Page 7 of Elemental Hope (Warlocks #2)

Chapter four

D ominic 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.

“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. ”

Dominic swallowed, imagining scenes of bubbling cauldrons and old hags in black pointy hats.

“Forget every preconceived idea you might have about witches, Dominic.” Gregory could apparently read minds.

“Octis is well financed, technologically adept and highly organized. They always have one plot or another on the go but nothing that has really affected us. This time they’ve gone too far.

Damon here tells us they’ve joined forces with Symeon Malus. ”

Evrain snorted. “How can Symeon be of any use to them? We left him virtually powerless.”

“One thing members of the Octis Coven can do is brew a good potion. They can probably restore Symeon’s strength, if temporarily. As long as he helps them, they will keep him supplied with the tonic he needs to stay strong.”

“But why?” Dominic was curious. “What can Symeon do for them that they can’t do themselves? Doesn’t he represent the very thing they hate?”

“He can battle another warlock.” It was Nathaniel who answered rather than Gregory. “It is common knowledge in our world that Gregory and I are allies. Neither of us have ever agreed with Symeon’s lust for power. On this continent Symeon is their only option.”

“I still don’t understand,” Dominic said. “Forgive the dense, non-magical one, but why would a bunch of witches want Symeon to fight another warlock? What would they gain?”

“Not any other warlock.” Nathaniel frowned as he responded. “They will want him to battle Evrain.”

Dominic’s confusion must have shown on his face. Nathaniel turned his gaze on Evrain. “They are after your blood, Evrain, and I’m afraid I mean that literally.”

Beneath the table, Dominic grabbed Evrain’s hand and squeezed it.

“A warlock’s blood is incredibly potent when it’s used in magical spells.” Coryn took up the story. “Because you are so powerful and young, Evrain, your blood is a prize worth any partnership, however corrupt. They can’t use Symeon’s, his power is only temporary. Gregory is too old.”

“You’re not old!” Dominic protested, directing his gaze to Gregory.

“Old enough,” Gregory replied. “I’m not nearly as strong as I used to be.”

“And I’m strong,” Nathaniel commented. “But only in air and earth. My abilities with fire and water are weak. Evrain, I’m afraid, is a gourmet temptation as far as the Coven is concerned because he is strong in all four elements.”

“Please stop talking about me like I’m some kind of snack,” Evrain griped.

“Hush.” Dominic smacked Evrain’s thigh. “Listen.”

Damon snickered. Evrain gave him a look that could freeze hellfire and Nathaniel cuffed him.

“Quiet, brat. You haven’t earned the right to enjoy yourself at other’s expense.”

Damon pouted but kept giving Nathaniel sideways glances.

“What can they do?” Evrain asked. “The cottage is warded well, Agatha made sure of that, and I’m quite capable of defending myself against Symeon. I’ve proved that once already.”

“Don’t get cocky, boy,” Gregory warned. “We don’t know what they’ll try, but the fact that they have people watching Dominic is worrying. You both need to be careful and vigilant.”

“Where did you get all this information from?” Dominic felt as though he was missing a page or two of the story. Everyone else was a Chapter ahead and he was still catching up.

“Damon,” Gregory said. “He…”

“Let him tell me.” Dominic cut Gregory off. “I want to hear it from him.”

Damon’s eyes widened. He chewed on a ragged, dirty fingernail.

Dominic examined him closely, noting the dark circles beneath his eyes, lank hair and pallid skin.

His cheekbones were sharper, as if he’d lost weight and his gaze darted from place to place, never settling anywhere for very long.

He couldn’t fight the pang of pity that conflicted with his need to consider Damon an enemy.