For Gods sake, give him the bloody book! she snapped at Bram.
He merely raised a superior golden brow at her. Dukes expression was no less assured. Were they utterly mad?
Now that she could breathe, Sydney stomped her foot on Zains instep at the same time she rammed her elbow into his abdomen, grateful for the self-defense class shed taken last year. Zain grunted in pain. In the ensuing moment of surprise, she darted away and ran toward Bram, hand outstretched for the book.
The wizard held it away from her, then shot Caden a glare. Control your woman or I will.
Youll pay, bitch! Zain shouted as he worked to stand upright and charged Bram.
As Caden restrained her, Sydney railed at him. But something inside her savored his touch. His arm around her, holding her close, breath in her ear, made her feel alive. Safe.
Quickly, he shoved her behind him. The blond wizard tossed the book at Duke, who caught it in an efficient grab. Before she could blink, Bram waved his hand. Something that looked like a magic wand appeared.
A wand, seriously? How Harry Potter.
Sydney had barely completed the thought when Bram brandished the wooden stick, jolting Zain with a burst of energy that hit him like a live wire, making the other man jerk and sizzle. Some of his minions rushed toward Bram and Duke, wands suddenly in some upraised hands. The others . . . Oh, God! Now that they stepped into the light, she saw they were little more than skeletons with rotting flesh dripping from gray bones, staring out from under their hoods. Their eyes promised pain.
Retreat! Bram demanded, waving his wand with an efficient flourish that made two of the robed figures crumple into unconscious heaps next to those Caden had subdued earlier.
Someone dragged Sydney close with an arm about her waist while Caden clung to her. She screamed until she turned and saw that the second arm belonged to Duke. Bram reached out for Aquarius, whod been watching in wide-eyed, uncharacteristic silence.
Before Bram could secure Aquarius against his side, one of the mutants in robes grabbed the little woman and tossed her in Zains direction, waves of her light brown hair streaming behind her like a flag. She shrieked, the terrified sound making the hair on the back of Sydneys neck stand up.
No one is leaving! Zain insisted as Aquarius landed against him.
He absorbed her smaller body with a grunt, then trapped her in his arms, gripping her below the breasts. Aquarius jerked, gasped, green eyes popping wide. Suddenly, she loosed a bloodcurdling scream. A moment later, her face turned red, then purple, then swelled into something terrible.
Sydney wriggled against the arms holding her back, struggling to reach her friend. Between Caden and Duke, their grips were unyielding.
Do something. Save her! Sydney screeched.
As her words pinged off the walls, Aquariuss eyes rolled into the back of her head and she fell limp in Zains arms, her entire body bloated, skin blistered. Was she even breathing?
No! Sydney flailed and cursed, redoubling her efforts to get free.
Neither man budged an inch.
Retaining his grip on her, Caden kicked one of the corpse-like attackers, delivering some martial arts trick that snapped the minions spine in half. Blood spurted everywhere. Black blood, just like Chloe had described. Sydney gaped on in horror.
Humans converted to magical zombies, just like the dead soldiers in the tunnel. Oh. My. God, she whispered.
Yes, Anarki. Conscripted men minus a soul. Caden kicked another half-dead creature who tried to sneak up on Bram. Again, the body broke apart and bled black as he collapsed.
Bram, who had been fighting off the others in robes, rushed to her side again. All around was a pile of unconscious Mathias followers, some rotting, some not, littering the ground. Now, only Zain and two of his robed peers stood.
Put the girl down, Bram said. Call off whats left of your lackeys. Theyre no match. Lets fight this fairly, you and I.
Zain scoffed. I dont give two fucks about fighting fairly. The girl is alive. He jostled Aquarius in his grip, and she bounced like a rag doll, making Sydney cry out. But only just. Give me the book and Ill let her live. If not . . .
Sydneys heart nearly stopped.
Give it to him! she screamed at Bram.
Bram huffed, rolled his eyes. He wasnt budging.
The book must be more powerful than Aquarius had indicated. In her head, she knew that putting it in Zains hands would be as good as putting it into Mathiass, but her friend . . . if Bram didnt comply, Zain would kill her.
To her surprise, he eased the book toward Zain, who reached for it while retaining his hold on Aquarius. Sydney cast an anxious glance at her friend. God, she looks so still, so dead. Sydney held in a cry.
At the last second, Bram pulled the book back into his protective clutch and slung the tip of his wand toward Aquarius. The little woman was suddenly caught up in a sweep of wind, like a giant vacuum that sucked her toward Bram.
But Zain was having none of that. He brandished his wand at Aquarius, too, and her body jolted as she stopped, jerking in midair. She keened, the sound rife with pain.
Around her, Duke dispatched the final two Anarki with a pair of spells, both normal looking men who clutched wands in their frozen fists.
Your Anarki are all unconscious. Youre alone, Bram pointed out. Give up or fight me.
Suddenly, he shoved the book into Sydneys hand. Startled, she grasped it. Her eyes met Brams blue ones, sharp with warning. Do not give it to Zain. Hed described it as a weapon of some sort, but what about Aquarius?
Zain paused, looking uncertain for the first time. Bram took advantage of the opening and lunged, hooking one arm around the other man. With his free hand, he grabbed Aquarius.
Go! he shouted at Duke.
Instantly, Dukes arm tightened around Sydney. A sense of falling assailed her. Like being in a dark, endless well. She thrashed about, looking for escape, but Duke and Caden both held her tight. She squeezed her eyes shut.
Long moments later, the sensation stopped. Cautiously, Sydney opened her eyes to a stunning office, filled with weak afternoon sunlight, pricy artworkand a roomful of men so menacing, she took a step back.
Who the hell are these people, where am I, and how did I get here?
The Doomsday Brethren, Caden whispered in her ear.
Truly? Anka has spoken of them. Only a bit, but . . . She hadnt been sure of their role earlier, but now? These imposing wizards fought on the side of right.
I teleported you here, Duke said quietly. This is Brams office.
Good. How am I getting home? She put a hand on her hip.
The blokes all looked at one another, then Caden sighed. Well work it out.
Oh. She got the feeling that her concept of home had just changed. If the Anarki knew where she lived and believed that she had possession of a magic book . . . no if anymore, really. There was danger, just as Caden had said. Shed landed in the middle of it. Caden had tried to talk her out of running the story on the book. Though hed given her no substantial reasons, she wished shed listened. But now that danger wasnt imminent, her inner journalist was thrilled to be embroiled in the paranormal.
Her next story for Out of This Realm would turn heads and win awards!