Page 78 of Seduce Me in Shadow

Duke now looks equally horrified. “Did your article release?”

“Probably,” she snaps back. “So? I’m not saying another word until you explain your twin.”

Despite his high-class upbringing, Duke repeats the curse, embellishing it with several creative accompaniments.

Wiping a hand across my tired face, I sigh. What else could go bloody wrong? I’ve already transitioned into magic I don’t want. Sydney has seen my clone and knows damn well she wasn’t hallucinating. I’m exhausted and want to sleep for a week. Instead, I have to deal with the fact the public—including Mathias—can now read about the Doomsday Diary.

“What did the article say?” I demand.

She glares back. “Why were there two of you?”

“Damn it, woman!” Duke thunders. “Answer him. This is life or death.”

Something about Duke’s expression penetrates Sydney’s anger. “I wrote that it’s red and reputed to be the creation of Morgana Le Fay. That it has the ability to grant people’s…wishes.”

A more than adequate description for Mathias to identify the diary. I toss out a new collection of F-bombs. Duke follows suit.

“I merely wrote the truth,” Sydney spits.

She did, and Bram will be furious. She’s in danger. Things are going to hell fast. And I’ve no doubt matters will only get worse.

I have to fix this, or I’ll likely get eternal rest because either Bram or Mathias will put me six feet under. And the latter will make certain Sydney joins me.

“Where is the book now?”

She narrows her eyes. “Why?”

I look at Duke, and I know exactly what the other man is thinking:How the bloody hell should we answer that?

“There’s a madman who will do anything to obtain that book, even kill you.”

Sydney regards me with a considering frown. “How do you know? From Scotland Yard, are you?”

I risk another glance at Duke, who nods almost imperceptibly. “We’ve had some experience with these affairs.”

“Madmen in general or the ones after my book? The average person isn’t going to believe the article, you know. They’ll either think I’m creative or mad. And why should I believe a word you say when you’ve yet to explain my unexpected houseguest?”

“Dear god, spare me such a woman,” Duke mutters.

Sydney and I both shoot him a glare. Then I take her by the shoulders. “I know you’re angry and off-kilter, but have I ever put your life in danger?”

“No.”

“Now isn’t the time to explain. Grab your book. We need to find Aquarius. She knows where it came from and how it came to be unprotected.”

“Why would a book need protecting?”

“Do you think it’s a normal book?” I shoot back.

Sydney flushes. So she knows it isn’t. Has she written in it about me? She’d said no when I had asked before, but now I wonder…

“Get it,” Duke barks. “We’re wasting time. Even now, we’re in jeopardy.”

Duke is right. Mathias could be breathing down our necks. I bring Sydney closer, terrified at the thought of the evil wizard after her. How much good would a pampered duke and an exhausted, newly transitioned wizard do in fighting off an Anarki army? Highly unlikely that I’d be able to conjure a duplicate on purpose. And damn it, I don’t want to use magic to fight. I’d rather utilize the training I received in the Marines.

Sydney breaks my hold. “Until you explain everything, I am not budging an inch.”

“Pick her up and throw her over your shoulder, or by God, I will,” Duke orders.

---