Cornelius (Warlocks of Amherst Book #1)

Chapter 1

Cornelius

“You wanted to see me, Master Arthur?” I said as I peeked my head inside the office door.

“Cornelius, good. Please come in because yes, I did want to see you.”

I entered the office that had once been Master Edison’s, but when he passed the coven to his oldest son, Arthur, it became Arthur’s office.

I immediately noticed that not only was Patrick—Arthur’s One—there, but so were Michael and Balthazar.

Interesting. I nodded in acknowledgment as I took a seat on the couch between them.

Arthur and Patrick were in the two chairs, so I was left with either sitting between them or standing off to the side.

I didn’t want to be the odd man out, so I sat.

It wasn’t the most comfortable place to be, but I dealt with it.

“Very well. I promise I won’t keep you long. And please know that you are more than welcome to decline, and there won’t be any hard feelings on either end.”

Unsure what was going on, I wondered if the others did. When Balthazar leaned forward, I received my answer when he started talking.

“Perhaps if you told us what it is that we’re saying yes or not to, that might help, Master Arthur,” Balthazar said.

Patrick’s smile slowly formed across his face, and when it reached his eyes, I relaxed a bit. He certainly wasn’t Master Edison, but he was just as intimidating. But whereas Master Edison had a more relaxed demeanor, his eldest son was much more uptight for lack of a better word.

“Yes. I’m trying to word it the best way possible, but I’m drawing a blank. As you know, my youngest brothers have found their Ones and mate out in Montana, and Dad and Papa are spending a lot of time out there with the new little ones.”

I smiled because I loved children. Adored them. Sadly, I’d not yet met my One, so I didn’t have any.

“But what does that have to do with us?” Michael asked.

“Actually, specifically you, Michael, and you, Cornelius.”

That got my attention, and I looked at Michael, wondering how and what it could possibly be.

“The two of you not only have firefighter experience, but I know that you and Ellie are probably looking to relocate soon, Michael.”

“We are indeed. There have been some questions sent Ellie’s way at her school regarding how she stays so young. She and I have been discussing it. And we’d like to have a few more kids now that ours are gone, but with her supposed to be knocking on fifty, it would raise even more questions.”

“Then it’s possible that you’d be willing to head out to Timber Valley. They’re in desperate need of more firefighters, both permanent as well as temporary. They’ve lost a few to new matings, and Alpha Forest has stepped down as chief in order to run his pack full-time now that it’s growing.”

“I’m in,” I said quickly. When Balthazar gave me a what the hell look, I shrugged. “What? It’s not like I’m finding my One here. I figure that maybe I’ll find him or her out there—gah, I really hope he’s a him. They all seem to be finding them left and right, so why not?”

Balthazar looked like he was going to argue but then turned back to Master Arthur. “He has a valid point. I’m in. Although I don’t have a whole lot of firefighter experience. Only a few years before I was forced to leave my last coven.”

“Understandable. But they’ll gladly accept any help they can get. And I’m almost positive that everyone on the crew is either a shifter or mated to one, so—” Arthur cleared his throat as Patrick started chuckling. “—extra help wouldn’t be questioned.”

“Oh yeah,” I said and smiled at Balthazar. The reflecting grin told me he was just as excited about the prospect as I was.

“Very well. If the three of you are in agreement, I’ll let Alpha Forest know that you’ll be arriving soon, then. I realize that you and Ellie might need a bit more time as there are two of you,” Arthur said, looking directly at Michael.

“We can be ready to go just as quickly as the others. We do have more stuff in our suite, I’m sure. But it’s not any more difficult to pack five rooms’ worth of stuff than it is one.”

“Very well. Forest has some pack houses he has offered for your use. As has Alpha War if you’re of a mind to be near my papa or brothers.”

“Either works for me. Arriving to and from work shouldn’t be an issue either way,” I said, and the others were quick to agree. When we were dismissed, we left the office and all headed toward the stairs that would take us up to our living quarters.

“Well then, I’m hoping that Montana agrees with Ellie as I wouldn’t mind getting away from the city for a few decades.”

