Unlike you, Im not one to bury my head in the sand. Sydney jerked her arm free and turned to stomp away.
He grabbed her arm again. What does that bloody mean?
These people need you. And you plan to turn your back on them because you think its not your fight? I never knew Marines were afraid.
Cadens blue eyes narrowed. Is that what you think? Im not afraid of fighting. If I survived two tours in Iraq, I can survive this, I assure you.
Then explain why you wont fight with your people.
His grip loosened, and he pulled away. I left England and everyone magical I knew at eighteen. All this wand waving and the like, it isnt normal.
Normal? Youve already transitioned. You cant change that. What magickind can do is so extraordinary . . . amazing. Humans would kill to have your abilities. A gift like yours can help take down a madman. And you want to walk away from it?
He crossed his arms over his chest, mouth thin with anger. Why dont you want to follow your parents and join the academic crowd?
Sydney hesitated. I just didnt. It didnt fit me.
Precisely! Caden threw his hands wide.
If anyone tried to force her into that tediously dull and pretentious academic scene, theyd have to drag her kicking and screaming. She didnt fit there. Square peg, round hole. But this wasnt about a career. This was his heritage! She sensed Cadens reticence was deep.
He wasnt being completely honest with her. Given that, how could he possibly claim she was important? Hed demonstrated that he felt responsible for her, but his unwillingness to truly share himself said he didnt love her. And it hurt.
They need you, she said quietly.
He shook his head. They need someone passionate about their cause. That isnt me.
Whats the real reason? She should bloody stop trying to make him share himself, but she kept hoping.
Caden recoiled. I dont want to discuss it.
He didnt trust her, not with his story, not with his secrets. Not with his heart. And he didnt care for her enough to try. She had no one to blame but herself. Bloody stupid impulse to write in the book.
I cant make you. Its simply . . . Bram and the others wont survive without able wizards on their side.
Caden closed his eyes, and Sydney almost regretted her words . . . almost. But she couldnt skirt the truth. Even if he didnt want to hear it, he belonged here. He was a wizard. By virtue of his brothers illness and his sister-in-laws rape, he had a stake in this fight. Heck, she barely knew Anka and had never seen Lucan, but already her heart went out to them. And for the people who had tried to help Aquarius, she resolved to help however she could.
Caden shrugged his shoulders uncomfortably. More Tynans will appear at Brams door as word inevitably spreads.
She hoped so. Why doesnt everyone know about Mathias and the Doomsday Brethren? Sydney anchored a hand on her hip. I gather Bram wants to keep the Doomsday Brethren hush-hush from the Council so he can operate without their interference, but Tynan has only heard whispers of Mathiass return. And people are being attacked. Whats going on?
Caden pinched the bridge of his nose. Bram sits on the magical Council that governs magickind. There are seven councilmen in total. Tynan OSheas grandfather is among them. Bram has pushed to advise magickind about Mathias, but the rest of the Council are controlling bastards who prefer to pretend problems dont exist. Bram wants a transcast. Its a television-like broadcast using magical mirrors, for lack of a better description. They were established for just such emergencies.
And the Council said no? Sydneys jaw dropped.
They dont see this as an emergency. Some even write off the problem as pranksters stirring up trouble for the sport of scaring people.
Thats insane! If they had seen Ankas condition . . . the poor woman could barely speak coherently when I first met her. And this Auropha woman; Mathias killed her. Hardly a prank!
Despite the fact Auropha MacKinnetts father sat on the Council and the girl was murdered by Mathias, the Council wont budge. Bram says they are a traditional lot. I think theyre afraid.
Magickind should know. This is censorship! And very dangerous to people caught unaware. I want to talk to Bram. The first item on her agenda was the thing she excelled at most. Everyone must know about Mathias so they can protect themselves.
He frowned. Why do you want to talk to Bram?
Ive never done a . . . what did you call it? Transcast. But I am a reporter. In an emergency, I dont have to be magical or entertaining, just informational.
He leaned in with a scowl. You want to transcast to magickind?
Its the only way I can help. Ill never learn to fight or be able to wave a wand. But by God, I can keep people informed.
Caden knew his mouth gaped open. Did Sydney have any notion of the target shed be painting on herself if she transcasted? All of magickind would see her face. Especially Mathias. No one he attacked put up a fight, because they were unprepared. And for breaking that secrecy, hed want her dead. Caden couldnt help but admire her courage and willingness but . . .
No. Absolutely not.
Its not your choice, Caden. Youll be returning to Dallas alone, remember?
She brushed past him out the dining room and into the hall. She was headed to the back door, where shed join all the others and embroil herself deeper into this morass. Hed failed Lucan with his inability to return Anka. Hed failed Anka by letting her slip through his fingers. He would not fail Sydney by letting her place herself in mortal danger. Even if he couldnt mate with her, the thought of her dying . . . it flattened his soul.
Caden stalked into the hall, then grabbed her arm. You cannot do this. The fact Im not staying doesnt bloody mean I dont care.
No, the fact you wont be honest about your reasons for avoiding magic tells me you dont.
Damn, the woman was too bloody smart by half. He grabbed her shoulders and brought her against him. I wont see you hurt or worse.
You may be comfortable retreating, but Im not. I can help. Theres nothing I can do for Aquarius, but I can try to make certain no one else suffers her fate. Or Ankas. Since you and I are through, and youre unwilling to stay and fight Mathias or fight for us, we have nothing to say.
A tennis-ballsized lump of apprehension stuck in his throat. After a few days here, she didnt have a proper grasp on magickinds real peril. He had to stop her. If he failed . . . the thought of Mathias hurting her was so painful, he nearly staggered to his knees.
The hell we dont!
She glanced at him over her shoulder, those arrow-sharp eyes of hers piercing him with fire. Her red hair floated around her shoulders, curled halfway down her back. Even in anger, she was a beauty. He couldnt let her talk Bram into a transcast. It would mean her death.