Page 32 of Elemental Love (Warlocks #1)

Damon crumpled instantly into a fetal position, clutching his groin with a squeal.

Dominic felt no sympathy—the little shit had been planning to rape him.

He raised the torch and gave Damon a firm knock on the back of the head, not hard enough for permanent damage, but enough to ensure that he wouldn’t be interfering for a while.

Dominic told himself that it was the merciful thing to do.

Unconscious, Damon wouldn’t be able to feel his bruised balls.

Dominic crept silently down the stairs, moving as quickly as possible.

The light Damon had left on was harsh, coming from a single bare bulb suspended above the stairwell.

Dominic guessed that it had to be three or four in the morning.

Symeon, if he was in the house, should be asleep and even if he woke, surely he’d think Damon responsible for any noise.

Dominic guessed that Symeon and Damon didn’t share a bed.

Damon would never have risked his illicit trip to the attic if that were the case.

Dominic had to try to find some clothes—if he could discover a way out of the house he could hardly run for help naked, although he would certainly do it if there were no other option.

On the next floor down, he discovered a bathroom and recognized the ache in his bladder.

He made quick use of the facilities, then took a few gulps of water at the sink.

He rubbed his wet hand over his face. The cold water certainly made him feel more alert.

He caught sight of his reflection in the cracked mirror over the sink.

Even in the dim light from the landing he could see that his hair was much longer, unfamiliar dark red waves tumbling past his shoulders.

His eyelashes seemed thicker, his eyes a shade brighter.

Despite the time that had passed he was still completely clean-shaven—there was no sign of stubble at all.

In fact his face felt smooth and soft when he touched his skin.

He examined himself with increasing horror as he realized that Symeon had done exactly what he’d said he would.

South of his eyes there wasn’t a single hair left on Dominic’s body.

Nausea roiled in the pit of his stomach.

Symeon’s casual abuse of his body was a violation of the worst kind.

His heart pounded. If Symeon could do this to him with such ease, what else was he capable of?

Dominic had to get out, and fast. He shouldn’t have stopped.

He forgot about searching for clothes and headed down the next flight of stairs as quickly as he could.

Every tiny creak sounded like thunder but he reached the hall without incident and the threadbare runner muffled his steps.

There was less light here. Damon had turned on only the single bulb and that was high above.

In the dim light, Dominic felt the front door with anxious fingertips.

There were two bolts, one at the top and another at the base of the door.

Working them back took an age. When he twisted the handle, the door still wouldn’t open.

His heart fell. He’d have to try to find his way to the rear of the property and seek another exit.

“Did you really think I would rely on manmade devices to keep this place secure? The metal is fused, as it is on every other external door. Only I can release it. There’s no way out,” Symeon’s smug voice sounded behind him as the hall flooded with light.

Dominic pressed himself back against the wall in despair—he’d been so close.

“I do hope you haven’t permanently damaged Damon. He does have his uses.” Symeon didn’t seem overly concerned.

Right on cue, Damon staggered down the stairs behind Symeon. He lunged toward Dominic, only to freeze in place.

“I will keep my overenthusiastic little friend away from you if you come with me quietly. If not, I’ll ensure that you are unable to move as he does whatever he wants to you.” Symeon tapped his ever-present cane on the floor.

Dominic knew when he was beaten. He allowed Symeon to handcuff him and didn’t resist as he was firmly gagged and prodded with the cane while he climbed the stairs back to the attic.

Symeon closed the door with a gloating smile, and Dominic sank to the floor.

The key turned in the lock, leaving him in darkness once again.

A single tear rolled down his face as he fought to control his emotions and beat back his sense of utter despair.

Dawn found Evrain pacing up and down in front of the fire.

After searching for Dominic’s truck, he’d returned home even more unsettled.

Dominic had told him he was okay, but it looked as if the truck had hit quite hard when it had crashed.

Now Evrain was concerned that Dominic might have serious injuries.

He had found Dominic’s phone and accessed the pictures he’d taken.

The house was just as Dominic had described but Evrain could tell that it was disguised by a glamor spell.

