Page 32 of Elemental Hope (Warlocks #2)

Dominic groaned. “You know, just for a moment I had forgotten about everything going on. It was nice while it lasted.” Dominic got out of bed.

He padded over to the window. With a jerk, he twitched the curtain aside and looked down the garden toward the gate.

He turned back toward the bed. “It seems that Imelda has called off her dogs for now. There’s no one there. ”

“That probably means that Gregory has made some kind of arrangement with her,” Evrain surmised.

“We’d better get dressed in case he shows up at the door.

Of course, if you don’t put some clothes on fast you’re unlikely to get out of this bedroom anytime soon.

” He leered. Watching Dominic without any clothes on was one of Evrain’s favorite pastimes.

They took it in turns to shower and dress.

Dominic went first then headed for the kitchen to put together a snack from whatever he could find in the cupboards.

Evrain took his time, wandering naked from the bathroom to the bedroom only to find Shadow spread out on the bed.

Evrain felt a strange need to cover up. He grabbed a T-shirt then held it over his groin.

Shadow groomed herself, her eyes following him as if he were a plump mouse.

“Grandma, is that really you?” Evrain felt stupid talking to the cat but he was already half convinced Agatha’s spirit inhabited the animal.

Shadow rolled onto her back, legs in the air, tail twitching.

“I’m going to take that as a yes.” He rubbed Shadow’s soft belly.

“Gregory knew all along. I think maybe I didn’t want to admit it, but I’m glad you’re here. Back to look out for me, huh?”

“Meow.”

“Or to keep an eye on me?” Purrs rumbled through the prone animal. “I’d appreciate you not lying in wait to catch me naked. Or Dominic. Got it?”

Shadow ignored him, apparently deciding it was time for a bath. She licked at one paw. Evrain grabbed his clothes then made his escape. Shadow had staked her claim on the bedroom and he wasn’t going to argue. He dressed on the landing then padded barefoot down the stairs.

“I defrosted some vegetable soup.” Dominic called. “When this…crisis… is over we are going to have to do the mother of all grocery runs. We’re out of almost everything.”

Evrain dissolved into laughter and found he couldn’t stop.

He wiped the tears from his eyes. “How did this happen? We’re discussing grocery shopping before facing a coven of blood-lusting witches while our possessed cat has turned out to be a voyeur.

” He collapsed into a chair. “It’s a dream sequence, isn’t it?

I’m going to wake up soon. Like one of those terrible soaps Grandma used to love. ”

“You’re getting hysterical,” Dominic said, placing a steaming bowl of soup in front of him. “There’s no bread left, I’m afraid.”

“That’s okay. My stomach’s churning anyway.”

“And what’s that about Shadow?”

“Never mind.” Evrain spooned up some soup. “Probably best you don’t know.”

Dominic shrugged before taking a seat with his food. He’d just lifted his spoon when Evrain’s phone rang. Evrain froze. “This is it, I suppose.”

“So answer it.” Dominic sounded a good deal calmer than Evrain felt. His skin itched. He snatched up the phone.

“Brookes.”

“That’s a strange way to answer the phone, Evrain.”

“Oh, hi, Gregory. Sorry. Wasn’t thinking. My brain probably decided I was in the office.”

“Are we on loudspeaker?”

“Should we be?”

“Well, it will save you repeating everything for Dominic.”

Evrain pressed the appropriate button. “Go ahead. We’re listening.”

“This won’t take long. I don’t think there’s any need for us to come back out to the cottage. I’ve made an arrangement with Imelda.”

Evrain swallowed. “Okay.”

“You will provide the blood she requires. In return, she will leave you alone. Members of the Octis Coven will observe. She has agreed that Nathaniel and I can also be present.”

“You trust her?”

“In this, I think I do. This way, she gets what she wants. The Coven witness her success, consolidating her position as leader. And she avoids any more destruction of Octis property. She won’t be so careless this time,” he said.

“Yesterday’s fiasco damaged the trust that the coven members had in her ability to act in their interest.”

Gregory’s words sent a chill through Evrain’s body. The situation was becoming more and more dangerous. “I’m concerned how they will react when they discover that all the trouble they’re going to is for nothing.”

“I don’t think we have any other option.”

“Well, it’s too late to change anything now. In a few hours it will all be over one way or another.”

“Very well. There’s a developed parking area on the south side of the highway at Beacon Rock. Do you know it?”

Evrain looked at Dominic, who nodded. “I don’t but Dominic does. We’ll find it.”

“We’ll see you there just before sunset. It’s set back from the road and little used in the evening. It’s neutral ground. Accessible to everyone and private enough for our purposes.”

“Very well. I want Nathaniel there to protect Dominic.”

“He’ll be there.”

“I want to spend some time scouting the area to make sure we have an escape route should we need it. So we’ll get there a bit earlier to check the spot out. You realize this won’t just be a case of using a sterile needle and a test tube, Evrain?”

“Not dramatic enough?” Evrain asked.

“A ceremonial knife will be used to open a vein and a small amount of blood will be allowed to drip into a copper goblet. You’ll have to be channeling at the time.

I suggest that the simplest thing to concentrate on would be the creation of a small flame.

Coryn will stand with Dominic because I may have to channel too.

Nathaniel will protect them both if it becomes necessary. ”

“As plans go,” Evrain said, “this one isn’t great but it’s the best we have.”

There wasn’t anything else to say. Evrain ended the call.

The remains of his soup had gone cold but he ate it anyway.

He pushed his dish away then reached for Dominic’s hand.

He wasn’t going to admit to being scared but Dominic was intuitive enough to know it.

Dominic’s touch and his understanding silence were comforting.

.