Page 34 of Elemental Love (Warlocks #1)

Chapter sixteen

E vrain came too suddenly, aware that somebody was in the room with him.

“It’s eleven o’clock, Evrain.” Coryn gently shook him into wakefulness.

“You need to get up. You have plenty of time but Gregory and I have to leave now. We must make sure we get to the glade before Symeon. Try not to worry, okay? You won’t be able to see us, but we will be there.

” Coryn gave his arm a soft pat then slipped away.

Evrain levered himself out of bed. He didn’t feel groggy, just a little disconnected.

It was as if the real world had been suspended, frozen in a little bubble of time while this business between himself and Symeon played out.

He took a quick shower, dried off then pulled on his clothes.

He chose an all-black outfit of T-shirt and leather jacket over jeans.

Symeon wasn’t the only one who could be melodramatic and Evrain wanted to make an impression.

Down in the kitchen, he ate a snack of bread and cheese because Gregory had told him to eat something, however nervous he felt.

It proved to be good advice because the simple food settled his stomach.

At eleven-thirty exactly, he set off down the lane.

The summer night was clear, the air crisp and chill enough that his breath steamed.

The sky was a black velvet blanket pierced with the tiny twinkles of a few scattered stars but there was no moon.

During Evrain’s childhood stays at the cabin, Aggie had often taken him to Inkcap Glade.

Usually at dawn, with glittering dew heavy on the grass.

At night there was a whole different atmosphere.

Forbidding was the word that came into Evrain’s head as he walked firstly along the river, then into Belsevere Wood.

The wood was a tangle of shadows and gloomy darkness, hidden away from the world about it by saplings and shrubs that were contorted and intermingled to form a dense, virtually impenetrable maze.

The ancient oaks grew gnarled and twisted, their limbs reaching out with grasping hands.

Underfoot, a thick carpet of leaf litter decayed slowly, giving it a spongy feel that sucked Evrain’s feet down and soaked his boots.

Evrain followed a barely visible path through the trees.

The short walk had a calming effect, and by the time he reached Inkcap Glade, Evrain felt controlled enough to face Symeon without losing his temper.

There was little light but Evrain had perfect night vision, one advantage of being a warlock.

Despite the fact that he could see everything with remarkable clarity, there was no sign of Coryn or Gregory and he knew they would not be seen unless they chose to be.

He sat on a fallen trunk and waited, fiddling with the gold band around his wrist.

Symeon was fifteen minutes late. No doubt a deliberate ploy to get Evrain worked up.

A torch flickered through the trees and Damon appeared first, coming from the opposite end of the clearing.

He held a lead that ended in a choke chain around Dominic’s neck.

Evrain swallowed—Dominic looked so desperate.

His hands were cuffed behind him and he moved as if he were in pain.

He was wearing a pair of old overalls and no shoes, his bare feet dirty and grazed.

He glanced up and met Evrain’s eyes. At that moment, Evrain knew that Dominic’s body might be battered and bruised but his spirit was firmly intact.

Even in the darkness, he could see the spark of flame behind the sapphire blue.

God, he loved those eyes. He would do anything to keep Dominic safe.

Evrain blamed himself entirely that Dominic was in this position.

It was his fault that Dominic had been hurt.

More than anything he wanted time to get to know him properly.

He craved the kind of connection that Gregory and Coryn had, a love that ran deeper than passion, the kind of love that permeated every drop of blood, every nerve and fiber of their bodies.

If the night played out to plan, he would get that time.

Symeon had dressed for the occasion in an ankle-length black coat and pointed boots. His hair gleamed and his black eyes glittered like chips of frozen jet. He took up a position opposite Evrain and pointed with his cane.

“Evrain. I hope you are going to behave yourself? I wouldn’t want this night to get…unpleasant.”

His tone was so patronizing that Evrain’s resolve to stay calm wavered. Storm clouds began to gather above the glade and the wind whipped through the leaves of the surrounding trees. Symeon cast a nervous glance up and banged his cane on the ground.

“Control yourself, boy. On your knees. Show subservience to your betters,” Symeon said to Evrain.

Evrain took a deep breath. He stood and took a couple of paces toward Symeon.

He pushed up his sleeve a little so that the gold around his wrist was clearly visible, then did as he’d been told and knelt.

Moisture immediately soaked through the knees of his jeans.