There was a slight glow outlining the edges of the building that would have been invisible to anyone but him or another warlock.

He yearned to take Symeon apart piece by bloody piece.

The man was a menace. He used his powers solely for his own benefit, something that went against everything Evrain’s grandmother and Gregory had drilled into him since he’d come of age.

“You should never use your abilities to harm another, no matter the provocation,” Gregory had lectured him one day. “There is always a cost for such action.”

“What kind of cost?” Evrain had asked, imagining withering away like the old man in Coven, one of his favorite films.

“Your own peace of mind. Use your power for harm and it will eat away at you for the rest of your life. You can defend yourself if the occasion arises, protect what’s yours, but use your imagination. There are ways to achieve your goals without directly attacking another.”

At the time, Evrain had been dubious. Now, with the man he loved in mortal danger, he could picture spearing Symeon Malus’ corrupt body with a lightning bolt without the slightest hint of guilt.

Dominic was his, body and soul, he could feel the strength of their connection even in his absence.

Their one night together had melded their destinies with a seal stronger than forged iron and Evrain couldn’t imagine the pain of losing him.

He froze as a knock sounded on the door, firm and determined, then relaxed as he realized that the wards around the cottage would have warned him about an unwelcome visitor. He flung open the door with a thought and managed a shaky smile for the two men that entered.

“I always knew that being your godfather would get me into trouble,” Gregory said.

Evrain accepted his warm embrace gratefully. Gregory didn’t change. The silver in his hair glinted in the firelight but his dark eyes still sparkled with vitality.

“Aggie reckoned you were a handful. Too bright for your own good and far too pretty. You do favor her in her youth…” Gregory sounded a little wistful as he turned to his companion.

“He does,” Coryn agreed.

Evrain gave Gregory’s husband an enthusiastic hug. “Coryn! Thank you so much for coming… I hoped… But this isn’t your fight. You got on a plane for me?” Tears welled in Evrain’s eyes. The tension of the previous twelve hours broke through the dam of his resolve.

Short iron-gray hair bristled above sharp blue eyes, the lines around them crinkling in sympathy.

“You’re my godson just as much as Gregory’s.

And anyway, I was hardly going to let him have all the fun without me!

” Coryn gazed at his partner with the gentle affection of a relationship that had spanned four decades.

“I just hope that Dominic and I get the chance to spend as many years together as you two have. I can’t bear to think about what Symeon might be doing to him.”

“Well, that’s why we’re here—to make sure that you have a long and happy, uneventful life together!

I can’t wait to meet the man who has captured your heart.

Aggie waxed lyrical about him on more than one occasion and I am most peeved that Gregory already got to meet him when I haven’t.

He must be very special.” Coryn took Gregory’s hand.

“Grandma saw Dominic and me as partners long before we even met, Coryn, but her intuition was spot on. I loved him from the first moment I set eyes on him.”

“How did he react to discovering your…heritage?” Coryn asked with a slight smile.

“He dug over the entire vegetable patch in a rain storm. I think it’s safe to say that he had a bit of difficulty processing the whole concept for a while. Aggie being a witch he had no problem with. He knows you’re a warlock too, Gregory, just not that you’re significantly more powerful than me.”

Gregory raised an eyebrow. “Only because I can channel through Coryn. I can feel the power in you, untapped and unrealized. It’s enormous. Far greater than my own. You haven’t channeled yet, have you?”

“No. Dominic knows what it is, what it means, but I don’t want to hurt him. I have more control just from being near him, that’s enough.”

“Oh, Evrain, your concern for him does you credit, but sooner or later you will have to channel,” Gregory said.

“You won’t be able to stop yourself, and you shouldn’t.

We are lucky, you and I, to have found such strong men to love.

If he loves you as much, Dominic will understand.

If he is as strong as I suspect he is, he will be able to handle the pain. ” Gregory kissed Coryn’s cheek.

“It’s not that bad,” Coryn said. “I barely feel a thing now, I think I’ve become immune over the years. Gregory’s power is so much a part of me—I’d feel odd if he ever stopped channeling now. Dominic will accept it, just as he accepts you.”