.”

Darius approached them with a fierce expression face. “You use your stones, right?”

“Yes, because you said it’d be helpful for me.” Isaac answered automatically.

“Can I visit?”

“Now? It’s nighttime. You’d barely see anything.” Isaac led them to the back of the house, and Caspian trooped beside them, his head pushing up against Isaac’s hand.

“I had an idea.” Darius’s words were muffled by his coat as they walked. “Bale’s worship of the celestial bodies popped into my head.”

“Okay?” Isaac paused at the one stone near the deck. The rest gleamed under the moonlight. “See? They sleep.”

Darius sighed and nodded. “It was just a thought. Thanks.”

“No worries. Do you mind if Cas and I pop in tomorrow? I imagine he’d want to talk to you while in person persona.”

“Door’s always open to you.”

Bale studied Darius carefully. There was still a thought puzzling around in Darius’s head. “Let’s go home. It’s been a very long day.”

Bale and Darius walked between the yards silently. Darius was obviously still mulling, and Bale didn’t want to push Darius until he was ready.

“Can we look at my stones?” Darius’s question wasn’t a surprise to Bale. Though why he asked permission was.

“Well, yeah, they are yours.” Bale fell back a step from Darius, allowing his wings to offer shelter to Darius.

“But they don’t feel like mine. They—I don’t have that connection. It’s even less than what I get at Isaac’s. This is dead to me.” The heartbroken voice made Bale ache. “Why? I did everything right!”

“Maybe because when we fixed it, it wasn’t attuned to you. It was done by Typhon and Adam. We didn’t think it was that important.”

“Well, it fucking matters. Why the fuck would I want to have a bloody stone circle in my backyard if I can’t fucking well use it?” Darius snapped. He rubbed his arms in agitation as he paced. He touched the northwest rock, and the expression on his face remained blank. “Godfuckingdammit. How do I make these mine? You all want me to play with the rocks, and I want to too, so how, Bale? How?”

Bale let Darius rant. He didn’t understand the circle, and trying to offer suggestions was a dangerous proposition. He had never used a rock formation like that until Darius and Isaac introduced him to it.

“I don’t know how I can help you, Dare. This is all new to me. How about we go into bed. You need sleep. Like a good proper night’s rest,” Bale suggested. He braced himself for pushback, but Darius only growled at the rocks. He stomped up the stairs and stormed into the house. Bale pinched the bridge of his nose. There had to be reason why he liked this man because it sure wasn’t his moods.

Gazing at the cloudy night sky, Bale wondered briefly if the cloud cover had anything to do with Darius’s inability to connect to the stones. If Darius had the thought of Bale’s gods, then maybe there was truth in it. Tucking the idea away, Bale trailed after Darius, hanging up the coat and toque as he entered the mudroom.

Darius was already upstairs, and the cats were munching on their nighttime snack when Bale was fully in the house. He checked the doors and windows and slowly went up the stairs. He stood in the hallway, staring at the glowing light of Darius’s room and the cold darkness of his borrowed one. Tonight, he wanted to be with Darius. Bale was figuring on nightmares and insomnia, so there was a possibility Darius would need him, even only as a sounding board.

“What are you doing?” Darius’s grumpy tone had Bale moving toward the light.

“Wasn’t sure where I was sleeping,” Bale admitted candidly.

Darius pressed his lips together and stared at the bed, then back at Bale. “We can try here. Just for tonight.”

“I can do that.”

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