The Mage on the Hill by Angel Martinez

Author:Angel Martinez
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: gay romance
ISBN: 9781644052648
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2019-05-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

IT HADN’T been a wasted visit, even if definitive answers still eluded him. Darius frowned at his own thought as he sat beside Toby’s sleeping form. Terrible. Seeing Elias again should’ve been reason enough to come up. He’d tossed all of his friends and allies by the wayside years ago and shuffled forward in this blind morass he’d built of his self-loathing.

He reached out to smooth the bit of shocking white hair out of Toby’s eyes, speculating on when his hair had changed color. Probably during his first magical incident or soon after. Who knows? Maybe he was born with it.

Why hadn’t he asked? Such a little thing. He could’ve managed that, at least. Communication was still difficult, though, and imparting the most basic and the most important things had taken priority. For Toby, he had to do better.

He didn’t even wonder where the thought came from anymore. Stupid of him, maybe a little self-destructive, but he was hopelessly besotted. Tobias Freelander Jones had arrived as a guttering candle who had still managed to burn off the dark fog surrounding Darius’s home. Bright spark, persistent flame….

“You still up, old man?”

He turned, the moonlight giving him enough light to pick out Elias in a nearby chair. “Didn’t… hear you.”

“I can be quiet when I need to.” The smile came through loud and clear in Elias’s voice. “Are you staying for a while? He seems to be doing all right here.”

“No.”

“No? Come on, Valstad. You can give me more than no.”

Darius swallowed hard and moved across the room to sit by Elias before he could answer. “Dangerous. For you.”

“More dangerous for Toby. And you.”

“Yes. Not that.”

Elias patted his arm. “Take your time. You know I won’t rush you.”

After a few deep breaths, Darius tried again. “They’re hunting him. The guild.”

“Right. They came after you at Arden’s place, Toby said. But no one’s going to come up here. Arden I could see. You were colleagues, thick as thieves, and it made sense for you to go there.”

“Known associate.” Darius poked a finger at Elias’s chest. “They’ll come. Have to… keep ahead.”

“To keep ahead of them until Toby’s channeled, is that it? Dar, what do you think they’ll do if they catch up? And how is it dangerous to me?”

“They’ll take him.” Darius had to swallow twice before he could say it. “Hospice.”

“So it’s true, then. Your methods aren’t allowed anymore.”

Darius nodded, uncertain whether Elias could see him clearly. “It’s true. I’m… running. Acting outside… guild law.”

“It shouldn’t have been like this,” Elias whispered, leaning in to wrap his arms around Darius. “Damn them. All of them for treating you like this.”

“How many dead, El?” Darius’s breath hitched. “While I… was away. How many?”

Elias stroked his back in slow circles. “Like I’d tell you if I knew. You’d take each and every death on yourself. Wasn’t your fault, Dar. They’re responsible for every euthanasia they’ve committed, not you. You tried to show them another way.”

It is my fault. All that time hidden away in my private fortress.

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