Anything Julian might have said was cut off by the roar of the crowd. The cacophonous sound almost drowned out Julian’s incredulous laugh.
“Can we get closer?”
“We can. Come.” Valac tugged him out into the sunlight, which didn’t burn here in the dreamscape, and Julian looked down into the arena.
Chariots raced around the center, the horses’ pounding hooves barely audible over the roaring crowd, kicking up powdered dirt.
“This is amazing,” he said. “I can’t believe you actually saw this place with your own two eyes.”
Valac smiled. “It didn’t seem so exciting at the time, but I’m glad you like it.” Demons had been deeply influential in much of the Roman Empire’s rise and fall. It had been nothing more than a duty at the time, but looking back on it, he could see the ingenuity of mankind.
“How could it not? Look at this place!” Julian could barely take his eyes off the amphitheater around them.
Valac chuckled, low and deep. “Human lives seem so fleeting to most of us. It’s easy to dismiss your accomplishments. But you’re right, this place and many others were very impressive, especially as they built it all mostly by hand or with much cruder tools than you have in your time.”
“Exactly,” Julian said somberly. “Our livesarefleeting. That’s why it’s so important that we preserve what came before us. Honor it and learn from it.”
Julian’s jewel blue eyes were solemn, and Valac gently drew his face up, stroking his cheek with one thumb until Julian melted into the touch and smiled up at him. He was gilded in golden sunlight, perfect in every way.
“Does the sun not hurt you here?” he asked.
Valac shook his head, raising his face toward the sky. “This place is an illusion. There is no pain here.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
Valac waved a hand around them. “Would you like to stay here for a while? Or perhaps you could show me something you like now. A favored place, perhaps.”
“Besides my home?” Julian joked.
Valac smiled. “Yes. Unless you’d prefer to go back home. That would be fine, too.”
Julian bit his lip; Valac wished it was his own teeth sinking into that soft skin. “No, we can go somewhere. I’m just not sure—oh, I know!”
Julian closed his eyes now, brow furrowing as he concentrated on the memory. The sunshine faded around them, and Valac hummed under his breath as they were momentarily enveloped in welcoming darkness.
In the distance, the glittery Los Angeles skyline took shape below a blanket of stars. They were standing on a tall rooftop, and an empty parking lot down below was dotted with palm trees. The ocean was some distance behind them, the scent of sea salt hanging in the air. The skyscrapers were like towering beacons made of pure starlight.
“This is beautiful,” Valac said, turning them and tucking Julian against his side. “See? Humans live such short lives, but they build such beautiful works.”
“Yeah, humans aren’t so bad sometimes,” Julian agreed, hugging his elbows. “I found this place a few years ago when I was out on a patrol with Daniel. We had to chase an arlethdemon through this old hospital building—that’s what this place is. It led us all the way up to the roof before we finally cornered and killed it. We stopped for a few minutes to catch our breath, and I realized you could see the whole skyline here. It was incredible.”
Valac studied Julian’s pensive profile. He was bothered. “You can tell me anything, you know.”
Julian sighed, snuggling a little closer. Valac pressed his lips together to silence the victorious roar that tried to escape, tightening his arms around Julian’s smaller body. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for this human.Nothing.
“I don’t know. The last few days have just been hard. They haven’t done anything else, but I keep waiting for them to. I don’t think they’re done, but I don’t know when they’ll make their move, and the waiting is the worst part.” He blew out a breath. “And a part of me worries that it’s my old squad who’s doing all of this. I don’t know if they’ve been ordered to, or if they’ve just decided hating me is easier. Danny and Nic were my family. I can’t imagine they’d do something like this to me, but… I hate that I don’t know for sure.”
“It’s good that it’s been quiet, yes?” Valac ventured. “And the Sentinels agreed to add your house to their patrol route. Have you spoken with them yet? Perhaps they’ve seen something. They might be able to identify some of your assailants.”
Julian’s mouth twisted. “No, I haven’t. I don’t know when they come by my house, and I… haven’t been brave enough to go back to the skating rink where they work. I will, though. I definitely need to thank them for their help. They don’t owe me anything, and they’re still helping.”
Valac gave him a gentle squeeze. “They’re honorable men. As are you, Julian.”
He ducked his head. “I don’t know about that. But I’m trying.”
“You stood up to protect humans and demons alike from me after you saw me destroy those halflings. You have heart. You are… good.” Valac was a demon. He didn’t get to havegoodthings. But he would tear apart anything that tried to stand between him and Julian. Maybe he didn’t deserve Julian, but he would have him nonetheless.
Julian’s brows drew together. “I don’t feel verygood.”
