Seduce Me in Shadow
Page 20

Duke pulled close to the walk, then turned to Olivia. Can you park this? Call Marrok and tell him your location. Suggest that Sabelle fetch you as soon as possible. I hate to leave you alone, even for a moment.
Olivia laid a soft hand on his shoulder. Im fine.
Bad people still want their bloody hands on you, my little le Fay. Youre in danger. Be careful.
Le Fay? Like Morganna le Fay?
A smile curved the beautys mouth. Youre like the annoying big brother I never had.
Big brothers know best. Now go.
At Olivias nod, Duke exited the vehicle, doffing his sweater. When, the back door opened, he leaned in. Sydney wriggled to lower her skirt, which earned her a growl from Caden. Hurstgrove never looked her way.
Come with me. Duke grabbed Caden by the neck and yanked him to his feet. Caden fought, hitting his head on the top of the door.
Careful! she insisted.
As soon as he cleared the vehicle, Caden snarled and whirled, throwing wicked punches in the air.
Duke spun him around, then clamped his arms around Cadens middle. Put this on. He tossed her his sweater. Go. Open your door. Well follow.
Sydney skipped the lift and headed for the stairs, uncertain that Duke could contain Caden during the ancient machines long ascent.
Behind her, Caden grunted, straining to be free. She swallowed. His desire was contagious. Want hiked up her breathing, cramped her sex. But terror crept in. What if she couldnt help him? What if her efforts to reach his heart didnt heal him? What if this was all due to that damn book?
Suddenly, Duke huffed. Bloody hell!
Glancing over her shoulder, Sydney found Duke doubled overand Caden charging for her. He pinned her to the wall a moment later, grabbing her thigh in one hand and nipping at her throat with his lips. She felt his erection pressed against her. Her anticipation skyrocketed, and she palmed her way under his shirt, eager to feel the hot, bare skin of his back.
Not in the hall, Duke admonished. Lets get behind closed doors, shall we?
Oops! No matter how badly she wanted Caden, Hurst-grove was right. Admittedly, it was odd to be nearly ravished in front of a stranger, and she was hardly in the humor to provide a peep show for her neighbors. But caring at the moment was bloody hard. What woman didnt have a fantasy or two about a man being so overcome with passion he was hardly himself? Even more, the fact Caden had asked her to be the anchor in his storm added to her thrill.
So when Caden pressed against her and whispered that he couldnt wait to be alone with her, inside her, she melted all over again.
With a curse, Duke managed to pry Caden away and push him up the stairs. They trudged toward her door.
As they reached it, Duke tried to soothe her by patting her shoulder. After youre inside and together, all will be well.
Suddenly, Caden shoved her behind his big, hot body, then whirled to face Hurstgrove, then clasped his hand around the dukes throat. You will not touch her.
Right. Duke held up both hands in surrender. Wont do that.
Caden growled and let go, then turned back to Sydney. Possessiveness? Yes, it was in his eyes. Shed always been certain that this relationship meant more to her heart than his, but now . . . now she questioned that. Was she finally seeing the emotions hed kept hidden behind his barriers?
Hoping yes, she raced for her door, inserting her key with trembling fingers. He was right behind her, pressing her to the wood, breathing hot and hard in her ear.
Dont leave me, Sydney.
She finally managed to turn the key, and they spilled inside the little flat. Caden roared in after her, his expression a pledge that he meant to have her. Heart trumpeting, she drew in a ragged breath. Duke followed them in, shutting and locking the door, his gaze discreetly focused elsewhere.
Hurstgrove spotted the hallway leading to her bedroom and gestured to her. Take him.
Be with me, Caden murmured. Now. I need you.
Sydney wanted that more than anything, but needed some information about his condition first. Were here. Explain. Why is he suddenly a randy octopus and why does he want my help?
Duke mussed his expensively coiffed hair by raking a hand through it. He cursed something ugly. Then he glanced at Caden, feverish and sliding his hands over her arms, across her abdomen, burning her up with his touch.
This is off the record. If one word of this appears in your tabloid, I will use all my wealth and connections to shut it down and unemploy you permanently.
His intimidation tactics startled Sydneyand annoyed her. If he hadnt been Cadens friend and she hadnt seen his concern in action, shed have tossed him out on his ear. Yes, he was wealthy and powerful, but if she stumbled upon a hidden truth, she wanted to tell it. Still, she had no doubt Duke could make good on his threats.
I dont like being bullied. She glared at Duke.
Understood. But youre dealing with something very dangerous you cant possibly understand.
Her heart stopped. Cadens condition is that serious?
Duke hesitated. Not exactly. Its everything youve been writing about.
Caden had warned her of that repeatedly, seemed gravely concerned about her safety. In what way? What does magic have to do with him?
At that moment, Caden planted his mouth on her neck, hand under the sweater, and whispered of his need. She shivered, her mind whirling and her body aching. But Dukes words demanded a few moments of attention before she lost herself in Cadens touch.
Were out of time. All I can say now is that Caden has been touched by magic and hes chosen you, and you alone, to provide a healing touch. Hell reject all others, I suspect.
The fact hed chosen her was both thrilling and surprising, but . . . Touched by magic? Cursed?
Sydney thought again of the book and all shed written and winced.
Im certain thats how he sees it. By joining with you, he can convert the energy you generate together into something that heals him.
How do you know? Sydney managed to gasp out as Caden gripped her hips and pressed into her, clearly ready for a night of sin. She wasnt at all immune to the idea.
Ive been through this. He needs you now. Please, Duke cajoled. Hes going to require everything youre willing to give. Just dont kiss him. It would be catastrophic.
To his health?
Cadens hands maneuvered up her belly, to the sweater and began lifting it. Sydney tried to wriggle away, but his grip was like iron. He wanted her. Now.
