Page 33 of Elemental Hope
Nathaniel grimaced. “You owe me for this, Gregory.”
Dominic hunched forward in his chair, fingers knitted together. “You both look so serious, what is it? One of you has to tell me or we’ll be here all night.”
“We think we’ve worked out a way to get the taint into Evrain’s blood,” Nathaniel said.
“Then why do you look as if you are going to tell me the world is ending? Finding a way to do this is good, isn’t it?”Dominic chewed on his lower lip and waited for Nathaniel to tell him the worst. The warlock pressed his knuckles against his own temples, kneading in circles. He took a deep breath before meeting Dominic’s gaze.
“Gregory will distill your brew to increase its potency, then paint it onto your skin. He will design it in such a way that it will be invisible to everyone but me, Nathaniel, you and Evrain. To him, it will seem like a set of tattoos, glowing with a magical signature—a message if you like, telling him what to do, in case you are not able to tell him yourself. He will need to absorb the potion by physical contact, so Gregory intends to put it in every place that Evrain might touch to increase our chances.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Dominic said. “What’s the catch? There must be one for the pair of you to be so worried.”
“When the liquid adheres to your skin, it’s going to hurt. A lot.” Nathaniel sighed. “I can’t really explain it, but the spell will literally burn the liquid into your flesh—at least that’s what it will feel like. Tattoos inked with acid. There is always a price to pay for this kind of magic, Dominic. Unfortunately in this case the person paying will be you.”
Dominic swallowed. He suspected his skin might be a couple of shades lighter. “You said Gregory would put this stuff everywhere Evrain might touch. Everywhere?”
Nathaniel nodded sympathetically as Dominic’s tired mind processed what that might mean. “If there’s any other way, we can’t think of it.” Nathaniel ducked his head. “We need to do it now, to give you some recovery time before we leave in the morning.”
Dominic just nodded, not trusting himself to speak.
Gregory came and stood behind Dominic’s chair, resting his hands on his trembling shoulders. “Evrain wouldnotwant us to do this, Dominic. He would never let me hurt you, however good my intentions.”
“Then it’s a good thing he has no say, isn’t it?” Dominic stood, pushing shaky fingers through his hair. “What do you need me to do?”
“Coryn will take you upstairs and help you get ready. I’ll be with you shortly.”
Dominic felt like a condemned prisoner heading for his execution as he climbed the stairs with Coryn close behind him. Nathaniel and Gregory hadn’t tried to hide anything. What he was about to do was going to hurt. He suspected it wasn’t going to be the good kind of pain either. He was scared but it didn’t matter. This was something he had to do for Evrain.
Upstairs, Coryn squeezed his hands. “I’ll leave you to take a shower. Make sure you rinse all the soap from your skin. This isn’t about smelling good, it’s about having a clean surface for the agrimony ink. I would be asking you to shave all the hair from your body, but that’s not necessary, is it?”
Dominic gave a wry smile. “Thanks to Symeon, no it’s not.”
The bathroom proved to be something of a sanctuary. Dominic tried not to think about anything. He had a trick he’d been taught as a child when he would try to sleep after a nightmare—to imagine a blank wall. It had always worked better for him than counting sheep but he did have a tendency to picture varieties of moss and lichens between the bricks. On this occasion, it wasn’t working and the shower didn’t take nearly long enough. He rinsed carefully then toweled off. Evrain’s bathrobe was on the back of the door so he put it on in the hope it might feel like Evrain was hugging him. It wasn’t anywhere near as good as the real thing but Evrain’s scent helped a bit. He took a few deep breaths then went to join Coryn in the bedroom.
Coryn’s eyes were full of sympathy. “Gregory won’t be long.”
“I’m in no rush,” Dominic said. “No pressing social engagements in my diary tonight.”
“You’ll need to take the robe off, then lie down on the bed.” Coryn patted the covers. “I also have to tie you down so you don’t thrash around while Gregory’s working on you.”
Dominic’s face heated. He was sure he must be the shade of a ripe tomato. Only Evrain ever saw him naked.
Coryn chuckled. “There’s no need to be shy, boy. Close your eyes if it makes you feel more comfortable.”
Dominic loosed the robe’s belt then shrugged the garment from his shoulders. He climbed onto the bed. “You want me on my back or front first?”
“On your back, please, and I know this is a really stupid thing to say, but try to relax.”
“There’s rope in the closet,” Dominic offered. Evrain’s bondage ropes would be kinder against his skin than anything Gregory might find in the kitchen.
“I’d never have guessed.”
Coryn’s wry tone made Dominic laugh. “You too, huh?”
“That would be telling.” Coryn found the short lengths of soft rope then used two of them to bind Dominic’s ankles to the bed’s corner posts. “Arms out to your sides, I think, rather than above your head.”
Dominic stretched out his arms. He kept still while Coryn tied him in place. In his head he just kept repeatingI’m doing this for Evrain, I’m doing this for Evrain.
“Sorry, Dominic. I think I’m going to have to prop you up a bit.” Coryn shoved a pillow beneath the small of Dominic’s back. “Much better. I can see more skin now.”
