Elemental Love (2 page)

Lyssa held the baby out to her mother with a smile. “His name is Evrain. Evrain James Brookes. Hold him, Mum, isn’t he beautiful?”

Gregory held his breath as Agatha reached for the small bundle and cradled the child in her arms. She pushed the blanket back from the baby’s head, and a mop of thick black hair was revealed, sticking out in all directions.

“He is absolutely gorgeous, darling. Didn’t you both do well!” Agatha stroked the child’s hair.

Gregory moved in closer. Tiny fists punched at the air, so Gregory offered the boy his own hand. Immediately, the baby grabbed hold, wrapping his fingers around Gregory’s offering with surprising strength. Gregory grinned at Agatha in delight, then looked back to the baby. His eyes were the dark blue of every newborn but, as Gregory focused his senses on the child, he could see that they would become dark green. Just a shade deeper than his own.

Cooing softly, Agatha muttered a lilting incantation and rocked the baby gently. To Lyssa and James, the song probably sounded like a lullaby, but Gregory knew a spell when he heard one. Tiny eyelids closed and the baby slept. Gregory’s finger was released. After a few more minutes of cuddling, Agatha reluctantly returned the baby to his parents.

“He’s absolutely perfect, Lyssa, love. I’ll leave you to rest now, I’m sure you must be exhausted. Look after her, James.”

“Of course,” James replied. “She’ll be a pampered lady of leisure from now on.”

Lyssa nearly choked laughing. “Oh, James, I think you are in for a big shock. I can’t wait to see you change your first nappy or clean up some projectile vomiting.”

“Hey, don’t spoil my idealized view of the world, I have my rose-tinted specs firmly in place.”

“As all new fathers should,” Gregory said, shaking James’ hand.

Agatha tutted. “It’s been a long night. I, for one, am looking forward to my bed.”

“Thanks, Mum. I’m so glad that you and Gregory are here. It’s made all the difference having you both around.”

The midwife hovered, her face a studied mask of professional patience, but Gregory knew he was about to be ejected. He took a last peek at the sleeping child then led the way from the room, ushering Agatha through the door before closing it behind him. He didn’t have a chance to utter a word. Agatha took his arm and pulled him downstairs to the kitchen. As she put the kettle on, Gregory sent her a questioning glance.

“Well? I caught the spell you did. Does that mean what I think it does?” Gregory asked.

She nodded. “It has come to pass. My grandson has the potential to become one of the most powerful warlocks ever known. His aura is shockingly bright.” She busied herself making herbal tea. Gregory recognized her fear and her need for distraction. He let her potter without interfering.

“Less than an hour old and it is already evident to me that he will possess terrifying power,” Agatha said. She held up a bony hand to still Gregory’s questions. “I have placed a shielding spell on him—no evidence of his abilities will manifest until he passes the age of twenty-one. We can only pray that by then he will have the strength to accept what he is and to face his future.”

Gregory sighed. “When he comes of age, we must do what we can to guide him. If he breaks under the strain and turns to the wild magic, we will have no choice but to destroy him.”

Agatha nodded and handed him a mug of tea. “Agreed. I accept this duty—he is my blood. I will do all I can to lead him down the right path and protect him from those who will wish him harm. But I need your help too, Gregory.”

Gregory nodded.

“He will need guidance from another warlock. I don’t have the skills to teach him everything he’ll need to know.”

His hands suddenly cold, Gregory gripped his mug tightly. “I may not be a blood relative, but you and yours are still my family, Agatha. You have my word… I will do everything in my power to keep him safe. To teach and guide him.”

They fell quiet and steam from their pungent drinks misted the air.

Chapter One

Present day

“You didn’t have to babysit me, Gregory. I’m quite capable of traveling alone, even if it is transatlantic.” Evrain glanced at the man seated next to him in the luxurious first-class cabin. “Not that I don’t appreciate the ticket. I could get used to this. I usually get stuck in the back row with the delights of eau de chemical toilet.”

His godfather’s seat was slightly reclined. Gregory’s eyes were closed and a couple of faint lines furrowed the bridge of his nose. He opened one eye, revealing a slither of pale green.

“Is it over?” Gregory asked.

“Is what over?” Evrain asked in confusion. They had only been in the air ten minutes.