That had me hesitating on the stairs long enough to fall behind. I quickly caught up, touching Michael’s arm to get his attention. “What do you mean? Are they not near a city?”

Michael shook his head. “It’s my understanding that they’re on a lake and there are several small towns around it. Your night life as you know it just became nil.”

“Well, damn,” Balthazar said, and I had to agree. It wasn’t uncommon for us to go out in the evenings, searching for our One, or when that didn’t happen, a willing partner for the night.

“You are warlocks, you know. You can simply teleport to the nearest city that has a club, but make sure you let someone know where you are. And who knows, maybe you will find your One in one of the shifters out there. See you two in the morning,” Michael said as he hurried up the stairs and turned left, heading to the stairs that led to the third level where the mated warlocks lived.

I sent Balthazar an oh damn look before I started back up the stairs, turning right and heading to my own room.

“It’ll work out, Cornelius,” I heard Balthazar call over my shoulder. I raised a hand in agreement. I hoped so. I was young by warlock standards. I was going to be two hundred eighty-four this fall, but I was tired of being alone. I was ready to settle down and raise a bunch of kids.

I opened my room and took in the meager contents and sighed.

I loved to read and had shelf after shelf of books, but that was about it.

Up until just last year, I spent the majority of my time living at the firehouse.

But like Ellie, I’d had one too many questions and unexplainable incidences that I’d needed to put in my resignation.

Being a firefighter wasn’t necessarily my dream job, but I was bored with financial trading.

I really didn’t need to work as not only was I a member of the Amherst coven, but I’d had centuries to amass enough that it simply didn’t matter anymore.

But if I didn’t, I’d be bored within a week.

And a bored warlock wasn’t a good thing.

I’d already traveled extensively, and I wouldn’t mind doing it again, but it would be more enjoyable if I had my One with me.

When I’d needed a new position, Arthur was more than happy to have me help with the coven’s financials. It wasn’t difficult, and it was certainly something I could continue to do from Montana.

I moved to my closet, and when I opened it, I smiled.

Yeah, that was another thing I probably had more of than needed.

I couldn’t help it—I liked clothes. As a firefighter, I’d lived in cargo pants and firehouse T-shirts, but I loved a good pair of fitted jeans and button-down shirts.

As a warlock, my build was slim and not bulky, so I didn’t necessarily have the same appeal as some of my fellow firefighters when it came to size.

But I could rock a fitted button-down, and if I rolled the sleeves, that tended to get even more attention.

With a thought, I had everything packed, ready for the trip to Montana tomorrow morning.

I walked over to the window and looked out at Amherst. It definitely wasn’t Boston, and I understood the reasoning why Master Edison had settled here when he did.

But there were things to do, and there was always someone new to meet.

I really hoped I’d not been too rash in agreeing to go to Montana.

I wasn’t even quite sure where exactly Timber Valley was, so I pulled out my phone and opened my app to see if I could locate the place.

What I discovered had my mind spinning. I ditched my phone for my laptop so I could search multiple things at once.

It didn’t matter though. Flathead Lake was known for its crystal-clear water and fishing, and that was about it.

There were several small towns around the lake, and the pictures of the scenery I’d looked through definitely held an appeal for shifters.

I could see the draw. But that was it. There wasn’t much to do, and it had me worried.

A glance at the clock told me I’d missed dinner, so I closed my computer and tossed it aside. I made my way down to the kitchen and saw that there were plenty of leftovers, so I pulled out several and made myself a plate.

I grabbed a bottle of wine and headed for the dining area.

I stopped short when I saw Arthur and Patrick sitting at a table.

Well, Arthur was sitting at the table. Patrick was sitting in his lap, and with the way they were grinding against one another, there was no way I was going to interrupt.

I quietly backed out of the room, and once I was around the corner, I teleported to my room.

Yeah, that was…yeah. I knew that Patrick had been the one to carry their children, but they’d always seemed so… formal. But to see them…yeah, no.

Suddenly the meal I’d reheated lost its appeal, so I opted to finish the wine instead. It wasn’t as if I could get drunk from a single bottle of wine, and I was ready to have a bit of self-reflection about just how alone my life had become.

