Page 102 of Seduce Me in Shadow

“Come with us. I will test your fighting prowess, and Bram your magical skills. If you have aptitude, mayhap you can join. Bram?”

Obviously, he doesn’t like being boxed into a corner, but he sees the logic. “If you possess skill with a wand and can demonstrate the ability to learn human combat, I’ll consider it.”

At Tynan’s eager nod, Bram shoots Marrok a rancorous glare and follows the pair. A moment later, the back door slams. Hurstgrove rises next and exits after them. Then Ice. Olivia and Sabelle follow.

Suddenly, Caden and I find ourselves alone. I rise and take a few steps toward the hall—until Caden wraps his hand around my arm and pulls me back.

I whirl to him, certain that what’s about to happen will make a great story. “I want to see.”

“And I don’t want you involved any deeper.”

I’ve always been independent, and that will never change. Besides, while this is a story that could make me, it’s also a consequential one every person—human or magical—should read.

“Unlike you, I’m not one to bury my head in the sand.” I jerk free and stomp away.

He grabs me again. “What does that bloody mean?”

“These people need you. And you plan to turn your back on them because you think it’s not your fight? I never knew Marines were afraid.”

Caden’s blue eyes narrow. “Is that what you think? I’mnotafraid. If I survived two tours in desert shitholes, I can survive this, I assure you.”

“Then why won’t you fight with your people?”

His pulls away. “Because they’re not. I left England and everyone magical at eighteen. All this wand waving and the like, it isn’t normal.”

“Normal? You’ve already transitioned. You can’t change that. What magickind can do is 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 crosses his arms over his chest, mouth thin with anger. “Why don’t you want to follow your parents and join the academic crowd?”

I hesitate. “I just didn’t. It didn’t fit me.”

“Precisely!” Caden throws his hands wide.

If anyone tried to force me into that tediously dull, pretentious academic scene, they’d have to drag me kicking and screaming. I don’t fit there. Square peg, round hole. But this isn’t about a career. This is hisheritage!Still, I sense Caden’s reticence is deep.

My gut tells me he isn’t being completely honest. Given that, how can he possibly claim I’m important? He feels responsiblefor me, but his unwillingness to truly share himself screams that he doesn’t love me.

It hurts.

“They need you,” I say quietly.

He shakes his head. “They need someone passionate about their cause. That isn’t me.”

“What’s the real reason?” I should bloody stop trying to make him share himself, but I keep hoping.

Caden recoils. “I don’t want to discuss it.”

He doesn’t trust me, not with his story, not with his secrets. Not with his heart. And he doesn’t care for me enough to try. I have no one to blame but myself. Bloody stupid impulse to write in the book.

“I can’t make you. It’s simply… Bram and the others won’t survive without able wizards on their side.”

Caden closes his eyes, and I almost regret my words. Almost. But I can’t skirt the truth. Even if he doesn’t want to hear it, he belongs here. He’s a wizard. By virtue of his brother’s illness and his sister-in-law’s rape, he has a stake in this fight. Heck, I barely know Anka and I’ve never seen Lucan, but my heart goes out to them. And for the people who have tried to help Aquarius, I resolve to help however I can.

Caden shrugs his shoulders uncomfortably. “More Tynans will appear at Bram’s door as word inevitably spreads.”

“Why doesn’t everyone know about Mathias and the Doomsday Brethren?” I anchor a hand on my 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 Mathias’s return. While people are being attacked. What’s going on?”

Caden pinches the bridge of his nose. “Bram sits on the magical Council that governs magickind. There are seven councilmen in total. Tynan O’Shea’s grandfather is among them,as is my uncle. Bram has pushed them to advise magickind about Mathias’s return, but the others are controlling bastards who prefer to pretend problems don’t exist. Bram wants a transcast. It’s a television-like broadcast using magical mirrors. They were established for just such emergencies.”

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