“Lunch break’s over. Time to get back to work. Sorry, guys.” Talking to the birds didn’t seem weird. He had a whole new perspective on nature since meeting Evrain. He stood, scattering a few crumbs, then downed the last of his juice. Making sure he had all his trash with him, he headed back to the van. On the road toward town, he noticed two women. Their presence wouldn’t have attracted his attention but they weren’t moving or talking, just staring in his direction, which seemed strange. A few months before and he wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but Evrain had taught him to be suspicious and to trust no one. Dominic fingered his pendant. He put his trash in the van, giving the women a chance to move on. When he turned to see if they were still there, they hadn’t moved. He stared back at them, then started to walk toward them with purposeful strides. As one, they turned and moved away, taking the first side street they came to. When he got there, there was no sign of them. The scattered houses and array of mature trees provided plenty of cover. They could be hiding anywhere and he didn’t have time to go searching for them.
Walking back to his van, Dominic pulled out his cell phone. He called Evrain, giving him a quick description of what had happened.
“I want you to come home, Dominic. Right now.”
Dominic rolled his eyes. “Calm down, Evrain. I can’t do that. I’ve got two more clients to see this afternoon and I won’t let them down.”
Evrain cursed under his breath, just loud enough for Dominic to catch. “What have I told you about obedience?”
Dominic’s dick twitched at Evrain’s tone. He sighed. “They’ve gone, Evrain. I’m wearing the star and I’ll be careful. Please don’t make me come back.”
“If I insist, will you do as you’re told?”
Dominic shifted his feet. He wanted to say no, that he was a grown man and quite capable of making his own decisions. Deep down, though, he knew he couldn’t disobey Evrain. There was silence for a moment then Dominic whispered, “Yes.” He could picture the smirk on Evrain’s handsome face and shook his head in wry admission of defeat. He pulled his keys from his pocket, expecting to be ordered home, and carried on walking to the van.
“Very well. You can stay.” Evrain didn’t sound happy. “Ring me after your next job and keep your eyes open.” He disconnected without waiting for Dominic’s response.
“Wow, I’m being trusted to be a grown-up.” Dominic smiled. He knew how hard it must have been for Evrain to grant this concession. He understood his protectiveness. Evrain inhabited a scary world that he was still new to, and Dominic knew he felt guilty about dragging him along. He’d already suffered at the hands of Symeon Malus. Evrain just wanted to make sure he never had to experience anything like that again. Dominic touched his collar-length hair. He’d been physically altered by an evil warlock. No wonder his lover was paranoid about his safety.
His next job, in the neighboring town, was uneventful. Once he was done, Dominic dutifully made the call Evrain had requested even though nothing had happened. He was beginning to think Evrain’s caution was unwarranted. But later, as he was clearing up at the end of his final job mowing a massive lawn the size of a football field, he saw the two women again. They were a little farther away and he had to squint into the sun to see them, but it was definitely the same two people. They just stood and stared at him, not moving.
“Fuck, it’s like a scene from Stepford,” Dominic muttered. As he went to press the speed-dial button on his phone, it started playing Witch’s Promise by Jethro Tull.
“Evrain.” Dominic answered the call.
“They’re there again, aren’t they?” Evrain’s voice was cold and calm, but Dominic caught a hint of something else in his tone—fear.
“How did you know?”
“I felt your anxiety.”
Dominic didn’t ask how that was possible. “They aren’t doing anything, just standing there watching me. I’m coming home now.”
“No detours, Dominic. I’ll expect you shortly.”
“I’m fine, Evrain. I’ll be back soon.” Dominic disconnected the call. He loaded a few tools into the van, looking nervously over his shoulder. The two women were still there, unmoving but managing to exude an aura of malevolence. He didn’t know why he felt that way—they were completely nondescript and had done nothing to suggest they meant him harm—but somehow he knew they did.
* * * *
Evrain gripped the phone so hard the keys pressed indentations into his fingers. He wanted nothing more than to go after Dominic, find him and bring him home. He hated being apart from him but now, when he was in danger once again, the separation was unbearable. Channeling had created an emotional link between them and it was becoming stronger all the time. He could feel when Dominic was happy, when he was sad and most strongly when he was scared. The last made Evrain sick to his stomach but he had a house full of people, one of whom had not been invited.
