Page 19 of Elemental Hope
“So you want me to take a look?” Dominic fiddled with the star pendant nestled in the hollow of his throat.
“I suppose so. I don’t sense any danger.” Evrain continued reading. “I have to get through all this before I head in to the office. Should have done it last night but you distracted me.” Evrain grinned at Dominic’s affronted stare.
“You know, I’ll be glad when Gregory’s back to resume your training. I seem to recall reminding you last night about that brief. I ended up gagged and tied to the bed.”
“You were talking too much,” Evrain said. He closed his eyes, picturing the image of Dominic, lean limbs spread, strapped down for his pleasure.
“You… You… Oh, I give up.” Dominic marched over to the door. He yanked it open, then stood there for a moment.
Curious, Evrain craned to see. “What is it?”
Dominic took a step back. “It’s for you.”
Holding back a sigh, Evrain shoved his chair back then walked over to the door. Sitting front and center on the step was a fat, long-haired black cat. He stared at the animal. The cat stared back, bright green eyes unblinking.
“I thought witch’s cats were supposed to be lean and slinky,” Dominic commented. “This one has been scoffing too many mice. And it has more fluff than a woolly mammoth.”
The cat turned its gaze on Dominic, managing to come across as mortally wounded.
“I’m a warlock, not a witch,” Evrain muttered. “And how do you know it’s here for me? Probably just wandered away from its owners.”
“You don’t believe that for a minute. How many cats show up at a front door then scratch to be let in?”
“So why is it just sitting there?”
“Perhaps it’s waiting to be invited inside and I can’t believe I just said that.” Dominic went back to the kitchen table. He sat then sipped his juice.
“Do you want to come in?” Evrain asked the cat, which sashayed past him into the cottage. “Fuck, I’m talking to an animal as if it’s human. I’m losing it.” He shut the door. The cat paused, licked a paw then leapt into one of the armchairs next to the fireplace, curled up then closed its eyes. Purring, loud enough to shake the foundations, started up.
At a loss, Evrain turned to Dominic.
“Don’t look at me. Seems like we’ve acquired a new housemate.” Dominic shrugged.
“But where did it come from? I grew up with dogs. I have no idea how to take care of a cat.”
“I imagine it’s fairly self-sufficient. Can’t say I’ve much experience with supernatural animals either—and I’m assuming that this one isn’t anywhere close to being normal. I like cats, though.”
He might have imagined it but Evrain thought the purring grew even louder. “She might not stay.”
“How do you know she’s a she?” Dominic asked.
“Oh…I don’t. She feels like a female.”
Dominic gave him a quizzical look.
Exasperated, Evrain shrugged. “I can sense it. She’s…content.”
“You’re vacuuming up her fluff when she sheds everywhere.”
“You’re being very accommodating,” Evrain said.
“Why fight it? Even I get the feeling she’s going nowhere. There must be a reason for her being here and she wouldn’t have made it across your wards if she presented any danger. She’s cute.”
Evrain examined the pile of dark fur ensconced in his favorite chair. “Then I suppose we’d better give her a name.” The cat opened one eye. An ear twitched.
“What do warlocks’ cats normally get called?”
Evrain could tell that Dominic was holding back a laugh. “How the hell should I know?” He tried to get a sense of identity from the cat. “I don’t think she has a name yet.”
