Page 25 of Elemental Love (Warlocks #1)

“You should take care, boy, you don’t want me as an enemy.”

Evrain sighed. “Please don’t threaten me, Symeon. I have no intention of interfering in your business interests. Leave me alone and I will accord you the same consideration.”

Symeon paced up and down. “I’m not sure that will be possible.

Every time you use the power, the world reverberates with your strength and you haven’t even begun to channel yet.

You are a threat to my peace of mind and I don’t like being threatened.

” He glanced around. “By the way, where is that gorgeous redhead of yours?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your sweet little boyfriend. Don’t be coy, I make it my business to know what you and your family are up to.”

“He’s none of your concern.”

“So you haven’t taken him yet?” That sounded like an accusation.

“That’s hardly something I’d share with you. My private life is just that—private.” Evrain’s voice was rough with anger.

“Take good care of him, Evrain. I would hate for anything bad to happen to him.”

Dominic’s stomach knotted at the barely veiled threat. He had heard enough and crept back up the stairs. It proved to be a timely move as he heard Evrain maneuver his visitor toward the front door.

“Get out, Symeon. If you go anywhere near Dominic, if you so much as touch a hair on his head, I swear you will find out exactly how powerful I am.”

Symeon laughed, a sound akin to nails scraping across a blackboard. “Goodbye, Evrain. We will meet again soon, I’m sure. Think about what I’ve said. I’m a far preferable ally than an enemy.”

The fact that Evrain shut the door gently was even more telling than if he had slammed it with force.

Dominic shot down the stairs and skidded to a halt in front of Evrain who was leaning back against the closed door.

All color had bleached from his skin, making the strange green of his eyes stand out even more than usual.

“Are you okay? You don’t look well.” Dominic reached out and touched Evrain’s arm. Evrain immediately clasped Dominic’s hand in a firm grip.

“I’m fine now he’s gone.”

“Who was he, Evrain? Another warlock, obviously.” Dominic allowed himself to be pulled into a hug.

“Someone I don’t want you anywhere near.” Evrain’s voice was coldly furious and the words snapped out like the crack of a whip.

“I’m a grown-up—I make my own decisions.” Dominic attempted to extract himself from Evrain’s arms with no success.

“Not in this. He’s dangerous. Stay away from him.”

Dominic began to protest but Evrain stopped him with a kiss.

He kissed him hard, encircling his waist with a strong arm and holding him close.

It was so different from the kiss they had shared earlier.

That had been a sensual exploration—this was rough, demanding and spoke of absolute possession.

Dominic found himself responding as Evrain wound his fingers through Dominic’s hair and tugged him even closer.

Dominic parted his lips to allow Evrain entry, accepting the thrusts of his tongue willingly.

Eventually Evrain loosened his grip and they pulled apart.

Evrain slipped his hand downward from Dominic’s waist to cup the curve of his ass.

“You’re mine. Every beautiful inch of you. Symeon does not get to look at you in the wrong way, let alone touch you. Do you have a problem with that?”

“I… No, I don’t think I do.” Dominic raised his eyes timidly, his face heating. “But you have to be honest with me. I’ll do what you say, but you have to tell me who he is and why he’s dangerous.”

“I don’t want to scare you.” Evrain frowned and pulled him into a secure embrace. “You are too important to me.”

“I’m not some delicate flower that needs protecting. I can look after myself.” He might not have magical powers but he wasn’t completely useless.

“You sound offended. I admire your spirit.” Evrain led him to the table and they both sat down. “I don’t doubt your courage, Dominic, but you would have no defense against Symeon. He is a warlock, like me.”

“Not at all like you from what I overheard,” Dominic said. “Let me make a drink and then we can talk properly. I brought milk and fresh coffee back from home so we can have the good stuff.”

Evrain’s eyes lit up. “I love you. You are the perfect boyfriend.”

It was a throwaway comment, but it still made Dominic’s mouth go dry. He’d never been in love so he wasn’t sure what he felt for Evrain but if love was tingling senses, a stomach full of knots and a sense of elation every time Evrain touched him, then he guessed he was a lost cause.

Dominic set up the fancy coffee machine, following Evrain’s directions. He jumped a little when it began to spit and hiss.

“It’s okay,” Evrain chuckled. “That’s normal. It always makes loads of noise as if producing a sublime brew is a battle for supremacy.”

“If you say so.” Dominic stood well back from the temperamental machine. When it finally went quiet apart from the gentle hiss of steam, he poured coffee, added milk then rejoined Evrain.

They sat at the table, which was scrubbed white with age, holding mugs of aromatic liquid.

Evrain breathed in deeply and gave a satisfied sigh.

“Thank you, Lord, for creating the coffee bean. This is truly a religious experience.” He took a small sip then paused thoughtfully.

“What I’m about to tell you my grandmother told me, so much of this I haven’t experienced first-hand yet.

I’ve no reason to doubt anything she told me.

