Page 116 of Seduce Me in Shadow

“Indeed. You also know it’s the right thing to do. Man up.”

“Well, fuck. There goes my Council seat.” He sounds resigned, but I see a gleam in his eyes.

As the details fall into place, a mix of excitement and terror courses through me. I’m about to dive headfirst into a magical war. It’s madness. It’s dangerous. And it’s absolutely necessary.

Caden will be furious when he finds out, but I’ll deal with him when I must. Right now, I have a world to save and a story to tell. God help anyone who tries to stand in my way.

Caden

I burst into Sydney’s bedroom as dawn breaks, my heart pounding. “You’re meeting Mathias? Absolutely not. You will not go.”

My authoritative tone falters as I drink her in. Christ, she’s barely dressed. I stare at her body, clad only in her bra and very tiny knickers. With effort, I drag my stare to her face, squaring my shoulders with determination. I’ve come to save her from a deadly mistake, not gawk.

Sydney, the minx, puts on a show. She adjusts her bra with deliberate slowness, giving me a tantalizing glimpse of her creamy breast. When one strap “accidentally” falls off, I nearly groan.

I can’t let her lead me around by my cock. But bloody hell, her lacy knickers are actually a thong! When she bends over to don a pair of socks, the sight of her bare backside and graceful legs stops all thought. Sydney’s coy look over her shoulder nearly undoes me.

“It’s none of your business,” she says, voice husky as she tugs on her shirt, then reaches for her jeans.

Her words snap me back to reality. “It bloody well is, woman. Bram tasked me with returning the book to him and shutting you up. I’ve managed the first. I’ll do the second today. No attack. No transcasting.”

“Bram and I made other plans.” She shrugs, infuriatingly casual. “Sorry.”

She fastens her jeans, grabs her trainers, and tries to slide by me. I pull her close. God, she feels perfect against me. Her lips, so right under my own, beg to be kissed.

“Did you want something?” she breathes.

You. All of you. To claim that smart mouth in every way imaginable.

“Spit it out or let me go.”

If only it were that simple. “You’re my business, Sydney.”

“Based on?”

I clench my jaw. Without finishing the Call, I have no real claim. My head knows that. My heart refuses to accept it.

“I care about you,” I admit, though the words are inadequate.

“Really?” Anger flashes in her eyes. “Prove it, then. Kiss me.”

Her challenge ignites me. She has no idea how desperately I want to taste her. Last night while searching for Anka at a pub, I was surrounded by interested women. All I could think about was Sydney. She’s consumed me, body and soul.

But that doesn’t change our situation.

“I can’t,” I choke out with regret.

“Youwon’t. Just like you won’t finish those words you started speaking in the library.”

Bloody hell, someone explained mating to her. No wonder she’s livid.

Frustration, fear, and longing boil over. “You’re right. I refuse to see you in danger. That’s exactly where you’ll be if you join this attack or if we mate. I can’t drag us deeper into this magical mess.”

“Why not?”

“What if Mathias takes you? What if I lose you? I just…can’t.”

To my surprise, her face softens. “What happened? Why do you distrust magic? You didn’t choose a human path without reason. I know you don’t fear battle or relationships. But you’ve avoided both—and me, because you suspect I’m your mate. What tragedy made you so afraid?”

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