Page 125 of Seduce Me in Shadow

“Change happens in everyone’s lives, whether you’re magical or not. Tell me what’s so terrible?—”

“There’s no point except to dredge up bad memories and burden you with tragedies you can’t change. I just need to go.”

“You belong here, fighting beside these warriors. I think you belong beside me, as well.” I press my lips together to hold in tears. “I’ve fallen in love with you. You used magic today to save me. You must care about me a bit. Perhaps, in time, it could be real?—”

“Itisreal.” Caden’s shoulders slump with exhaustion. He looks like defeat on two legs. “I wish the answer was as simple as love, firecracker. But taking the next step with you means accepting magic I don’t trust. It’s too uncontrollable.”

Maybe it’s pointless, but I can’t stop fighting for us. “So is life!”

“I’ve died a hundred times with the desire to kiss you, but if I do, we would be mated for a millennium. But if you keep to this path, you’re going to die—and take me down with you. I can’t stand by and watch. It will drive me mad.”

Every word is a pickax to my heart. “So you prefer to end it, just to be safe?”

“You’ve chosen to remain, and I’ll protect you. But mating in the middle of a war with both of us on the front lines?” Caden shakes his head. “There would be consequences you can’t begin to comprehend.”

“Explain them.”

“Even if I did, it would change nothing. I won’t lie and say I don’t love you or that I don’t wish things could be different. But I’d be doing us both a disservice if I spoke the Call.” Caden looks at me with bleak, hollow eyes. The expression magnifies as he touches my cheek and holds me close and kisses my forehead.

I jerk from his embrace. A heavy ache spreads through my chest, shattering my heart into a million pieces. “I’ll do my damnedest to make you regret your choice.”

I tremble as I grab the video camera, a sharp pain searing my heart.

Unable to stop myself, I drink in the sight of him one last time. Those tousled curls, those electric eyes that see right through me, that body built for sin… Yes, he started as a walking fantasy, igniting a lust I never knew. But the man beneath that gorgeous exterior is so much more. The brother who sacrificed everything, the lover who believed in me when no one else did,the passionate soul who set me on fire with a single touch. Even now, as he fights his own instincts to run, he’s determined to protect me. That’s the Caden I fell for, the one I’m losing, and it’s tearing me apart.

But it appears that magic is a hurdle we can’t overcome. Magickind has become more than a story to me. Bram and the others are a handful against a powerful evil. If I can help them, I will. I’ll proudly do this job until I can return to the human world to tell the best story ever about this mystical world within a world.

Pity I’ll take the spotlight alone.

“No doubt you’ll achieve all your ambitions. I’ll miss you more than you’ll ever know,” Caden whispers.

With tears burning my eyes, I watch Caden leave.

Chapter

Fifty-Six

Sydney

“…sobering video from a fight that took place earlier today. Mathias D’Arc is definitely back and, as you saw, is abducting soldiers from around the world and converting them to zombies to make his army. He and his followers have attacked at least four Privileged families, killing many and abducting the women and children. Take precautions. Keep close watch on your family. Never stray far from your wand. Have some means of communication nearby. If you’re being attacked, contact Bram Rion. Updates will follow as necessary. I’m Sydney Blair. Stay safe, and good afternoon.”

With that, Bram waves a hand in front of the ancient, heavy mirror hanging in the library. Beside him, Sabelle stands with a smile, despite the strain on her face.

“Good job,” Bram praises, exiting into the hall. “Angry Council members will start screaming their displeasure in mere moments, but at least innocent people have been warned.”

“You’ve done the right thing,” Sabelle adds.

He nods absently and faces me. “Are you all right?”

Transcasting the news of Mathias’s return was both exhilarating and bittersweet. Without Caden here to cheer me on, hold my hand, and love me afterward…a part of me is missing.

“Right as rain.” I force a plastic smile to hide my melancholy and exhaustion.

“I’ll pretend I believe you and wait in my office for the deluge of messages. The rest of the warriors and I should plan our next moves.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve done magickind a great service at much risk to yourself. I appreciate you. I know the others do as well.”

Looking tired but determined, Bram retreats.

“I don’t know what he’s going to do,” Sabelle murmurs once he’s gone.

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