Page 121 of Seduce Me in Shadow

Time to save who we can, detonate the C4, and blow this joint—literally.

With Mathias’s attentions engaged by the others, I race to complete my mission, darting to the first visible support beam and applying the explosive putty.

Marrok steps toward the crowd of Anarki zombies, sword drawn. He swings, cutting several in half. Black blood spurts in every direction. With a fist pump, I dodge my way to the next support beam—stopping to slice and dice any Anarki intent on stopping me. Duke joins me, shooting down several zombies in his way.

While I bend to secure the next explosive, Mathias snarls, eyes narrowed at Bram as he closes in on one side. Ice approaches from the front, Tynan from his opposite side.

“Your Anarki can’t stop us. We’re not going to rest until you’re back in exile,” Bram says. “You’re surrounded. Give up.”

Mathias snorts, the sound abrasive and amused. “You may have Merlin’s blood in your veins, but I will still decimate you and your worthless bunch.”

He summons the Anarki. The frigid zombies crush in, forming a protective circle around their master. Marrok and Duke cut through them. Bram dodges his would-be killers with a blade here and an elbow there. Tynan follows, determined to get his pound of flesh.

Sydney, still by the door, grabs an aerosol can and lighter from her bag. “Duck!” she screams, unleashing a fireball that singes the first row of zombies. The second row pauses their catatonic march, either tripping over their dead cohorts or falling victim to the fire.

Then the spray sputters out, and the horde surges forward again.

A zombie reaches Sydney, pinning her to the wall. She grabs her handbag and tries to twist away. Blood spreads across her white sleeve as she gasps in pain. My protective instincts explode. I leap over zombies, shooting and knifing my way to her.

Suddenly, I’m in front of another, this one wearing fatigues. Evil pours from his eyes. With my bullets running low, I clutch my knife, then look back up at the zombie. Recognition shocks me.

“Brian?”

My marine buddy’s face, now pasty white with vacant eyes, stares back at me. I swallow, unable to move.

Kill him!Shock’s voice roars in my head.

How is this possible?

Kill him before he tears you to pieces,Shock demands.

“Brian?” I try one last time.

Nothing but a creepy smile and a shivery death grip that reaches ever closer.

Sydney’s scream snaps me back to the moment. With an anguished curse, I plunge the knife into Brian’s neck, nearly decapitating him. He crumples to the ground, dead, but still no longer human.

Guilt, grief, and relief war inside me as I step over his body and scramble to Sydney. I compartmentalize what just happened into a box for later and slam the zombie choking her into the wall. But another drags her along the floor, blood spreading across her torn shirt.

I grab that zombie holding Sydney and push him face first into the concrete wall. It’s still fighting after the first blow, so I deliver two more. The undead soldier goes limp.

Panic burns through me as I realize another zombie has Sydney by the neck and I won’t reach her in time. A swell of energy bounds inside me, tingling in my fingertips. Suddenly, Ipicture the broken glass on the floor flying toward the Anarki. My arms raise, seemingly of their own volition, and hurtle forward.

The intensity of the moment, the fear for Sydney, and the unexpected surge of magical power course through me. I’m terrified I’ll lose her, furious at myself for not protecting her better, and shocked by this sudden manifestation of magic I’ve long denied. As the glass flies, I pray it’s enough to save her, knowing that if it isn’t, I’ll tear this place apart with my bare hands to keep her safe.

Chapter

Fifty-Four

Isnarl, and glass shards fly past me and embed sharp points into the zombie’s back. Black blood flows, gurgles, and the creature falls to the ground.

Bloody hell, I’ve done magic. No time to rail or cheer.

I charge toward Sydney as a fresh swarm of Anarki head her way. She clutches her handbag as she flees the zombies, utter terror contorting her face.

I can’t see Bram or the rest of the Doomsday Brethren, but it doesn’t matter. I’m done risking Sydney.

With superhuman speed, I reach my little firecracker before the Anarki and grab her against me, avoiding her injured shoulder. She wraps one arm and her legs around me. Her handbag bobs against my side as I race out the front door of the warehouse and reach into my pocket to set off the warning charge. An explosion just outside the building rattles the walls and sends up flames.

---