Page 25 of Elemental Hope
The things Gregory had said on his last visit were frightening. Dominic felt so powerless in this strange world of warlocks and witchcraft. On the surface at least, Evrain seemed to embrace it with ease. Dominic detested the thought that his boyfriend could be in danger just because of what he was. He was also afraid that if Evrain were attacked, there would be little he could do to help him.
He cleaned his teeth, hung up his damp towel then ambled naked into the bedroom to find some clean work clothes. It was a shame Evrain had already left. He had a habit of waiting for Dominic to dress after a shower then stripping him slowly. He’d nuzzle Dominic’s cock then reward him with a slow, torturous blow job, keeping him hovering on the edge of release as long as possible.
Dominic had no problem being on the on the other side of that particular equation. He chuckled at the thought and rummaged through the small selection of garments in his wardrobe. He wasn’t seeing customers so he went for comfort, choosing a pair of worn jeans with rips across one thigh and a soft navy T-shirt, the design so faded it was indiscernible. It was warm enough to go without socks but he didn’t want to get blisters from his heavy work boots, so found a pair that weren’t too thick then pulled them on.
Finally, he raked a comb through his hair more roughly than he needed to. It still got tangled but there was nothing he coulddo to alter the style. Sighing, he walked to the window to pull the curtains open. It was a bit murky outside.
Wow, weather sure changes fast around here.He’d been hoping for a dry, sunny day in the garden but now it looked like rain might set in. He froze, grasping the edge of the fabric, straining to see through the thick mist. Just visible behind the gate at the end of the narrow garden path were the dark outlines of two figures. He stared, trying to make out who was there but there wasn’t enough visibility to ascertain any details. He had a terrible feeling that the shapes were of the two women who had been stalking him a few weeks back.
“Shit!” He yanked the thick drapes closed then ran for the stairs, a cold fist closed around his heart. His phone was lying on the kitchen table. He grabbed it then speed dialed Evrain but the phone went straight to voicemail.
“Surely he didn’t forget to connect his phone in the car?” Even as he muttered the words Dominic knew that it was unlikely. Evrain preferred to be connected at all times. He had a hands free kit and always used it. “Perhaps he’s on another call.” Dominic made sure the front door was bolted, then tried the phone again. There was still no reply. In the chair next to the fire, Shadow stirred. Dominic crouched down beside her. “What’s going on, puss? I have a bad feeling about this, how about you?” The cat gave her paw an idle lick. “I’ll feed you then give Evrain another try.” Dominic needed to do something to keep himself calm. He found a can of tuna at the back of a cupboard and an old china dish to put it in. As soon as he started using the can opener Shadow evacuated her seat, stalked across the room then proceeded to wind around his ankles in a way that would probably void his medical insurance. “All right! It’s coming.” A head butt to his calf prompted him to move faster. He placed the dish on the floor then added another filled withwater. “There you go.” Shadow ignored him, head buried in the food amid enthusiastic slurping noises.
Pushing back the urge to keep calling Evrain, Dominic trotted back up the stairs to take a peek through the bedroom curtains. He couldn’t see the garden gate from anywhere else in the house. The rain was teeming down now, obscuring his view, but he could still make out the two figures standing there, unmoving. He sat on the edge of the bed staring at his phone. He hadn’t left Evrain a message but the missed calls would be showing up. Evrain always got in touch when he saw the notifications. He was paranoid about Dominic’s safety.
“Shame he’s so careless about his own,” Dominic muttered. His fear was making him angry. He dialed once more just to get the same recording. This time he left a brief message. “Evrain, please call me as soon as you get this…and answer your damned phone!” The hard knot in his stomach would not go away. He went back downstairs then, for a moment, gazed unseeing around the room. Shadow was still immersed in her food bowl. The rain was battering the windows. A cold draft from somewhere caressed his neck. It reminded him of Evrain using the air to tease him.
“Damn it all to hell.” Dominic dialed Gregory’s number. His heart was pounding and he made a conscious effort to stay calm as the call connected.
“Hello?”
Dominic felt calmer as he heard Coryn’s voice. “Coryn, thank God you’re there. It’s Dominic…”
“Dominic? Hold on, lad, slow down, I’ll put you on speaker so Gregory can hear too.”
There was a moment’s crackling, then Gregory came on the line. “Okay, Dominic, we’re both here. Tell us what’s happened.”
Dominic wished he could sound half as calm as Gregory. “That’s just it, I don’t know. I’m at home. Those two women areback—just outside the gate. Evrain went to work less than hour ago but I haven’t been able to get hold of him. His phone just goes to voicemail. I have a really bad feeling and I don’t know what to do…” He trailed off miserably.
“Think, is there anything else you saw or heard?” Gregory’s voice came back, sharp with worry.
Dominic took a few deep breaths. “Evrain had to go into the office today so we got up quite early. We were having breakfast when there was a scratching at the door. Evrain answered it because the wards hadn’t been disturbed and there was a cat sitting there. She’s made herself at home—Evrain didn’t seem at all bothered by her.”
“Wait—describe the animal.”
“Fat, black and hairy,” Dominic said. “Seems way too intelligent for a cat, but I’m guessing the supernatural is involved somehow. Evrain barely blinked, just accepted that we have a new houseguest.”
“Okay. Continue.”
“Evrain went off to work. I went upstairs to take a shower. I’d dressed and was opening the bedroom curtains when I spotted the two women. They haven’t attempted to cross the wards. They’re just standing there. They give me the creeps.”
“Give me a minute while I call Nathaniel. He’s closer than we are and may have felt something. Stay by the phone.” Gregory hung up and Dominic paced up and down waiting for him to call back. He had a horrible feeling that every minute lost was a minute that Evrain might not have. When the phone rang again he pounced on it and pressed the receiver to his ear.
“Nathaniel did feel something. He described it as a bit of a jolt. I suspect that Evrain might have been blocked and he agrees that it’s a possibility.”
“No! That’s bad, isn’t it? What do I do? I should go out to look for him…”
“No, absolutely not. Stay put. Coryn and I are on the way. I’m going to ask Nathaniel if he can help too but it will take us all a while to reach you.” Gregory paused. “I mean it, Dominic. You stay in the house until we get there. Putting yourself in danger is not going to help Evrain.”
“Okay, if I have to.” Dominic understood where Evrain got his authoritative nature from—Gregory sounded remarkably similar. “But I can’t sit here doing nothing. What can I do to help?”
“This is going to sound strange, but I suggest you listen to that cat.”
Before Dominic could even think of a response, Gregory hung up. He realized his mouth was open so he shut it, grinding his teeth in frustration. He stared suspiciously at Shadow, but the fur ball was lapping at her water dish, no doubt washing down the immense quantity of tuna she’d just hoovered up.
Dominic wasn’t used to feeling so helpless. Although he took a submissive role in his relationship with Evrain he was still an independent person and the feeling of uselessness hurt him deeply. After some unproductive pacing he climbed back up the stairs. He took yet another peek through a crack in the curtains. He could still make out the vague shapes of the two strange women hovering just beyond the garden gate.What the hell do they want?He flicked the curtains closed again and sat on the edge of the bed, determined that their presence would not stop him from thinking clearly—Evrain’s life might depend on it. Sitting around was getting him nowhere.I’m going to ask them what they want. They can’t get to me through the wards.Gregory wouldn’t be impressed but he wasn’t the one with a missing boyfriend.
Decision made, Dominic ran back downstairs. He pulled on his work boots then headed for the front door only to find his path blocked by a cat. Those green eyes were unsettling and toosimilar to Evrain’s. Dominic stared at Shadow. The cat stared right back. It was Dominic who blinked first.
