Your delightful mood means things arent going well, I take it? Bram drawled.
Not exactly. The woman is too smart by half and knows everything I say is shit.
Youre not being charming enough.
Caden gritted his teeth. Deception isnt my style.
Its charm. Do you need me to demonstrate?
Though Bram was mated, the thought of him anywhere near Sydney made Caden feel uncomfortably homicidal. The same charm you showed your now-missing mate?
Leave my mate out of this, Bram snarled.
If you return the favor.
As soon as the words blazed across Cadens mind, he sucked in a breath. Damn, he had to stop thinking about Sydney like that. He didnt want a magical mate. And now he had to distract Bram. Likewise, leave Sydney alone.
Are you having the urge to Call to this reporter?
Every time he neared her, his temperature spiked. She was a fever, and if he kissed her, he feared hed blurt the words that could bind them together. Not good signs.
Her proposition at lunch had boiled his blood. A hearty yes had hovered on the tip of his tongue. Yes, he wanted her naked. Yes, he wanted to taste every inch of her fair skin, possess that sweet body. Yes, he wanted all that intelligence and sass. Yes, he wanted to be the one to protect her. But giving in to his urges would spell disaster. Too bad no one had given his instincts the memo.
Can we focus on the mission? Caden unleashed his annoyance. She knows Ive scarcely said a true word to her since we met. Shes seeing her contact this afternoon, knew I was following her, and intentionally lost me. Now, shes thinking of writing an article about the Doomsday Diary. What do you think will happen if she does?
Bram cursed. Shell get a very unpleasant, firsthand look at magic, Mathias-style.
Exactly. Caden gripped the phone, the thought too terrible to contemplate. He would protect Sydney at any cost, do anything to silence that story. Keep her safe. As much as it chafed him to ask for Brams help, he must.
You need to step in, he went on. Im compromised. Sydney knows Im interested in the magical war story and that my seduction wasnt real.
I cant. Suddenly, Bram sighed, sounding frustrated. Another attack last night. Nearly everyone dead, two women missing. One transitioned just last week. Gossip and panic is beginning to spread around magickind about Mathiass return. The Council elders have their thumbs up their arses, as usual. They want me to quell the rumors. Im trying to be the voice of reason, but they dont wish to hear logic. Duke and I are visiting Privileged households likely to be attacked and preaching caution, but . . . its frustrating to be forced to lie. I dare not leave the Council to their own devices for long. Id insist on transcasting the truth to magickind, but I dont have enough of the other Councilmens votes behind me. In the meantime, Marrok is ferociously training us for the war we all know is coming. If I sent Ice to help you, he would simply flatten Out of This Realm. Besides, magic isnt a cure-all. I cant just wave my wand and have Sydney forget about the book and her story ideas.
Bram painted a bleak picture, and Caden nearly felt sorry for the bastard. What the hell good was magic? Oh, thats right, none. Hed had proof enough of that early in life. Caden gripped the back of his neck and massaged at the tension gripping him. The damn tingles had returned. He was exhausted, yet his body craved sex. Lots of lovelies in the pub, several looking in his direction. But a glance south proved his cock was having none of them. It was fixated on Sydney. He sighed.
Youre going to have to fix this, Bram said. Get closer to Sydney, however you must. Convince her with whatever necessary. Get that bloody diary out of her hands. Stop those stories. Nothing about the Doomsday Diary can appear in print.
Caden sighed. How the devil was he to do all that?
Ill talk to her tonight, he told Bram. Ill be waiting for her when she gets home. Until then, I should visit my brother for a bit.
I cant spare any of the warriors to transport you, but I can send my sister.
Sabelles company is always a delight.
Bram snorted. Spoken like someone who does not have to live with the minx.
They rang off, and Caden waited. Sure enough, within moments Sabelle walked into the pub. Every male head turned. Jaws dropped. One man even rose to his feet, looking as if he was in a trance. She held up a hand, and he wandered back to his stool instantly, looking a bit confused.
Do you get that reaction from men everywhere you go?
She shrugged. Its my grandmothers siren blood, not me. I could be the ugliest hag in creation and theyd still respond that way.
But she wasnt. Far from it. Sabelle was truly stunning. Wars had been started over faces half so lovely. Centerfolds would kill for her body. The first time hed seen her standing in the middle of his living room in Texas, explaining that his brother was suffering, hed had to truly focus on her words, not his shock at her utter beauty.
But hed quickly learned that she wasnt just beautiful on the outside. Caden genuinely liked her. But he didnt want her.
If Bram hasnt passed the message to you, thank you for helping Lucan.
Ive known him all my life, Caden. Hes a dear friend. Im not about to let him die senselessly.
A brave soul. Every other surrogate weve sent has been terrified.
She shrugged. I believe, deep down, he would recognize me before he did any serious harm.
Sabelle, he doesnt know himself.
With a nod, she conceded. Yes, well . . . it hasnt been going as well as I would like. The energy hes derived from my fear simply isnt enough. He expends it all thrashing and calling Ankas name. Lucan needs more.
Meaning?
With the previous surrogates, he growled that he scented another man, then tried to attack them. I think I might have a solution. Youre welcome to observe.
Something in the witchs tone made him pause. Perhaps we should discuss this.
Sabelle shook her head, golden curls brushing her slender arms. I need to do this my way.
I dont want you risking your safety.
She patted his arm. Im fine. Why dont we meander outside and round the back? Well attract less attention when we teleport.
Caden knew a firm change of subject when he heard one and gave up, for now. He nodded, and they made their way into the windy evening chill.
Once they were out of sight, Sabelle positioned them away from people, out of the light, wrapped her hand in his and poof! One minute he was standing in a dark alley, the next he fought a black, stomach-turning void. Bloody magic! Then he stood in Brams foyer. And the man himself was there waiting.