Montana was certainly beautiful. It wasn’t Amherst, but the weather was similar, and there were still plenty of trees, so that was something.

But unless I found my One here and he or she—I still really hoped for a male—was a shifter and didn’t want to leave their pack, I wasn’t sure I’d want to stay here long term.

“You’re doing it again.”

“What?”

“Thinking too hard. You want to pop back into Boston for the night? Maybe we can find a pair of willing partners before our shift tomorrow morning.”

I sent a scowl Balthazar’s way before I went back to staring out the window. At least my new roommate was a neat freak. And he was. To the point of obsession, really.

“I take it that’s a no?”

“You would be correct. We’ve been here three days to get situated, and already you’re wanting to head back to Boston. I haven’t yet had a chance to meet most of the pack, so I’m waiting.”

“You’re saying you’re feeling your One? Seriously?”

I wasn’t. I’d not sensed my One yet. That didn’t mean they weren’t here, just that they weren’t in the very near vicinity. Mainly, the western half of Timber Valley.

“Are you ignoring me now?”

“No. I’m staring at that nosey busybody next door. She’s been pruning her rosebushes for the last thirty minutes, but she’s still on the same bush she started. She’s not doing a very good job of hiding the fact that instead of actually working, she’s spying on us.”

That got Balthazar up and moving over to the window I was standing next to. I heard him growl before he stalked back over to the counter where he’d been sitting on the stool. “She’s going to be trouble. I just know it.”

“Possibly. Yeah, most likely,” I amended after I saw her pull out her phone and snap a picture toward our house.

I only knew she’d taken a picture because the flash went off.

Why, I wasn’t sure except for the possibility that she didn’t know how to use the thing since it was bright and sunny for an August afternoon.

I left my spot by the window and joined Balthazar at the counter.

“Very well. No Denver. How about we head over to visit with Master Edison? He said he had an open door to us while we were here. We could see if we feel anything over in Honey Creek.”

That idea actually had appeal. Well, except for visiting Master Edison. I wasn’t nearly as comfortable with simply hanging out with him as Balthazar seemed to be.

“I’m up for heading over to Honey Creek, but I’m not so sure about hanging out with Master Edison. I mean, he’s…”

“Yeah, I get it. Still intimidating as fuck. Well, what other ideas do you have?”

“I’m not sure. Isn’t there a diner over there we could have dinner at?”

“I think so. But they call it supper out here.”

I rolled my eyes as I picked up my phone and fired off a text to Michael. He and his One, Ellie, had done a lot more socializing since they were already mated. I smiled when the dancing dots almost immediately appeared.

“What are you doing?” Balthazar asked as he leaned over and looked at my phone.

“Asking Michael if there’s a diner and just how welcoming Alpha War is.

Michael has been with the coven for almost a century, I think.

He knows Master Edison, and I remember hearing Ellie mention how she remembers the day his twins were born.

” My phone pinged, drawing our attention, and we both sighed.

Yes, there was a diner, and Master Edison had always been welcoming.

He was even more so now that he and his One spent the majority of their time playing with their youngest grandchildren.

I thought about that for a moment and realized that not only did he have grandchildren in the area, but also great-grandchildren because Alistair was here and he’d found his One in a wolf shifter. That gave me an idea.

“We should hunt down Alistair and see if he has some inside information.”

“Who’s Alistair? That name sounds familiar,” Balthazar asked.

“He’s one of Master Arthur and Patrick’s children.

He’s mated to a wolf in Alpha Forest’s pack.

” I smiled as Balthazar’s mouth formed an o at the realization of what I’d said.

Sure, Alistair was still intimidating, but not quite as much so.

But he was still from the same lineage, and there was just something about Master Edison that was simply more.

“Perhaps we’d have more luck asking Alistair questions rather than Master Edison. ”

“It’s worth a shot. The worst that can happen is he says no,” Balthazar said.

I nodded in agreement and picked up my phone to see if I could hunt down either Alistair’s number or his address.

I figured his number was probably a safer bet since he was mated, and I was almost positive they had a little one at home. Maybe. Didn’t most newly mated couples?