Page 39 of Seduce Me in Shadow

Sydney sends me a considering stare. “Convincing her will be a challenge. Besides, she’s gone for a bit.”

“With Aquarius? On holiday? Where?”

“Don’t know. Their plans weren’t set. Said something about Paris, perhaps.”

Damn it all! “I have a bad feeling. Hold off until I can be certain you’re safe. I beg you.”

“You’re overreacting. I’m in no danger; I’m just the reporter. It’s…thoughtful of you to be concerned, but I’m a big girl who’s more than capable of taking care of myself. Besides, Holly wantsthe next installment of this story posthaste. I have to roll with what I know.”

Tamping down my frustration, I shake my head. I must persuade Sydney to stop this story—or I fear the worst. “Where is the picture your previous photographer took of the battle aftermath? Can I have a look?”

Sydney rifles through one of the folders on her desk, then slides the image across the desk to me. “Here.”

I slide it back in front of her. “How many dead bodies do you see?”

She shrugs. “It’s too dark and grainy to truly tell.”

“More than a few?”

She hesitates, as if she grasps my point before I make it and is already looking for a way to refute it. “Yes.”

“Dozens, in fact. Wouldn’t you say?”

“It’s possible.”

“No, it’s obvious. These were men. Judging from their uniforms, many were soldiers, which means they were trained in combat. And they are dead in droves.” I pause, letting my words sink in. “After seeing this, do you imagine that if Mathias wants this story hushed, he’d have any compunction about killing you?”

Sydney doesn’t reply, but she’s giving the photo a second glance and nibbling on her lip as if she grasps my point and can’t bring herself to admit it.

“By all accounts, there was blood everywhere,” I press on. “Severed heads and limbs, multiple gunshots, and death scattered all over the place. What do you know about defending yourself against that?”

She looks all around except at me while fiddling with her pen and tapping her toes. The truth is staring her in the face.

“Sydney?”

“All right. I don’t know a bloody thing. But you can’t fight off magic, either.”

“At least I know how to use a gun. Before you do anything for this story, especially visit the madman’s victim, take me with you. That’s all I ask.”

She sighs. “I’ll…think about it.”

Chapter

Nineteen

Sydney

Near the end of the day, Holly stomps into my office, brows and hands both raised in an expectant expression. People often underestimate her because of her Kewpie-doll looks—and they always pay the price.

“Where is the latest installment in the magical war saga?” Holly asks. “Chop, chop. I’ve got loads of messages from invested readers.”

Everyone seems enthralled, especially my hunky photographer. This morning, he conveyed his passion for this tale with more than questions. While his insistence is compelling, it remains to be seen whether his interest is a scam. I want to believe him…

“I’m still working on a draft of the story,” I say. “Maybe by tomorrow or Wednesday.”

“What? I need it now. This is tomorrow afternoon’s top story. It has to be to copy editing no later than tomorrow morning.”

“It’s…” I shake my head. “I’m not happy with it. The angle troubles me.”

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