He’d gone outside to make his call in private but now returned to the cottage kitchen. The room that seemed cozy when it was just him and Dominic became overcrowded with four people around the table. Gregory and Coryn sat at one end. Nathaniel Alberich lounged on one side, his hand clamped around the neck of the unwelcome guest seated next to him.
“Dominic is on his way home. Perhaps now, Damon, you could explain what the hell you’re doing here?” Evrain snapped. “Or do you have some kind of death wish?”
Damon cowered in his seat. “Do you think I’d be here if I had any other choice?”
Nathaniel gave him a light cuff to the head, ruffling his hair. “Mind your manners. You’re lucky I didn’t blast you out of existence.”
“I wasn’t doing nothing.”
“Anything. I wasn’t doing anything.”
“What are you, the grammar cop?”
“No. I’m the warlock who’s going to tan your hide if you don’t start explaining yourself. I came here for a sociable visit with friends. I didn’t expect to have to drag your sorry ass out of the woods, ruining my best pair of Ferragamos in the process.” Nathaniel scowled in the direction of his muddy boots.
“Where’s your boyfriend gone?” Damon hunched his shoulders.
“Felix is my driver. He’s waiting in the car, probably listening to dire country music and snacking on the knucklebones of boys who can’t control their mouths.”
“Not a boy. Your gorilla hurt me.”
“No, he didn’t. If he’d wanted to do that, we’d be looking for supplies of O Negative about now. You fell over your own feet then landed face down in a nice soft layer of rotting vegetation. Now, stop avoiding the subject. What are you doing here?”
Evrain listened with interest. A connection already seemed to be developing between Nathaniel and Damon and their interplay was intriguing. He tried to examine Damon objectively. He was slight with dark hair that curled at the ends. His grey eyes were so shadowed they were almost black. There were traces of half-healed bruises on his face and from the stiff way he held himself, Evrain guessed there were more beneath his clothing. He was pretty, in a haunted, waifish kind of way. It was difficult to imagine what Symeon might have done to him.
“How old were you?” Evrain asked. “When…”
“When Symeon sank his claws into me?” Damon dug his teeth into his already-abused lower lip.
Evrain nodded.
“Sixteen. I was with him six years.” He shivered. “I’m not here to make excuses but I would like to make up for what I did if I can.”
“No one here will hurt you.” Evrain gestured for him to continue. “Tempting though it is.” He didn’t think Damon deserved to be let off too easily. Not yet.
Damon took a deep breath. “Have any of you heard of Imelda Krenick?”
“The self-proclaimed leader of the Octis Coven,” Gregory announced. “Nasty bunch.”
“Octis Coven?” Evrain had never heard of it, or them.
“Group of power-crazy bitches who give witchcraft a bad name. The worst kind of self-serving sorority, in
terested in nothing but furthering their own interests, whether that be wealth, power or influence. All three if they can manage it.”
“They sound like a charming bunch,” Evrain said.
“And Symeon is working with them.” Damon stared, unblinking, at Evrain.
“There can only be one reason for that.” Gregory frowned.
“Agreed,” Nathaniel narrowed his eyes.
“Perhaps one of you would like to enlighten the rest of us?” Evrain’s voice was tinged with sarcasm. That earned him hard looks from both Nathaniel and Gregory. He sighed. “I don’t need both of you treating me like a child. I get enough of that already.”
“It would be better if we waited for Dominic,” said Gregory. “Then we won’t have to go through the whole sordid tale twice. I’m sure Damon would prefer not to have to explain himself more than once.”
“How do we even know if he’s telling the truth?” Evrain glared in Damon’s direction. “He’s hardly proved himself trustworthy so far.”
“I’ll know if he lies,” Nathaniel stated with certainty. “If he does, he’ll regret it.”
