Page 33 of Seduce Me in Shadow

“But Sabelle is the only person keeping Lucan from death. I know. Even Ice had words with me about the matter. But my sister does what she wants, so she’ll heed none of us and do exactly as she pleases.”

Before I can reply, a series of gongs and whistles sound through the house, startling me.

Bram stiffens and swears. “Fuck all. What does he want?”

From my childhood, I remember magical calling cards. “Who’s that?”

“Shock Denzell.”

Instead of mentally easing the barriers around the estate to admit the git, Bram stomps out of his study and across the foyer before flinging open the front door. In the distance stands a cross between a body builder and a Mack truck. He’s like something out of a Terminator movie. Big, bad, and hiding behind dark sunglasses, Shock stands with arms crossed over his leather-clad chest, wearing an unapologetic fuck-off glare.

Bram stalks out to meet him. I follow in curiosity.

“Why are you here?” Rion demands of the bastard.

“Let me in, and I’ll tell you.”

I stiffen. The man was Lucan’s rival for Anka. Since that drama happened before I was born, I don’t know the intimate details. I’ve hardly seen Lucan or his mate since I was a teenager. But one thing I know without question? My brother hates Shock.

“After the way you supported your old chum Mathias a few short weeks ago?” Bram stops before the wizard, arms crossed. “I think not.”

“Are you bloody stupid? Who do you think put the Doomsday Diary in Olivia’s hands that night? Who helped her focus her magic so she could blast Mathias with her power?”

“Trying to convince me you’re a hero?” Bram drawls, skeptical brow raised.

“Pull your head out of your arse and think.”

“Right now, I can’t. Your boss is making my life hell. I would rather fry your brain and be done with you.”

“You’re a stubborn sod. You know that? I’m being cautious in case I’ve been followed. Zain is suspicious and eager to please Mathias. Let me in so we can’t be overheard, and I’ll explain.”

“Are you alone?”

I whirl on Bram. Trust Shock? “Are you mad?”

Both wizards ignore me.

Shock throws his arms wide as if to illustrate he’s come without backup. “If I weren’t, I know you’d try to kill me.”

“There would be no try about it.” Bram pierces Shock with a cold stare. “You have three minutes to explain where the bloody hell you’ve been. If you pull anything, nearly every Doomsday warrior is here and would be glad to help me off you. If I dislike your answer, I’ll shut you in a room with Lucan, and God help you then.”

Shock scowls, looking puzzled, but begins hiking through the foggy morning toward the house.

How the fuck can Shock possibly be confused?

“I say we skip his explanation and let Lucan take him apart. I’ll help.”

“That option has definite appeal, but I want to hear this before I make up my mind.”

“Honestly,” I whisper, holding him back. “Who benefited most from my brother’s…ailment?”

“Other than Mathias? Shock, clearly. But Olivia claims she saw Anka with Mathias.”

“Before he sent her away to God knows where. To Shock? Who does the asshole likely work for, after all?” Perhaps I’ve been chasing Sydney’s source foolishly. Maybe Shock has Anka stashed under our noses and in his bed.

Bram pauses. “I don’t trust him, but he would never tolerate a scheme in which Mathias abused her. Shock Called to Anka. A wizard’s first and foremost instinct is to protect the woman he sees as his mate. Besides, he’s right about one thing. During the battle in the tunnel, he delivered the Book of Doomsday to Olivia, not Mathias. The question is, why?”

For his own murky purposes, no doubt. I grit my teeth. Bram is going to think whatever he likes until he sees hard proof otherwise; I’ve learned that much about the wizard since coming here.

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