Page 103 of Seduce Me in Shadow

“And the Council has refused?” My jaw drops.

“They don’t see this as an emergency. Some have even written off the ‘problem’ as pranksters stirring up trouble for the sport of scaring people.”

“That’s insane! If they only saw Anka’s condition… The poor woman could barely speak coherently when I first met her. And this Auropha; Mathias killed her. That’s hardly a prank!”

“Despite the fact Auropha MacKinnett’s father sat on the Council and the girl was murdered by Mathias, the curmudgeons won’t budge. They’re a traditional lot, according to Bram. I think they’re afraid.”

“Magickind should know. This is censorship! And very dangerous to people caught unaware. I want to talk to Bram.” And the first item on my agenda is the thing I excel at most. “Everyone must know about Mathias so they can protect themselves.”

He frowns. “Why?”

“I’ve never done a… What did you call it? Transcast. But I’m a reporter. In an emergency, I don’t have to be magical or entertaining, just informational.”

He leans in with a scowl. “You want to transcast to magickind?”

“It’s the only way I can help. I’ll never learn to fight or be able to wave a wand. But by God, I can keep people informed.”

Chapter

Forty-Six

Caden

Bloody hell, doesn’t Sydney realize the target she’ll paint on herself if she transcasts? All of magickind—Mathias included—will see her face. His victims never stand a chance, because they’re woefully uninformed and unprepared. But for daring to warn others, he would devise unspeakable tortures for Sydney. I admire her bravery, but…

“No. Absolutely not.”

“It’s not your choice. You’ll be returning to Dallas alone, remember?” She raises that sassy ginger brow, then brushes past me.

She’s headed for the back door, determined to plunge deeper into this magical quagmire. I’ve already failed Lucan and Anka. I won’t fail Sydney by letting her court death. Even if I can’t claim her as my mate, losing her would destroy me.

I stalk after her and grab her arm. “You can’t do this. Me leaving doesn’t mean I don’t give a damn.”

“No, but the fact you refuse to be honest about your reasons for avoiding magic does.”

Blast it, she’s too clever by half. I yank her against me. “I won’t let you get hurt—or worse.”

“You may be fine running away, but I’m not. I can help prevent others from suffering like Aquarius or Anka. Since you and I are through, and you won’t battle Mathias or fight for us, we’ve nothing left to say.”

Fear clogs my throat. She doesn’t truly grasp the danger. I have to stop her. If Mathias hurts her… The thought nearly brings me to my knees.

“The hell we don’t!” Protective rage surging through me, I scoop Sydney against my body and carry her into the library, slamming the door behind us.

Sydney writhes against me. “Put me down, damn you!”

Her movements send lightning through my veins. No matter how badly I want her, we need to talk. She has to see reason.

I deposit her on Bram’s sofa. She glares up at me, sprawled and furious. Desire ignites in my blood. I struggle to ignore it.

“Let me be very clear, Sydney: You. Are. Not. Transcasting.”

She scoffs. “I’m a grown woman. How will you stop me once you’re gone?”

Her challenge hits like a sledgehammer. She’s right. If I find Anka, right Lucan’s life, and depart as planned, I’ll be leaving Sydney to her own devices.

Not bloody likely.

“Until you see reason, I’m not going anywhere.”

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