Page 80 of Seduce Me in Shadow

Thirty-Six

Sydney nods, paling. “Holly hired him because he had photos of the bodies in the tunnel and claimed knowledge about the magical war…”

“I’ll bet he did. Christ…” My blood runs cold, and I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. The thought of Zain anywhere near Sydney makes me want to kill. “He’s incredibly dangerous. Did he touch you? Did he try anything?”

“Is he a wizard, too?” she asks, her voice small.

“Indeed.” I clench my fists, trying to control the rage and fear coursing through me. “An utterly ruthless one.”

“No doubt he had nefarious plans for you,” Bram interjects. “Mathias repeatedly raped your source for these articles. If he finds you, he’ll do the same to you. Then kill you for sport. When you were writing this, did you wonder if any of this magic business was real? It is. Welcome to the war, poppet.”

Her expression is wide-eyed with both shock and apology. “I-I wondered if it was real. I never meant to see anyone hurt. I merely meant?—”

“Piss off!” I growl at Bram. “She didn’t know. She was just doing her damn job. And you’ve just put her in more danger. Congratulations.”

Bram raises a pale brow. “Don’t start. All you had to do was shut her up and get the book before every bloodyOut Of this Realmreader discovered our secrets and magickind’s greatest weapon. You failed on both counts.”

“Enough. We must cease this foolish sparring and leave before Mathias locates your girlfriend,” Duke admonishes.

That breaks the tension between Bram and me.

Sydney is still processing. “This is truly real? I mean, I wondered. But…magickind and Mathias and this book, it’s all connected and not a byproduct of a tortured woman’s mind?”

Bram rolls his eyes. “Aren’t you the clever cogs?”

Sydney glares at Bram. “Prove it’s real.”

“Once we’re not lounging about like clay pigeons at a shooting party, I’d be delighted.”

“Stop patronizing her,” I demand. “She’s had three minutes to adjust to magickind. You’ve had four hundred years.”

“Four hundred!” Sydney’s jaw drops.

“Bugger off,” Bram snarls at me. “I’m only three hundred ninety-eight. And Duke is right; we need to get the bloody hell out of here. I’ll yell at you both once we’re safe.”

“It’s my book, my flat, and my article. I’m not leaving without answers.” Sydney braces her hands on her hips.

Duke sighs as if he’s grappling for patience. “You’re certain about this one? Seems more trouble than she’s worth.”

I pull Sydney against me. “I won’t leave her here.”

“God, no. She’ll be dead by noon—after she’s told Mathias everything she knows.” Bram elbows me aside and seizes Sydney’s wrist. “If you want to live, come with us.”

She turns to me.

“Please.” I extricate her from Bram’s grip. “If you’ve ever believed a single word I’ve said, believe that I would die if Mathias hurt you. And he will, if you stay.”

She bites her lower lip, clearly thinking. “All right.”

I exhale the tense breath I’ve been holding. It will be all right. She will be all right. Whatever else happens, I’ll have the assurance of knowing she’s safe from the clutches of a madman who would use her in the cruelest way possible until she broke, then discard her without a second thought.

“Thank you.” I enfold her against my chest, resisting the urge to press my mouth to hers. Need burns me like a fever, and the words of the Call keep echoing in my brain. I bury my face in her fiery hair and resist—barely.

“Enough. Let’s go,” Bram says.

Collectively, we turn for the door—and I see a familiar, elfin-looking flower child standing there, crying.

“Aquarius!” Sydney breaks free from my hold and dashes to her friend.

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