Witches and warlocks have been around for thousands of years.

The power we wield manifests itself in various ways that range from healing ability, foretelling and weather manipulation through to elemental magic.

Healing has always been the most common—the rarest is elemental magic, which is only ever found in men. ”

“Do all warlocks use elemental magic?” Dominic could hardly believe he was even asking such a question.

“There are very few warlocks alive. Even fewer linked to the elements. I know of four in this country, including me. That’s not to say there aren’t more, but if they were active, they would be felt by others with the power.”

“And Symeon?”

Evrain frowned. “Symeon Malus is also one of the four. He’s very skilled.

My grandmother went to great lengths to hide my existence from him until I was old enough to be able to defend myself.

If he had found me as a child, I doubt I’d be here now.

It’s difficult to explain, but she tamped my ability until I came of age.

There was a wall between me and the power.

Cracks started to show when I reached my late teens but it wasn’t until my twenty-first birthday that the wall came down. ”

“That must have been terrifying.” Dominic couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to be told such news. To discover such a terrible secret.

“It should have been, I suppose. It was a shock, but deep down I always knew there was something different about me. I never really fitted in with my family. It manifested in something of a rebellious streak.” He grinned and for a moment Dominic saw traces of the mischievous youth he must have been.

“So when I found out, a few pieces of a lifelong puzzle slotted into place. My godfather, Gregory, is also a warlock. You’ve met him. ”

“Only that once. We chatted for a while. He seemed kind.” Dominic groaned. “Oh my God, I’m so stupid. That meeting was deliberate, wasn’t it? Another step toward Aggie setting us up together.”

“Very likely.” Evrain frowned. “I didn’t know my grandmother as well as I thought I did.

From the moment of my birth, she had plans for me.

All the visits here, holidays with Gregory, you…

All part of her master plan to keep me safe.

” He reached across the table and covered Dominic’s hand with his own.

“This isn’t the first time that Symeon has approached me, though he’s never come here before.

He’s telephoned, sent letters. I don’t think he would have the balls for meeting me face to face if Grandma was still alive. ”

“What does he want?”

“An alliance. At least that’s how he’s trying to sell it. He wants to use me. I’m untrained, malleable. He sees me as an easy target. He’s wrong.”

“After today, he might just realize that,” Dominic said, chewing on a fingernail.

“Don’t look so worried. The cottage is well warded and he would never try anything in public. Even Symeon isn’t so stupid as to expose our abilities to the world.”

“The wards didn’t help Aggie. What if he gets you alone?”

“He’ll try to kill me.” Evrain’s voice was icy calm. “Today’s little visit was just him confirming that I haven’t been tempted to stray from my grandmother’s path.” He stroked Dominic’s fingers and gripped his wrist lightly.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

Evrain’s black hair shimmered as he shook his head in response.

“Not for myself.” His grip tightened. Dominic didn’t try to pull away.

“But he could try to get to me through you. Symeon’s clever, I’ll give him that.

Perceptive. He must have been watching you for a while.

Not in person of course, that would be beneath him. ”

“You mean he might try to kill me? What possible threat could I be to someone like him? I haven’t noticed anyone following me around.”

The pressure on his wrist increased as if Evrain was afraid he might bolt.

“I have a lot of latent power, Dominic. If I was able to channel, it would make me untouchable.”

“And you could channel through me?”

“Not without your consent and not without love. I need more coffee if we’re going to continue this conversation.” Evrain rose, grabbed both their mugs then headed for the coffeepot. Dominic stroked his wrist where Evrain’s fingers had squeezed seconds before. He missed his touch already.

“So how does Symeon channel?” he asked as Evrain resumed his seat.

Evrain scowled and took a firm hold of Dominic’s wrist again. “He has a submissive little boyfriend called Damon who does anything he asks.”

“I can’t imagine someone like Symeon loving anyone but himself.”

“He doesn’t. Damon loves him, that’s all he needs. It doesn’t have to be a two-way thing.”

“Oh.” Dominic’s voice was so quiet it barely registered. He winced. The fingers around his wrist were squeezing to the point of pain.

Evrain noticed and released him. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Evrain wrapped both hands around his mug as if to stop them straying toward Dominic. “That won’t happen with us, Dominic. The feelings won’t be one-way.”

Evrain looked so serious and intense, Dominic had to reassure him.

“I can’t be certain because I’ve never been in this situation before, but I think…

I love you. I have since the first moment I saw you and you turned me inside out.

” Every muscle in Dominic’s body tensed as he waited for Evrain’s response.

His heart was pounding so hard he thought it might burst.

“I meant it when I said it earlier, though it wasn’t the most graceful admission of my feelings,” Evrain replied. “I love you too, and I am sure.”

“But we haven’t… I mean we’ve not even…” Dominic didn’t have the words. A finger against his lips silenced him.

“No, we haven’t.” Evrain pushed back his chair, then stood, holding out his hand. “And that’s something we need to change. Right now.”