Damon gulped. He edged his chair a few inches away from Nathaniel, who grinned. Evrain was reminded of a wolf he’d seen at a wildlife park back in Scotland—one who’d just been presented with a bloody carcass. He checked his watch, then his phone in case there were any more messages from Dominic, but there was nothing. His skin itched. He shoved his chair back because pacing had to be better than sitting. The window panes rattled in a sudden squall.
“Control your emotions, Evrain. Dominic will get here as quickly as he can.” Gregory tried to soothe him but Evrain didn’t want to be pacified. He wanted Dominic in his arms where he belonged.
“You’re very fortunate to have found your soulmate, Evrain,” Nathaniel said. “I haven’t been so lucky yet.”
“Oh, I’d assumed that Felix…”
“No.” Nathaniel chuckled. “Though he would be amused to hear it.”
“So how do you control your power?” Evrain asked. “I could barely manage to light a candle before I was able to channel through Dominic.”
“No,” Gregory snorted. “He just blew things up.”
“I hope you don’t mind me asking?” Evrain scowled at his godfather.
“Not at all.” Nathaniel drummed his fingers against his thigh. “Over the years, I’ve learned to filter the energy through multiple people. Unless they are particularly sensitive, they feel nothing because the load is shared, the power spread thinly. It’s not perfect. A single channel would be much more effective but it allows me to manage the winds in the way I need.”
Evrain was impressed. It must have taken great self-discipline for Nathaniel to manage his power in the way he had.
“I have enough trouble channeling through one person,” he admitted.
“Because you love Dominic and you don’t want to hurt him?”
“Yes.” Small talk could only distract Evrain for so long, however interesting it was. “Where is he, damn it?”
“I’ll take a walk down the lane.” Coryn stood up. “I’ll meet Dominic and explain what’s happening. He won’t want to walk in on all this unprepared.”
“I should go!” Evrain moved toward the door.
“You will not.” Gregory banged the table. “Exposing yourself when you’re in this mood would be dangerous. You stay put.”
Evrain felt like stamping his foot but he caught Nathaniel’s knowing smirk. Some of his frustration dissolved as he realized how petulant he was being.
“One of these days I may just have to paddle your behind,” Gregory threatened.
Damon giggled. Nathaniel gave Damon’s ear a sharp flick. “Quiet, brat.”
Evrain shook his head and sighed. “Save your energy for Coryn. I’ll behave.”
Gregory grunted. “And I just spotted a pig flying past the window. I could use a drink. Show me where the mulling spices are and I’ll heat some wine. Agatha always did know how to magic up a good brew.”
“At least you didn’t suggest a pot of tea,” Evrain snarked.
“And I thought you British folk lived on the stuff,” Nathaniel said.
“Ninety-nine percent of the population probably couldn’t function without it. I’m an anomaly.”
“You can say that again,” Gregory chuckled.
Nathaniel burst out laughing. Evrain decided that he was outnumbered, outgunned and that silence was the better part of valor.
Chapter Four
Dominic pulled up in his usual spot then put the van in park. He rested his forehead on the steering wheel and took a deep breath, relieved to be home. A tap on the window nearly scared him out of his wits. His heart pounded until he saw that it was Coryn. He opened the door, giving Coryn an embarrassed smile.
“You startled me. I’m afraid Evrain has me a bit spooked.”
“Sorry.” Coryn gave his shoulder a comforting pat. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Why? No, don’t tell me. I can imagine.” Dominic scrambled out of the van, relieved his legs held him without shaking.
“When he’s worrying about you, young Evrain is a major pain in the ass. Gregory almost had to chain him down to stop him driving to your last job to get you.”
“Gregory needs a gag spell to use on him.”
“Oh, he has one of those.” Coryn winked, making Dominic a little more at ease. Coryn had that effect. He exuded calm. “I might have to suggest it.”
“What’s going on, Coryn?” Dominic asked. “I saw two mildly strange women a couple of times, that’s all. Why all the panic? For all I know they might just have a thing for sweaty gardeners.”
“For God’s sake, don’t even suggest something like that to your boyfriend unless you want to kick off the apocalypse. Let’s get you back to the cottage before Evrain starts blowing things up. Gregory will explain everything.”
