Page 8 of Elemental Hope (Warlocks #2)

“Don’t let him hit me, okay?” Damon’s voice trembled. “And Evrain has to promise not to zap me.” He folded his arms.

“You’re in no position to argue with anyone, boy.” Nathaniel pulled Damon’s arms away from his chest then laid them on the table. He encircled one slender wrist with his hand. “Do as you’re asked.”

“Not a boy.” Damon didn’t attempt to move his arm.

“Fine.” He stared at the table rather than at Dominic or Evrain.

“I was sixteen when I fell for Symeon. It was a ridiculous crush, but he was so…enigmatic. He hooked me good and lured me in with promises of power and wealth when all he really wanted was a willing body to channel through. I loved him and that was enough for it to work. To him I was a tool and a convenient ass to screw whenever the urge took him.”

Dominic shuddered. He’d had experience of Symeon at first hand. He’d witnessed the way Symeon had treated Damon and Damon was right. Any love between them had been one way. Dominic doubted Symeon even had the capacity for love.

“When Evrain defeated Symeon that night…I had no idea what to do. He’d held me in thrall for so long, I’d lost my identity.

If I didn’t obey him, he hurt me. Sex became punishment.

When he took Dominic I hoped he might switch his attention, but you resisted him and he took his anger out on me.

I admit, I wanted revenge, so I helped him.

Then that night, everything went to hell. ”

Nathaniel stroked Damon’s wrist. “Slow down. Speak clearly. Symeon doesn’t control you any longer. You’re safe here.”

Damon sniffled. He cast a quick, anxious glance at Evrain.

“I didn’t have anywhere else to go. I went back to the property Symeon used to hold Dominic.

He wasn’t there and he didn’t turn up for a long time.

I don’t know where he went, but when he did come back I hid from him in the attic then ventured downstairs.

I think I could have stood directly in front of him and he wouldn’t have noticed.

He was obsessed with Evrain, screaming and yelling about what he was going to do to him, but he couldn’t even light a candle. His power was utterly depleted.”

“Symeon Malus without his power is incredibly dangerous.” Gregory massaged his temples. “Because he’ll do anything to get it back. Something we should have considered when we left him alive.”

“He started making calls. I caught the name Imelda. She leads the Octis Coven, I’m sure of it. He made arrangements to meet with her and when he hung up he was smiling.” Damon shuddered. “I never want to see that expression again.”

“He got out of the house then made his way here. Nathaniel caught him skulking outside when he arrived earlier,” Coryn explained.

“I wasn’t skulking,” Damon protested. “I was just working out what to say when I knocked on the door. I didn’t think I’d be welcomed with open arms.”

Evrain wiggled his fingers and Damon shied away. His chair tipped backward but Nathaniel righted it before he could fall.

“Stop that, Evrain,” Dominic admonished. “It took courage to come here, even if it was self-serving.”

“I don’t have anywhere left to go,” Damon reiterated. “I have no money and no friends. I relied on Symeon for everything, he made sure of that.” He wiped his nose on the back of his hand.

“Forewarned is forearmed,” Evrain said. “But I’m still not convinced these people are as dangerous as you all seem to think they are.”

“If Symeon catches you unawares, Evrain, with Octis boosting his power, he could block you. Not permanently, but long enough to overpower you.” Gregory steepled his fingers. “You’re not invincible. None of us are.”

Nathaniel nodded. “It’s true. Believe me, if the Octis Coven gets hold of you those bitches won’t be happy with just one vial of blood. You’ll become their source of wealth and they’ll never let you go.”

“Well, that’s…depressing.” Evrain sighed. “There’s nothing we can do this evening, so what happens next?”

“I think Coryn and I will return to our hotel,” Gregory announced. “Nathaniel, perhaps you would care to join us for dinner? We can discuss our options for keeping Dominic and Evrain safe.” He pushed his chair back.

“Don’t you think that’s something we should be involved in?” Evrain asked.

“No. You and Dominic can take common sense precautions. We need to consider the bigger picture. There may be leverage we can utilize.”

Nathaniel nodded. “Agreed. Felix is probably spitting nails by now, sitting out in the car. A meal with agreeable company is just what we need.”

“Um, what about him?” Dominic gestured at Damon.

“He’ll be coming with me,” Nathaniel said decisively. “I need a new project.”

“Hey! I’m not a project,” Damon complained. “What if I don’t want to come with you?”

“You are badly in need of a spanking,” Nathaniel declared. “Something I’ll be only too happy to administer here and now if you don’t do what you’re told. Or perhaps you’d enjoy displaying your bare ass while I turn it pink?”

Damon gaped. “I don’t… You can’t…”

“Move it, boy, or I’ll leash your dick and drag you out of here.”

Damon licked his lips, eyes wide.

“I think he quite likes that idea,” Dominic muttered to no one in particular. “Are all you warlocks Doms?”

Coryn gave his shoulder a light squeeze.

“Yes, they are. Which means they need us to keep them under control.” He grinned.

“They like to think they’re in charge, but we know better.

Mind you, I think even Nathaniel will have his hands full with Damon.

That young man’s submissive streak doesn’t seem that wide to me. ”

“Oh, I think he’ll cope.” Dominic watched Nathaniel herd Damon toward the door. “He’s probably just what Damon needs.”

“They’ll be good for each other, I think.” Coryn gave Dominic a hug. “Look after each other, Dominic. Don’t allow Evrain to underestimate the danger you’re both in.”

“I won’t.”

Dominic and Evrain said their goodbyes and everyone left with a promise to be back within the next couple of days. Dominic tried to quell his sense of anxiety. If this problem could get two experienced warlocks riled up it wasn’t something he could just forget.