Page 9 of Elemental Hope
“I’ll see you later.” Dominic had one hand on the door handle.
“Yes, you will.” The gold flecks in Evrain’s eyes glowed.
Dominic swallowed. There was a threat of punishment in that eerie gaze and his body responded to the idea of it with an enthusiasm he couldn’t control.
The clock had yet to strike eight when he slipped outside, pulling the cottage door closed behind him. It was a cool morning but with the promise of warmth in the air. Dominic felt relaxed as he headed off down the lane to the pull-in where he parked his van. He knew that Evrain had a storyboard to finish this morning and was unlikely to be channeling until later when he would have to practice some of the exercises that Gregory always gave him. Hopefully that would give Dominic a pain-free day to deal with some of his regular clients.
Both his morning calls were local. His first call was to a widow who could no longer manage her extensive lawns. It was fortunate for him that she owned a ride-on mower. The job was routine but enhanced by homemade cookies and lemonade. He was at his second customer’s house by ten and spent the next couple of hours weeding, trimming shrubs and tidying up a garden belonging to an elderly couple who sat and watched him work. They chatted away about their family and told him all the local gossip. Most of the time he had no clue who they were talking about but he was glad of their company. By the time he’d finished and cleaned up at the outside tap his stomach was beginning to rumble. He said his goodbyes then drove to the single local store, where the owner made him up a sandwich. The hamlet he was working in was close to a small lake so he drove to the parking area then took his sandwich and sat on a wooden bench to enjoy the sunshine. A couple of birds landed near his feet, hopping closer in the hope of crumbs.
“Bread isn’t good for you, you know.” Dominic extracted some ham from his lunch, tore it into tiny pieces then threw them onto the grass near his feet. It didn’t take the birds long to pluck up the courage to grab the handout. Dominic chuckled and threwthem a few more scraps. It was a beautiful day. He felt good after a morning’s hard work, stretching his muscles and getting his hands dirty. He still had the scent of fresh-mown grass in his nostrils. Best of all, he had his enigmatic, gorgeous boyfriend to go home to. He’d never imagined he could be so contented and at peace.
“Lunch break’s over. Time to get back to work. Sorry, guys.” Talking to the birds didn’t seem weird. He had a whole new perspective on nature since meeting Evrain. He stood, scattering a few crumbs, then downed the last of his juice. Making sure he had all his trash with him, he headed back to the van. On the road toward town, he noticed two women. Their presence wouldn’t have attracted his attention but they weren’t moving or talking, just staring in his direction, which seemed strange. A few months before and he wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but Evrain had taught him to be suspicious and to trust no one. Dominic fingered his pendant. He put his trash in the van, giving the women a chance to move on. When he turned to see if they were still there, they hadn’t moved. He stared back at them, then started to walk toward them with purposeful strides. As one, they turned and moved away, taking the first side street they came to. When he got there, there was no sign of them. The scattered houses and array of mature trees provided plenty of cover. They could be hiding anywhere and he didn’t have time to go searching for them.
Walking back to his van, Dominic pulled out his cell phone. He called Evrain, giving him a quick description of what had happened.
“I want you to come home, Dominic. Right now.”
Dominic rolled his eyes. “Calm down, Evrain. I can’t do that. I’ve got two more clients to see this afternoon and I won’t let them down.”
Evrain cursed under his breath, just loud enough for Dominic to catch. “What have I told you about obedience?”
Dominic’s dick twitched at Evrain’s tone. He sighed. “They’ve gone, Evrain. I’m wearing the star and I’ll be careful. Please don’t make me come back.”
“If I insist, will you do as you’re told?”
Dominic shifted his feet. He wanted to say no, that he was a grown man and quite capable of making his own decisions. Deep down, though, he knew he couldn’t disobey Evrain. There was silence for a moment then Dominic whispered, “Yes.” He could picture the smirk on Evrain’s handsome face and shook his head in wry admission of defeat. He pulled his keys from his pocket, expecting to be ordered home, and carried on walking to the van.
“Very well. You can stay.” Evrain didn’t sound happy. “Ring me after your next job and keep your eyes open.” He disconnected without waiting for Dominic’s response.
“Wow, I’m being trusted to be a grown-up.” Dominic smiled. He knew how hard it must have been for Evrain to grant this concession. He understood his protectiveness. Evrain inhabited a scary world that he was still new to, and Dominic knew he felt guilty about dragging him along. He’d already suffered at the hands of Symeon Malus. Evrain just wanted to make sure he never had to experience anything like that again. Dominic touched his collar-length hair. He’d been physically altered by an evil warlock. No wonder his lover was paranoid about his safety.
His next job, in the neighboring town, was uneventful. Once he was done, Dominic dutifully made the call Evrain had requested even though nothing had happened. He was beginning to think Evrain’s caution was unwarranted. But later, as he was clearing up at the end of his final job mowing a massive lawn the size of a football field, he saw the two women again. They were a little farther away and he had to squint intothe sun to see them, but it was definitely the same two people. They just stood and stared at him, not moving.
“Fuck, it’s like a scene fromStepford,” Dominic muttered. As he went to press the speed-dial button on his phone, it started playingWitch’s Promiseby Jethro Tull.
“Evrain.” Dominic answered the call.
“They’re there again, aren’t they?” Evrain’s voice was cold and calm, but Dominic caught a hint of something else in his tone—fear.
“How did you know?”
“I felt your anxiety.”
Dominic didn’t ask how that was possible. “They aren’t doing anything, just standing there watching me. I’m coming home now.”
“No detours, Dominic. I’ll expect you shortly.”
“I’m fine, Evrain. I’ll be back soon.” Dominic disconnected the call. He loaded a few tools into the van, looking nervously over his shoulder. The two women were still there, unmoving but managing to exude an aura of malevolence. He didn’t know why he felt that way—they were completely nondescript and had done nothing to suggest they meant him harm—but somehow he knew they did.
Evrain gripped the phone so hard the keys pressed indentations into his fingers. He wanted nothing more than to go after Dominic, find him and bring him home. He hated being apart from him but now, when he was in danger once again, the separation was unbearable. Channeling had created an emotional link between them and it was becoming stronger all the time. He could feel when Dominic was happy, when he was sad and most strongly when he was scared. The last madeEvrain sick to his stomach but he had a house full of people, one of whom had not been invited.
He’d gone outside to make his call in private but now returned to the cottage kitchen. The room that seemed cozy when it was just him and Dominic became overcrowded with four people around the table. Gregory and Coryn sat at one end. Nathaniel Alberich lounged on one side, his hand clamped around the neck of the unwelcome guest seated next to him.
“Dominic is on his way home. Perhaps now, Damon, you could explain what the hell you’re doing here?” Evrain snapped. “Or do you have some kind of death wish?”
Damon cowered in his seat. “Do you think I’d be here if I had any other choice?”
Nathaniel gave him a light cuff to the head, ruffling his hair. “Mind your manners. You’re lucky I didn’t blast you out of existence.”
