Page 76 of Demons Treasure Warlocks

Bale was up and at the rocks before Darius could finish the sentence. Bale cupped his face in his hands and grimaced at the slick sheen on Darius’s face. He’d been working too hard in the still-crisp outdoors.

“I’m fine, Balor.”

“Come on, let me do this,” Bale wheedled sweetly. Darius rolled his eyes and hands, telling Bale to get on with it.

“Isaac and Caspian are here,” Bale said as he helped Darius back to the house.

“I heard. You two aren’t exactly stealthy talkers,” Darius teased. He nodded his greeting at Isaac, who still hovered on the deck. “Hey, Eye.”

“You’re getting really good at magic, Dare.”

“Thanks. Bale’s helped a lot. He’s unlocked a few barriers for me.” Darius smiled brightly at Bale, and it did Bale’s heart a lot of good to hear praise from Darius.

“I helped you see elements in a different way,” Bale explained as they entered the cottage.

The rich scent of potatoes and meat roasting filled the air. Cooking noises could be heard as they ventured farther in.

“Get Darius changed and come down immediately,” Caspian ordered as he peered around the corner. He had a towel draped over his shoulder and a no-nonsense look on his face.

“Yes, sir.” Bale bundled Darius off and sat on the bed with Darius. “Bossy fox.”

Darius rested his head on Bale’s shoulder. “I wonder what brought them over.”

“Isaac didn’t say. And Caspian went to work immediately.” Bale kissed the side of Darius’s head affectionately. “How are you feeling? You were doing some neat things out there.”

“Stretched a bit. But it’s good, you know?” Darius sighed and squeezed Bale. “And tired. So tired.”

“It takes a lot out. Come on, let’s see what Cas is cooking up.” Bale helped Darius change into softer pants, and he had to kiss the magic from Darius as well.

“Darius!”

“He’ll investigate if we don’t go down.” Darius sighed.

Dinner was a shepherd’s pie that Caspian quickly threw together. His skills rivalled Bale’s in delicious meals. They had a fun conversation, and it was like nothing terrible had happened. Good friends having good food.

Until twilight came and Caspian was force-shifted into his fox form. Bale knew it bothered Darius a lot, but he hadn’t been able to locate a counterspell to reverse it for Caspian.

“Don’t worry, Dare. You’re going to find an answer. Cas believes it too,” Isaac said in his quiet reassuring way. Caspian leapt up on the recliner and curled around the two cats. It was a sweet and homey moment.

“I should have discovered it by now.”

“So should we all have. But there’ve been other issues. It’ll happen Dare. I believe it.” Isaac leaned forward on the kitchen table, his eyes bright and filled with belief. “We will do it. Iknowwe will. But maybe first we get rid of the trash?”

Bale snorted loudly. He had never really heard Isaac say anything like that before, and it hit him right in the funny bone. Darius raised an eyebrow as he shook his head.

Isaac smiled happily. “What are your plans though? Do you know… how do you plan on taking him out?”

“We want to do a shock and awe thing on him. Catch him with his pants down, so to speak. He’s apparently not bonding with Jenkins, and we want to take advantage of that.” Darius spun a disc of fire in the air absently as he spoke. “For that, we need to be working together at every portal, and we will close them all at the same time. He won’t have access to that dimension, and his power base’ll shrink.”

“That sounds pretty cool. And you want me there?” Isaac traced a circle on the table.

“Of course, dude. You’re my guy. We need you,” Darius immediately answered. He leaned forward with his disc and nodded at Isaac. “Come on. Show me.”

Isaac blinked before concentrating on the disc of fire. He slowly added ice to the mix, and the results were outrageous and beautiful. How the fire and the ice worked together to create perfect unity stole Bale’s breath. He had never truly seen Darius teach before, and this moment left him in awe.

“You’re a wonderful teacher, Dare,” Bale whispered as Darius showed Isaac an example. A bright pink colour travelled up Darius’s cheeks as he ducked his head down.

“Right? I’ve tried telling him that, but he says no all the time,” Isaac said. His hands were mimicking Darius’s as they practiced creating glyphs in the air.

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