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.
“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.
“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.
Chapter Five
Evrain closed the door behind them and whispered a few words over the lock. “An ant won’t get through there now, I’ve fused all the metal.” He turned and gave Dominic a speculative leer. “Now, what on earth are we going to do with what’s left of the evening?” He flickered his fingers and flames ignited in the hearth, casting an orange glow across the rug.
“Nothing, before I have a shower!” Dominic grimaced, “I’ve been working all day, remember?”
“Mmm. I love it when you smell of the earth. Makes me want to do wicked things to you.”
“You want that whether I’m clean or dirty.”
“True.”
“But it’s been a really long day. I want a hot shower, then food, then sleep. I don’t want to think about warring witches and warlocks until tomorrow and I can’t believe I’m saying that.”
Evrain opened his arms and Dominic walked into them. “I’m sorry, love. Your world has been turned on its head, hasn’t it?”
“Yours has too.” Dominic snuggled against Evrain’s body, absorbing his warmth.
“Yes. But when Agatha told me I was a warlock, everything fell into place for me. It was a like a fog had lifted and I could finally see the real world. You had everything you thought was real ripped away.”
“But I got you.” Dominic gazed into Evrain’s strange green-gold eyes. “Makes all the freaky shit worthwhile. I just don’t want you hurt.”
“It’s my job to protect you, not the other way around. And ‘freaky shit’? You are so overdue a spanking.”
Dominic’s cock twitched. “You wish.”
“I do. But I’ll allow you to shower first. You can prep for me while you’re up there. Unless you’d like me to come along and do that for you?”
“No!” Dominic needed a few minutes of alone-time, not just for getting clean but also to get his scattered thoughts in order.
Evrain pouted, but then his cell rang. He cursed and Dominic took his chance to escape upstairs to the bathroom. He just heard the words “Hi, Mum…” before the noise of cascading water drowned out the sound of Evrain’s voice. Dominic pulled the bathroom door closed. He stripped off his dirty clothing, leaving the discarded items in a heap on the floor, then climbed beneath the spray with a contented sigh.
Laughing at his mother’s latest news on the antics of his younger sisters, Evrain kept his eyes on the stairs. He could hear the water running and his head was filled with images of Dominic, naked and wet, rubbing gel over his smooth skin. Talking to his mother while sporting an iron-hard erection was not a habit he wanted to get into. At least he didn’t have to talk much. He paced the room, contributing to the conversation when he could get a word in. His mum was threatening to visit if he didn’t keep in touch more often. He said all the right things, made promises to call or email every week and appropriate excuses about being busy with his job. She seemed content with his answers and he hoped she wouldn’t be hopping on a plane anytime soon. He loved his family but the last thing he needed was more people he cared about getting in the line of fire. He needed to be able to focus his attention on keeping Dominic safe.
Evrain set about pulling together a simple meal. Of the two of them, Dominic was the far better cook, but Evrain could manage the basics. There was fresh local salmon in the fridge, so he mixed some breadcrumbs with chopped parsley and Parmesan for a crust. Baked potatoes and broccoli would complete the meal. He put the potatoes in the oven first. With any luck, he would have time to give Dominic a spanking before they were ready. That thought made him smile as he finished preparing the fish and vegetables. With everything ready to go, Evrain adjusted the furniture to his liking. He wanted Dominic over his knees and needed a chair without arms for the best position so he moved one across from the kitchen area. Next he took a log from the wood basket. Focusing his power, he manipulated the material into a smoothly fashioned plug. He ran his hands over the silky grain, ensuring there were no rough edges. It was large enough to stretch Dominic’s channel but not so big as to cause pain. Evrain set a pot of his home-made lube next to the fire to warm. Now all he needed was Dominic.
“Are you nearly done up there?” Evrain yelled up the stairs. The bathroom door clicked open.
“What are you shouting about?” Dominic’s pained voice came back to him. “And why are you channeling?”
“Don’t bother dressing. I have plans for you.” Evrain visualized Dominic standing there dripping, a scowl on his handsome face. Dominic enjoyed being ordered around—he just wasn’t that good at admitting it.
“Damn it, Evrain. Give me five minutes.”
Evrain listened to footsteps heading for the bedroom. He was confident Dominic would do as he was told. He took the seat next to the fire and made sure the new toy and lube were within reach. While he waited for Dominic he thought about the events of the day. Against his expectation, he had liked Nathaniel Alberich. The man was blunt, but his eyes sparkled with good humor and shrewd intelligence. He would make a valuable ally. Evrain could understand why Nathaniel and Gregory got on so well. They were formed from the same mold. He suspected that both of them saw him as an arrogant, inexperienced boy who needed some discipline drummed into him. Much as he hated to admit it, they were probably right. He wasn’t so stupid as to think he knew better than they did, with their years of experience, not when Dominic’s safety might depend on his willingness to learn.
Damon was another matter. He had sympathy for his position. He’d been abused for a long time by Symeon Malus and deserved a break. Nathaniel might be just the man to provide it, though he didn’t imagine Nathaniel would go too easy on Damon. He chuckled. It seemed warlocks were all alike in some ways.
“What are you so amused about?”
Evrain turned to see Dominic standing at the bottom of the stairs, a towel wrapped around his narrow hips. He’d dried his hair to just damp and it hung around his shou
lders. For a moment, Evrain’s mind blanked as lust consumed him. He shook his head. Dominic had more power over him than another warlock ever would.
“I was thinking about how Nathaniel Alberich will handle Damon.”
A slight smile traced Dominic’s lips. “I imagine…firmly. He didn’t seem the type to take any crap from anyone.”
“Something we have in common.” Evrain beckoned him over. “Come here, sweetheart.” The firelight danced in Dominic’s eyes but he didn’t move. Evrain watched as his lover took in the setup by the hearth. His eyes widened when he spotted the plug.
“You’ve been busy.” He swallowed and his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Is that why you were channeling?”
“Yes. Just a little handicraft. Gregory keeps telling me I need to finesse my skills—I might as well make something functional while I’m at it. Why don’t you come over here and take a closer look?” Dominic was hardly a skittish colt to entice with gentle words but he was stubborn. He wouldn’t do anything he didn’t want to.
Dominic gave an exaggerated sigh then walked the few paces to Evrain’s side. Evrain stood to face him.
“You won’t be able to resist me for long.” Evrain stepped into Dominic’s personal space. There was little more than a finger-width between them. Dominic’s breath smelled of mint and his body of herbal shower gel. He leaned in for a kiss. Just a gentle brush of lips. Dominic swayed toward him with a soft moan. Evrain ran his hand down the curve of Dominic’s back and when he felt the edge of the towel, he pulled it away.
“Mmm. That’s better.” Evrain followed the swell of firm muscle with his fingertips. “Your ass is a work of art.” He cupped one round cheek, enjoying the smooth skin. “Your skin is cool. Is it warm enough in here for you?”
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