Page 62 of Seduce Me in Shadow

“TheSimon Northam? The Duke of Hurstgrove?”

“You know him?”

“I knowofhim. Who doesn’t?Hello!magazine has named him England’s sexiest bachelor too many times to count. He’s filthy rich and intelligent, and…he knows about this book? And he’s willing to talk to me?”

“Indeed. Antique books are a passion of his. They both need to examine it. In your presence, of course.” Right before they steal it. “They can either come here or meet you at the pub ‘round the corner. I told them I would call if you were willing.”

Sydney studies me, biting her plump, pouty lip. The sight distracts me. I yank on my internal leash to stop myself from kissing her.

She’s too human—too delicate—to be in the middle of this magical war. If she accepted my Call, her lifespan would mirror mine. I can’t subject her to centuries fraught with danger, surrounded by people who could kill her in the blink of an eye when she has no way to fight back.

“I’ll talk to them,” she says. “But no pictures. The book doesn’t leave my sight. No one writes anything down.”

“And you’ll call Holly?”

“If I like what Olivia and Hurstgrove say, I’ll tell her to hold the story so I can make revisions. If I don’t hear anything interesting, it’ll run as is.”

Once they take the book, I’ll have to find some way to convince her to pull the article. But I won’t shag her to do it. After this deception, I refuse to hurt her again.

“Thank you. I hope you find Olivia and Duke’s information helpful.”

“Duke?”

“Simon’s nickname.”

“Simon, is it? How well do you know him?”

Well enough to have fought a battle by his side. Well enough to have endured Marrok’s physical training side by side until we nearly dropped. Of all the Doomsday Brethren, I like Duke most.He’s not the titled prat I first thought. He doesn’t bark orders like Marrok. He isn’t half mad like Ice. Or a manipulative sod like Bram. He’s reliable unlike Shock. Duke is quiet, shrewd, and tough when necessary. Having a bazillion pounds hasn’t made him pretentious at all.

“We met a few weeks ago,” I hedge. “He’s a friend of my brother’s.”

Sydney shakes her head. “This is surreal. I appreciate you introducing me to Olivia and ‘Duke.’ But regardless of what they say, I still can’t give you the name of my source.”

I wish otherwise, but I respect her loyalty. “I know.”

“If you want me to meet these people, why come here alone?”

To see her. Talk to her. Touch her one last time.

Her lips part expectantly, and I tense, step closer. It would be so easy… Lean in, close my eyes, press my mouth to hers, let magic and fate take over. I would have someone who would be mine literally until death—or Mathias—parts us.

What if she doesn’t want that? Committing to me wouldn’t be for a typical fifty years, but a millennium. Every moment of it dangerous.

“I can’t stay away from you. You’re an amazing woman.”

She swallows. The moment pulses between us, thick, tense. I lean closer, drawn by her sweet jasmine scent, by those chocolate eyes that are melting me by the second.

No, no, no!My internal temperature kicks up—right along with my amped-up sex drive. I’ve barely touched her, and I’m unbearably aroused. I cup her cheek with a shaking hand and trail my thumb over her lips. Her mouth looks like heaven.

“This isn’t a good idea,” she breathes raggedly.

She feels this ungodly pull between us, too.

That knowledge sears me.

I caress my way from her shoulder to her nape. “If you don’t want me, stop me.”

Chapter

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