Page 22 of Elemental Hope (Warlocks #2)

“And you wouldn’t have me any other way.” Coryn pulled Gregory from the room. “Salve. Come on. Then we’ll take turns sitting with him.”

Dominic tossed and turned in sleep colored by vivid nightmares where patterned snakes crawled over his body, sinking their fangs in where they pleased.

Every now and again he was aware of a cool cloth resting against his burning forehead and the press of a glass against his lips.

When he finally regained full consciousness, Coryn’s smiling face was the first thing he saw.

The silver in Coryn’s hair glittered, giving him a halo of light.

“It’s sunny. What time is it?” Dominic got the words out despite his dry tongue.

“Around nine,” Coryn responded. “How do you feel?” He offered a glass of water so Dominic heaved himself into a sitting position.

“Like I’ve been chewed on by a bad tempered gator then spat out in small pieces.” He took a long drink before handing the glass back. “Thanks.” He lifted the quilt to look down at himself. “Holy crap!” He prodded his thigh experimentally. “Well, at least it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“Just think about the upside of this,” Coryn said.

“There’s an upside to being covered in magical doodles?” He raised his eyebrows in question.

“Evrain is going to have to touch every bit of you in order to absorb the potion.”

Dominic’s cock jerked. Heat flooded his body and he knew he must be blushing from knees to neck. He yanked the quilt a bit further up his body, ignoring Coryn’s laughter.

“You need to get yourself ready to leave then come down for some breakfast. Gregory is charcoaling some toast, I believe. No showering for obvious reasons.”

“Okay, I’ll see you downstairs.”

“Oh—and you might want to consider other preparations…” Coryn suggested.

“What do you…? Oh.” Realization dawned and Dominic’s skin heated even further.

“You passed out before the potion worked its way inside you. As Gregory mentioned yesterday evening, at some point it would be useful if you can persuade Evrain to make love to you. The transfer of the agrimony will work much quicker that way. I doubt you’ll have easy access to lube.”

“How the hell did I get myself into this?” Dominic muttered. “I understand, Coryn.”

Coryn’s expression was a cross between apologetic and amused. “Gregory wants to be away around mid-morning. He has another plan to make your capture seem more realistic.”

“I can’t wait to hear it,” Dominic mumbled but found he was talking to a closed door.

Coryn wasn’t kidding about the quality of Gregory’s cooking.

Dominic ended up tossing his efforts in the trash then constructing poached eggs on toast for all of them.

Shadow wound around his ankles, purring.

Nathaniel made coffee as his contribution, not hiding his interest in the patterns over Dominic’s skin.

“You can look, Nathaniel. I know you want to,” Dominic offered.

“An offer I can’t possibly refuse.” Nathaniel traced his fingers along Dominic’s arms. He examined his neck then lifted his shirt. “They’ve taken incredibly well, Gregory. You did good work here.”

“Dominic did the hard part.”

“It wasn’t fun,” Dominic admitted. “I hope it’s something I never have to go through again.” He slipped around Nathaniel to take his seat at the table. “I have an appetite, that’s for sure.” His stomach rumbled in agreement.

After they’d eaten and Shadow had consumed a sizeable dish of canned sardines, Dominic gave Gregory an enquiring glance. “So, what’s the plan?”

“Coryn and Nathaniel are going to leave first. I want Symeon to think we are trying to trick him into believing you’re leaving.

Nathaniel will borrow some of your clothes.

It’s fortunate you have similar builds and not too much of a height difference.

Do you have a hooded top, because your hair is a complete giveaway? ”

“Sure, but Symeon’s not going to fall for it.”

“I don’t want him to. I want him to think he’s being clever by not following Nathaniel and Coryn.

We’ll wait a half hour or so, then leave.

We’ll act as if we assume he’s gone after the others.

You pretend to have forgotten something.

I’ll continue on to the car. That’s when he’ll take you—if he’s going to. ”

“He will,” Nathaniel said. “Symeon’s arrogance is one of his many weaknesses. He’ll believe he’s outsmarted us and he won’t be able to resist taking his chance. He has too much riding on delivering Dominic to Octis not to.”

Fifteen minutes later, wearing their makeshift disguises, Nathaniel and Coryn stepped into the sunshine. It was just before mid-morning. They hurried down the path, trailed by Shadow, and Dominic soon lost sight of them.

“I hope they’ll be okay.”

“Nathaniel will keep a close eye on Coryn, don’t worry. I wouldn’t send him out there if I didn’t know Nathaniel could wipe Symeon off the face of the planet without even breaking a sweat.”

“So why hasn’t he?” The question came out before Dominic could stop it.

“Because he, like me, is not a cold blooded killer.”

“Sorry. I should connect my brain before I open my mouth.”

“It’s a natural question. If I, or Nathaniel, had dealt with Symeon years ago then you and Evrain would have been saved a great deal of trouble.

We’ve come close a few times, I can tell you, but I’ve never used my power to kill, and I hope I never will.

I imagine Nathaniel feels the same. That’s the difference between us and Symeon.

He has the ethics of a rattlesnake on crack. ”

Dominic nodded. “I get it. What do you think is up with the fur-ball? That’s the first time since she arrived that she’s shown any interest in going out.”

“Call of nature?”

“I don’t believe that any more than you do,” Dominic said. “You know something about that animal. Evrain did too. She’s not what she seems.”

“Talking of… She’s back.” Gregory opened the door just enough to let Shadow back inside. She immediately jumped into his arms, uttering a series of meows.

“So what does she have to say for herself?” Dominic asked, half joking.

“It’s warm. The mice are sleeping. Symeon is still in the woods waiting and there’s someone with him.” Gregory was absolutely serious.

Dominic had no reply. Shadow turned her green gaze on him and he could have sworn she was smiling.

He had no time to debate the merits of a supernatural pet because a few minutes later he and Gregory slipped down the path from Hornbeam Cottage, then into the lane.

They moved quickly, keeping to the edge of the path, using the shadows of the trees to conceal themselves as much as possible.

About halfway to the main road Dominic stopped, patting his pockets.

He tapped Gregory’s shoulder then whispered urgently in his ear for a few seconds.

After some gesturing and frustrated signing from the older man Dominic turned and jogged back toward the cottage.

He’d lost sight of Gregory around a bend in the path when a branch seemed to dip in the breeze to snag in his hair.

As he pulled away, the cord holding his protective amulet worked free and dropped the ground, nestling amongst the soggy leaves.

Dominic kept going as if he hadn’t noticed, though he was acutely aware of what was happening and how defenseless he now was.

He listened hard but he didn’t hear anyone approaching.

He reached the cottage gate wondering if all Gregory’s plotting and the pain he’d been through had been for nothing.

It was only when he had one hand on the gate that he noticed the sudden silence.

There was no birdsong and even the trees seemed to have stilled.

The snap of a twig was disproportionately loud.

He whirled around to get the briefest glimpse of Symeon’s evil smile.

He tried to scream, but a gloved hand closed around his mouth, crushing his lips.

He tasted the iron of his blood as he bit his tongue.

Someone, or something, grabbed hold of his arms, the grip like steel bands around his biceps.

A dark hood was pulled over his head, cutting off his sight and stifling his breath.

He fought hard, pulling away only to be captured again and pushed against the gate.

He tried to wrench his arms free then collapsed to his knees, becoming a dead weight.

It did no good. He was dragged along the ground, stones digging into his back and shoulders.

A pinpoint of pain pierced his thigh and within seconds the taste of blood and fear was replaced by comforting weightlessness.