Page 92 of Seduce Me in Shadow

But Aquarius remains deathly still.

Perched on the other side of the bed, I lean forward and watch as Sabelle’s expression morphs before my eyes—dreamy, wanton. Her lips part, a silent moan. As she arches back against Ice’s muscled chest, a trembling sigh escapes her. The air crackles with their shared heat, and I can’t look away.

“Fuck!” Ice jerks away as if scalded. “You just blasted me with heat.”

“I-I don’t know why.” Sabelle won’t meet his gaze, but I see her eyes—unfocused and dilated. Guilt and desire war on her face.

She’s not just affected; she’s burning for Ice, even as she fights it.

Understanding blazes across Ice’s features. His jaw clenches, muscles rippling as he visibly wrestles for control. He grabs her elbow, then tilts her chin up with one finger, forcing her to look at him. “Princess, talk to me.”

“Leave it,” she breathes, trying to retreat.

He holds fast. “Not until you bloody explain what just happened.”

Ice knows damn well Sabelle’s reaction melted his magic. He wants to hear her admit it. Meanwhile, my friend is dying, and we’re wasting precious time on this charged standoff.

“It simply didn’t work,” Sabelle insists, her mask of indifference firmly in place as she turns to me.

“Bollocks,” Ice growls. “I felt everything.”

Silence stretches between them before Sabelle whispers, “You know it’s impossible.” Regret flashes in her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

She flees, leaving Ice staring after her, raw need etched into every line of his body. Olivia’s slack-jawed surprise mirrors my own.

One thing I’m almost certain of? Ice won’t let Sabelle run again now that he knows their attraction is mutual.

Chapter

Forty-One

Caden

The minute Ice returns to the study, Bram begins pacing in front of his ornate desk, looking at each warrior. The gravity—and disapproval—of that stare is unavoidable. I bristle. Admittedly, if I was still a Marine and Bram was my superior officer, I would deserve an ass-chewing.

But I have my own problems—my transition, Sydney’s attack, Lucan’s illness. Since my plate is full, I’m tempted to shout that I owe Bram nothing. But the situation is no longer that simple. The man’s sister is keeping my brother alive—at great personal expense.

I also can’t deny that, without Bram, Zain likely would have killed Sydney. I know little actual magic—and prefer it that way. It won’t be necessary once I return to Texas, but today…leaving isn’t an option because there is no mistaking the fact Sydney’s fate has utterly changed. As long as the Anarki believe she has the diary, true or not, they’ll hunt her.

Then there is the fact that Anka is somewhere out there, alone and unprotected, with little idea where she belongs. As much as I despise it, I need Bram’s help now more than ever.

“Today, many things changed. Caden transitioned. The Anarki began hotly pursuing the book once more. We have a prisoner. Again.”

“Unlike last time, we won’t let him escape,” Ice growls.

Shock grinds his teeth and sets his jaw, but nods. “If you’re keeping him here, I’ll need a low profile. If he springs free like a canary from its cage, he’ll bloody sing and convince Mathias that I’m on your side.”

“Agreed. Caden, tell the others what you learned about the book when you tried to steal it.”

Quickly, I explain my failed attempts to remove the book from Sydney’s flat, stressing the fact it literally disappeared from my hands when I crossed the threshold.

“This underscores what we’ve suspected: the Doomsday Diary can only be ‘owned’ by females. Several of us have tried to write in it. Nothing. So it cannot be utilized by a male. Which begs the question, does Mathias know this little twist?”

“’Tis impossible. That cursed book scarcely left my sight in fifteen hundred years, and I knew naught of this until now,” Marrok points out.

“But we don’t know if Mathias has other means.” Bram turns to Shock. “Does he?”

Every eye in the room turns to stare at our supposed double agent.

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