Dominic decided it was best not to push Coryn any further. For a while, they strolled along the path to the cottage in companionable silence.
“Is Nathaniel Alberich here yet?” Dominic asked.
“He is. He arrived a while ago and brought a surprise guest with him. He found Damon lurking in the trees.”
“What?” Dominic had so many questions but Evrain was waiting at the cottage door, wind whipping his dark hair into disarray. The violent gusts died as soon as he caught sight of Dominic.
“Do you even know where the accelerator pedal is on that bloody van? Does it have some kind of limiter? Or perhaps you stopped to meditate on the properties of oregano.”
Dominic looked at the twigs and leaves strewn all over the garden and realized just how agitated Evrain must have been. He opted for diplomacy. “I’m sorry. If I’d known how worried you were, I would have broken all the speed limits and red lights to get back here.”
“No, you wouldn’t, because that would have been dangerous.”
“There’s no arguing with you, is there?” Dominic found himself wrapped in strong arms, tight enough that he was going to have bruises. “You have a really strange way of pronouncing oregano. And I’ve never meditated in my life.”
Evrain grunted and hugged him harder.
“Evrain, he’s safe.” Gregory, sounding impatient, called from the doorway. “For goodness sake, let him go and come inside.”
Evrain scowled but released his hold. He kept a proprietary arm around Dominic’s shoulders as they went inside and Dominic found he craved the continued contact. The room was saturated with the aroma of mulling wine and for a moment Dominic was distracted as he tried to identify various spices. Then he took in the people seated at the table. He froze.
“I hardly believed Coryn when he told me. What the hell is he doing here?” He stared at Damon, hands clenching into fists. “The last time I saw him, he punched me in the face. He had a chain around my neck. Then he tried to attack Evrain with a knife!” He took a determined step forward. Damon cowered in his seat, lower lip trembling.
&n
bsp; “We’ll get to that but fuck, you’re sexy when you’re defending me!” Evrain said, sounding pleased.
“Scary, not sexy,” Damon muttered.
“Evrain, perhaps introductions are in order?” Gregory’s tone was all reprimand.
Dominic realized that there were other people in the room. His face heated and suddenly the floor was the most fascinating place to look. He was hyperaware of his grass-stained clothes and work-tousled hair. As if sensing his discomfiture, Evrain cupped the nape of his neck and squeezed.
“Dominic, I’d like to introduce Nathaniel Alberich.” There was a scrape of wood against stone. Across the table, Nathaniel stood and gave a slight bow. “Nathaniel, this is my partner, Dominic Castine.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Dominic.”
Nathaniel was a handsome man. He had a similar aura of power to Gregory, holding himself with confident certainty. It seemed all warlocks were cut from the same cloth. He made Dominic feel shy and nervous.
“Um, hi.” Dominic managed a brief smile.
Nathaniel nodded as if acknowledging Dominic’s suitability as a warlock’s partner. Dominic couldn’t help but feel he’d just passed some kind of test.
With Evrain’s gentle encouragement and a nod from Coryn, Dominic sat at the table, though his seat was a bit too close to Damon for his liking. Gregory ladled spiced wine into goblets then passed them out. Damon clutched his so tightly his knuckles went white. The aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon and wine filled the room, at odds with the atmosphere of dread that seemed to envelop all three warlocks. Dominic sat and waited for the bad news.
“You are both already aware that there are very few powerful warlocks on the planet.”
Gregory paused and Dominic wondered at the fact that three of those warlocks were sitting right there in the room with him. The world was a peculiar place, with layers and depths he had never imagined. He focused on Gregory’s face and his lips as they moved.
“However, there are considerably more witches. Most are completely benign, with only traces of elemental ability. Some are more powerful—like your grandmother Agatha, Evrain, who was a strong earth witch. None have strength in more than one element—that power is limited to men—and even then they cannot command fire or air. There exists a very small minority who object to that distinction.” Gregory sipped his wine. “Over the centuries those few have come together to form a Coven of sorts—though it’s insulting to the majority of witches to give it that name—an affiliation of witches with similar dispositions. It’s currently known as the Octis Coven.”
Elemental Hope Page 4