“Takeoff. I hate it. My stomach always stays on the tarmac while its contents journey in the wrong direction up my esophagus.”

“Ugh, gross!” Evrain groped in the pocket next to his seat and extracted a pristine paper bag. “Do you need this?”

Gregory opened his other eye. “No. But I could use a Bloody Mary. Where’s the trolley-dolly?” He jabbed at the call button.

“I’m sure he’ll be around in a moment. Give the poor guy a chance. He’s probably still strapped in his seat. I thought it was Coryn who didn’t like flying?”

“He loathes it, poor dear. I am entirely indifferent. It’s just the upping and downing parts that don’t agree with me. I have a delicate constitution.”

Evrain snorted. “Bullshit, Gregory. I’ve seen you down half a bottle of Jack alongside a pint of Rocky Road ice cream and that’s a combination that’s probably banned under international law. If it isn’t, it should be. You have a cast-iron stomach.”

“We have a wide range of beverages, sir, but that’s not a combination I can offer, I’m afraid. Nor would I advise it.”

Evrain, who was sitting in the aisle seat, turned to the air steward standing next to him. The man had a huge grin on his face and a trolley stacked high with miniature bottles of every type of booze known to man.

“Something we can be thankful for,” Evrain said. “Could we have a couple of virgin Bloody Marys please?”

“Make that one virgin and one fully confirmed slut,” Gregory grouched. “Which category do you fall into, sweetheart?” he asked the steward whose name badge declared him to be called Samuel. A pair of pretty hazel eyes sparkled.

“I can see I’m going to have trouble with you, sir.”

He was cute. Not Evrain’s type, but the sandy hair that flopped into his eyes was endearing.

“Behave, Gregory, or I’ll tell Coryn.” Evrain swiveled back toward the aisle. “He’s married, Samuel, and old enough to know better.”

The steward mixed their drinks and handed them over. “Call me Sam. I fully intend to grow old disgracefully myself. Perhaps you could give me a few tips?” The last remark he aimed at Gregory.

Gregory opened his mouth but Evrain jumped in. “Please don’t get him started, Sam. You’ll still be here in eight hours’ time and I’m sure the other passengers have need of your services.”

Gregory pouted. “Stop spoiling my fun, Evrain.”

“You’re sixty-five, not six, Gregory. You’re supposed to be keeping an eye on me, not the other way around.”

Samuel gave them a couple of menus. “Here are the choices for lunch. Please have a think about what you’d like and I’ll be back in twenty minutes or so to take your orders.” He pushed his trolley to the next row and began to chat to the passengers seated behind Gregory and Evrain.

Evrain wasn’t particularly hungry. He put the menu aside. “Why don’t you tell me something about my new home? I’ve done a bit of research on the net, but I’d like to hear about it some more.”

Gregory downed his drink in a single gulp. “Christ, I needed that.” He smacked his lips together. “You’ve stayed with Agatha dozens of times, you know the area pretty well by now I’d have thought.”

“It’s true I spent most of my school holidays with her, but she rarely took me out of Hood River. I’m going to be living in Portland, which I don’t know very well at all. I think I’ve been there twice. I’m starting a job with a company I interviewed for over Skype—and don’t pretend you didn’t have some influence over that, Gregory, because I know you did. What firm takes on a new graduate with no experience on the basis of a forty-five minute conversation?”

“One with a chief designer that knows talent when he sees it.” Gregory fiddled with his empty glass.

Skeptical didn’t even begin to describe how Evrain felt about that statement. “You can’t lie for crap, Gregory.”

Gregory sighed. “That’s Coryn’s fault. He always knows when I’ve been bullshitting him and he has this look.”

“Look?” Evrain cocked a quizzical eyebrow.

“You know. That whole narrowed eyes ‘tell me the truth or you’re sleeping on the couch’ look.”

“He makes you sleep on the couch? Even after how many years together?” Evrain chuckled. He loved the idea that Gregory had visited the doghouse, a place Evrain was all too familiar with.

“Almost forty years. Forty amazing, astonishing, unbelievable years. Something I hope you’ll have with someone one day, Evrain.”

Evrain was tempted to tease his godfather but the wistful, dreamy look in those normally cool eyes stopped him.

“I can’t imagine what it must be like to spend so many years with one person. Coryn deserves some kind of award for putting up with you for that long.”