Duke nodded. And perhaps yours.
Does this have anything to do with the book? Sydney hated to think shed done this to him. Hed be furious and hate herand rightfully so.
Caden had apparently tired of talking. He tore Dukes sweater from her body and urged her down the hall. When she resisted, he scooped her up and carried her.
What theCaden!
With a grunt, he kept going.
Give him what he needs for as long as you can, Duke called out.
I will!
Now her only questions were: How long would that be? And did she have everything necessary to heal him?
So what happens now?
Duke whirled toward the voice. Olivia. He hadnt heard her come in the door.
That was locked. He frowned.
She shrugged. Ive been working on my simple magic. Locks are a breeze for me now.
Despite the tense situation, he smiled. Marrok always says youre mischievous. I see why. Is Sabelle coming for you?
A thud reverberated through the room, like something or someonehad hit the wall. Moments later, a murmur, a rip, then a sigh. Clearly, they werent wasting any time. Duke winced.
Soon, Olivia answered, flushing a pretty shade of pink. Shes helping Bram elsewhere now. Marrok asked me to wait with you for a bit.
With a nod, Duke sat on the sofa. Olivia followed suit.
On the other side of the wall, sighs turned to moans.
He hesitated. I suppose you wont settle for the short version of upcoming events.
You know better.
Duke settled his elbows on his knees and peered over at the violet-eyed beauty. She was striking and soon would be a powerful witch once she went through Cadens current plight.
Hes transitioning, and I suspect hes been fighting the need for some weeks, so hell need a tremendous amount of energy. Its going to be long and difficult. And dangerous. Its made worse because hes fighting the urge to Call to her.
Olivias eyes threatened to pop from her head. A human reporter? Has he completely lost it?
Her American expressions often amused Duke, but now wasnt the time. Ive warned him. I also placed a secret repelling spell over her mouth. Its not foolproof and wont hold for more than a few days, but its all I can do for now. My biggest concern is whether shell be strong enough to pull him through this transition.
It doesnt take a lot of physical strength for a female to have sex, she pointed out.
Perhaps stamina is a better word.
Olivia frowned. How long will they be at this?
A loud feminine moan penetrated the walls, followed by a male voice muttering in encouraging tones.
Duke managed to hide his grimace. The average is two days.
But it can be longer?
Yes. He scrubbed a hand over his face. Frightening the girl who had yet to undergo her own transition was something he wanted to avoid, but being dishonest benefitted no one. My transition came two years early. In my ignorance, I fought it. My parents knew little about magic, since mine came from my grandmother, who had long since disappeared. So when I transitioned, it was harsh, as I suspect Cadens will be.
And yours took longer?
Before he could answer, a thumping against the wall startled him. The sound echoed through Sydneys little living room once, twice, again, then settled into a rhythmic pace. Bloody hell.
Three days, he confessed. It was one of the few times his body and magic had completely overridden his decorum. For those few days, no amount of sex had been enough, no act too wicked. Hed rejected food, water, family.
The poor woman must have been exhausted after three days. I can see why youre worried for Sydney.
When Duke had transitioned, his emotions had not been engaged with a woman, as Cadens were. Hed started with a woman hed been casually dating. When she fell into an exhausted sleep, he hadnt thought twice about opening the door to growl for another.
But he said nothing. Still, something on his face must have shown his discomfort.
More than one woman? Olivia choked.
He closed his eyes. Four. And the last had nearly had to be replaced.
A good thing, he thought in retrospect. At the end of every transition, each witchs or wizards special power, unique to them, emergedwithout any warning when or what would manifest. When his special power had emerged, if the woman hed been with hadnt been mostly unconscious, she would have screamed in utter terror.
What happens if Sydney isnt strong enough to pull him through?
Lets hope for the best, shall we?
Olivia didnt look comforted. Are you trying to avoid telling me that he could die?
He patted her hand to reassure her. You will be better prepared. Bram will tell Marrok well in advance whats to come and how to behave. My family was not so lucky. Do not fear; your transition will come off splendidly.
Im not worried about me. Marrok will do everything in his power to get me through. But Im worried about Caden.
What if Sydney cant? Who will
Replacing her doesnt seem to be an option. Caden is dangerously attached, and I can only hope we find some way to separate them before he cements the bond by issuing the Call or
Yes. Yes! Sydney wailed on the other side of the wall.
We wont ever be able to part them, Olivia finished.
Hell kill anyone who tries. A wizard will fight for his mate to the death.
But shes a reporter who could spill every one of our secrets. Caden says shes ambitious and plans to use her current job as a stepping stone to something big. Blowing the magickind story open is disaster for us. She already knows too much about the war and Mathias and
Could make genocide of our kind a terrible reality. But the way he looks at her, I fear it wont be long after this transition before they form a mate bond.
She grimaced. Well, there must be something productive we can do while we wait. We need the Diary. Shouldnt we look for it while Sydney is . . . busy? If we find it, Ill be able to grab it and go.
Good thought. In the past youve been able to feel its power. Do you sense it here?
With a scowl, Olivia rose and wandered around the little flat. I dont feel it in this room. She meandered into the kitchen, the foyer, into every corner of the apartment on the near side of Sydneys bedroom door, then sighed. If its in this flat, Sydney is keeping it in her bedroom. I cant feel the surge of the books power unless its close, and definitely not through the door.
Duke pinched the bridge of his nose. If you go into the bedroom to search while Caden is transitioning, he may perceive you as a threat.
And try to kill me. Spectacular.
He patted her shoulder. And if I let anything happen to you, Marrok would kill me. Why dont we return to the sofa and wait . . . and hope disaster isnt around the corner?