An ominous rumble of thunder echoed across the sky.

Dominic wanted Symeon to know that, even with his powers damped by gold, he was a force to be reckoned with.

“No!” Dominic’s shout was cut off as Damon yanked on the chain around his neck, but he fought him. “Don’t do it, Evrain! I consent, do you understand? I consent!”

This time Damon punched him, knocking him to the ground and into silence.

Evrain smiled. Just a small smile but enough to make Symeon take a pace back. He yanked off the bracelet and threw it to one side. Elemental energy rushed through his body. He raised one hand and twisted his fingers. “I love you, Dominic.”

Lightning rent the air and flashed into the glade as Evrain embraced his power and channeled through Dominic’s prone form.

It felt so good. He could sense every current in the air, every twig, every leaf, every animal waited on his command.

He could summon fire or flood, cause the earth to quake, whirl the winds into a tornado, but he didn’t.

With an immense effort of will he stilled the elements and his own mind.

“I will not attack you, Symeon. That’s exactly what you want me to do, isn’t it? Weaken myself with doubt. Leave myself open to your attack.”

Symeon looked absolutely furious. “Do it! Do it, you little upstart!” He stamped forward, looming over Evrain.

He wound a hand in Evrain’s hair and twisted, forcing his head back.

“I’m going to slaughter you slowly. Suck every molecule of power from your body, then make you watch as I fuck your lover until he bleeds.

You’ll feel every cut as I flay the flesh from your bones inch by inch. ”

“Charming.” Evrain smiled serenely. “What a fine example of warlock kind you are, Symeon.”

His scorn did nothing to improve Symeon’s temper. He drew back his hand. Evrain braced himself for the blow but before Symeon could strike, an invisible force flung Symeon away from him and pinned him to the ground.

Evrain got to his feet. Ignoring Symeon, he cast around anxiously, seeking Dominic. Damon had dragged him back toward the trees but just stood there staring as if he couldn’t quite believe what was happening.

Symeon forced his way to his feet, his face contorted with anger. “You dare to attack me, to go against everything you’ve been taught? There’s hope for you yet!”

“It wasn’t him, Malus, you pathetic excuse for a human being.” Gregory stepped into the clearing.

Evrain spotted Coryn hanging back by the trees.

“What is the matter with you? Are you so insecure that one untrained youngling threatens your manhood?” Gregory grinned.

“I believe you’ve met my godfather, Symeon,” Evrain taunted. “He’s not very impressed with you.”

“You are a disgrace to the craft and it’s time you learned to behave yourself,” Gregory said.

Evrain looked on in fascinated horror as Gregory and Symeon faced each other across the glade. They were less than twenty paces apart. Symeon’s lips were twisted into a snarl. Gregory stood still, utterly calm and implacable, waiting for Symeon to make the first move.

“I am just as powerful as you, Gregory. I fear nothing that you might attempt.” Symeon shook his head mockingly. “You are deluded if you think I’ll run from you.”

“Oh, I don’t want you to run, Symeon,” Gregory said. “But I will give you one last chance to leave before I make you wish that you had.”

Symeon laughed. “You don’t frighten me, old man. I’ll leave when I have what I came to get.”

“Evrain and Dominic are under my protection,” Gregory snapped. “Neither you nor I has the right to divert their destinies.”

“You always were a soft-hearted fool. Give me the boy and you’ll see no more of me.”

“You’ll be lucky to leave here with your life, Symeon.” Flickers of light surrounded Gregory’s hands.

Evrain ran to where Dominic lay. Damon knelt nearby—tremors wracked his body as Symeon channeled. Evrain crouched next to Dominic and shook his shoulder. Dominic moaned and opened his eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Stay down,” Evrain whispered, his eyes returning to the confrontation taking place in the glade. “Gregory is facing down Symeon.”

Gregory had moved forward and now stood directly in front of Symeon.

“Go back to the hole you crawled out of, Symeon.” Gregory whipped up his hand and struck Symeon a stinging blow across the face.

In the stillness of the glade the sound of the blow echoed. Symeon staggered back in surprise.

Then Gregory laughed. “You are pathetic. Go home.”

“Oh, this is not going to be pretty,” Evrain muttered. Symeon’s features were frozen in fury.

Dominic struggled into a sitting position. “I really hope you have a plan, Evrain. Symeon looks like he wants to fry the entire planet.”