“Time is a strange thing. When you’re young and curious, it drags its heels. When you’re old and crotchety like me, it speeds past in the blink of an eye. Make every moment an adventure, Evrain. Don’t let the weight of responsibility bow those young shoulders before their time.”

“Wow, getting a bit deep there, Gregory. Why don’t we get back to what you were lying through your teeth about?”

“Ah. Well. I suppose I should confess that I do have a small stake in ThInk.”

“A small stake. What exactly does that mean?” Evrain forced himself to keep his voice low. “You have a few shares in the place, or you were best man at the chief executive’s wedding?”

“I might own the company,” Gregory mumbled.

“You own it. The whole company. Well, fuck.” Evrain downed the rest of his drink in one and regretted the lack of alcohol. “Unbelievable. Grandma’s been trying to persuade me to move to the States for the last three years. Is this all a collusion between the two of you to get me out of the UK?”

“Get off your high horse, boy. I showed Chip Franklin some of your work. It was his decision to offer you an interview. I had nothing to do with it.”

“You’re not messing with me? Because I can get off this plane in Seattle, buy a new ticket and head straight back across the pond, you know.”

“Evrain, I don’t want to swell that already cocky head of yours, but you have talent. You graduated a year early, for Christ’s sake. Your work is original, fresh… Perfect for a company like ThInk. Chip isn’t stupid. You’ll bring in big commissions and make him look good to the board. If he didn’t think you were worth the investment, he would have had no hesitation in kicking you into touch.”

Evrain slumped in his seat and tried not to smile. Pride had his lips twitching.

“I
am
good, aren’t I?”

Gregory rolled his eyes. “And arrogant with it. It’s time you learned to deal with the real world. It’ll do you good.”

“Hey, it’s hardly my fault that I’ve never had the chance.” Evrain picked at a loose thread in the seam of his black jeans. “You and Grandma saw to it that all my holidays were fully occupied. I could have stayed at home and flipped burgers to earn some pocket money.”

“The last time I ate one of your burgers at a family barbecue, I almost broke a tooth. It was like chewing on a lump of coal.”

“Flames don’t like me, you know that,” Evrain protested. “It just got away from me, and, before you ask, no I didn’t throw extra fuel on it.”

“Oh, believe me, I know you didn’t.”

Evrain gave his enigmatic godfather a sharp look. “Why is it that I always get the feeling there are double meanings in half the things you say? Grandma is just as bad. I’m convinced there’s some deep, dark family secret that you’re both keeping from me.”

Gregory drummed his fingers on the armrest of his seat. “What’s on that lunch menu? I’m starving.”

Evrain growled. He knew it was pointless to carry on interrogating Gregory. Once his godfather decided to clam up, there was no prizing open his lips. He retrieved his menu.

“Roasted cod, minted lamb shank or spinach and mushroom pasta. You’ll go for the lamb,” he said with some confidence.

“I’m getting predictable in my old age. You’re probably deciding between the fish or the vegetarian option.”

“I like the sound of both.”

“Bat your lashes at Samuel and he’ll probably let you have one of each. I’m paying enough for the damn tickets. He should be accommodating.”

“Think I’ll stick with the pasta.” Evrain glanced around the half-full cabin. Samuel was still serving drinks.

“Probably wise. There are some great seafood places in Portland if you know where to look. Of course, it’s not the same as being able to eat al fresco. Damn place is so wet.”

“I enjoy the rain,” Evrain said. He wasn’t kidding, he loved the romanticism of wild weather.

“Well, you’ll have plenty of fun in Oregon then.”

“I’m looking forward to city living. It’s great to have an apartment set up ready for me.”

“You’ll pay rent just like all the other tenants. No family favors because I own the building. It is in a nice spot, though, and I had to fight off several potential tenants to keep this unit free for you. It’s fully furnished but I’m sure you’ll add your own touches. Though Coryn has already been in there. He said it needed to be more ‘homey and welcoming’.”

“That’s kind of him. If you had your way, everything would be gray and black.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Gregory said.

“A bit of color warms a place up, makes it cozy.”

“Now you sound just like Coryn.”

“It overlooks the water, doesn’t it?”

“Indeed, and there’s a balcony. The building is close to the Streetcar line and there’s South Waterfront close by for shopping. It’s a good spot—if you have to live in the land of the living damp, you should at least live there in comfort.”