“True, true, true.” Balthazar tapped his cane on the stone pavers. “I wished to speak to you about Elgar.”
Demos was and wasn’t surprised. Elgar was Balthazar’s Childe. But he was also very old yet Demos was definitely getting protective papa vibes from Balthazar.
“What do you have to say? If you wait a moment, you can say it in front of him,” Demos rumbled.
“Ah, you think that I am like Lawson who would interfere with his Children in negative ways,” Balthazar guessed, or likely, knew.
Having Lawson as his Master had made it dangerous to grow too attached to anyone lest Lawson do something to them if he disapproved. Demos had only allowed himself to get so close to Ryder because he had sensed from the first that this was a man to whom he would always owe his loyalty and Ryder had been strong enough to take Lawson if need be.
“I don’t hide things from people I care about,” Demos said. “So know that whatever you tell me, I’ll tell Elgar.”
Balthazar actually smiled genuinely. “I have to admit thatmostpeople hide things from everyone despite their best intentions. But you–you actually mean that and–for the most part–follow through. Besides, unless I truly messed with your mind, Elgar would know what I spoke to you about anyways.”
“Yet you’re still here when he is not,” Demos pointed out.
A nod. “Yes, because sometimes it is easier to say things when the person you’re saying them about is not present. Especially when I want to say things clearly and without contradiction.”
“I see. Well, go ahead. Talk.”
Balthazar tented his fingers, balancing the knob of his cane between his palms, as he paced. “Elgar is… special.”
“Yep.”
“Elgar has suffered a great deal.”
“So I’ve heard. He hasn’t really talked about it yet but–”
“He doesn’t speak of it. I keep finding out surprising and awful things every once in a while and I can read minds!” Balthazar grimaced.
“Some things take time to surface,” Demos said, feeling more warmth towards Balthazar for his evident distress on Elgar’s behalf.
“The point I am trying to make is that Elgar is still… surfacing,” Balthazar explained. “And it would be very easy to have a setback.”
“You think I could set him back?” Demos’ voice was decidedly chilly.
“Not on purpose.” Balthazar waved away the suggestion. “But you have a reputation, Demos.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Areputation?”
“How shall I put this? Love them and leave them. One and done. Casual. And there isnothingwrong with that. I was quite the same until Christian,” Balthazar said.
“If there’s nothing wrong with that then why–”
“You cannot do that with Elgar,” Balthazar cut him off and the silver eyes drilled into him. The foppish lord was gone and the Immortal was very present. “Right now if you end this, Elgar will be disappointed, but he will rally and go on as before. Butif you pursue this, whether as a friendship or more, it cannot be like what you’ve had with others.”
“I am friends with most of my exes, Balthazar. Even those I’m not close to anymore are perfectly fine without me. We were all clear what we were getting into,” Demos said with a touch of defensiveness. “I might becasualas you say in terms of my commitment to my lovers, but I am not an asshole. I care for them. I care for each of them even now. That I have not found someone or someones to settle with as you have does not make me any less of a partner.”
“Elgar will know what you want and he will give it to you even at the expense of himself. And he will mourn forever when you end it regardless of what he says. Believe me, I know,” Balthazar sighed.
“Look, I don’t think you’re giving Elgar enough credit,” Demos pointed out. “I get that you’re very protective of him, but he’s older than both of us combined. This life anyways. He can make his own decisions.”
“He’s spent most of that time underground with my skull.” Balthazar cleared his throat.
“He had a whole existence before that, Balthazar. He was your Second. The greatest Whisperer of all time so they say,” Demos reminded him. “I don’t know what–if anything–will develop between him and I. He’s not like anyone I’ve ever met and, I admit, that intrigues me no end.”
“He is precious.” Balthazar hugged himself. “He is not some interesting passing fancy. He is brittle and brilliant. Demos, you can have most anyone, but Elgar… Elgar has been so hurt. You are the first person he has shown an interest in. And while I don’t think you’re a cad, I know that you are not certain of your own intentions towards him.”
“He is precious. And I don’t intend to treat him as anything less. But I don’t think ending whatever this could be betweenhim and I is fair to him either,” Demos argued, feeling a tightening in his chest at the thought. “He reached out. He wants to do this. He knows what he’s risking. Are you going to shove him back into his hole because you’re afraid for him?”
