“That’s not all bad, is it? Shouldn’t that have been a part of our transcast?”
“What will Mathias do if he learns that he’s free to kill at will among magickind, and those witches and wizards are allowed to take up their magic in defense of themselves or their families only after it’s clear Mathias means to kill them? By then, it’s bloody too late. There will be more carnage. More murders.”
I’m stunned and horrified. “Stupid fools.”
“Exactly,” Ice agrees, then looks down once more.
Again, I wonder how Ice can see himself as unworthy and undeserving. He fought a battle with the evilest wizard in a millennium and survived. He earned a seat on the Council, despite the fact no Deprived has in centuries. He battled and nearly died, but came back stronger, full of the honor and valor I so love about him. Yet he remains humble, even ashamed. How can I embrace him and create a future with him if he won’t stop focusing on his perceived failures? Doesn’t he understand that there was nothing he could do to save Gailene? That no one expected him to actually kill Mathias in the challenge ring?
“The edict is behind us, and at least for now, nothing can change the directive we’ve been given. Maybe after enough innocent deaths, the other Councilmen will concede, but until then, we have our orders: kill Mathias at all costs.” Bram glances down the table at all the Doomsday Brethren warriors. “That’s a mission we can all embrace.”
Amid nods and choruses of yeses, Bram sighs. “There’s another matter we must address, our temporary residence. I’m planning to rebuild Goldcroft Manor, bigger and better. Stronger. More secure. It will, however, take time. With Ice’s blessing, I’d like to remain here until it’s complete.”
That snaps Ice’s gaze up, straight to me. Again, the yearning and devotion on his face nearly kill me. Just that one stare makes me dizzy with want. Foolish, headstrong man.
“I–I…” Ice sighs as he looks away. “I prefer my privacy.”
His eyes dart to me when he says it. He’s not talking about the others, but I know better than to believe he doesn’t want me. What he doesn’t want is to weaken and give in to his need for me. I smile. No way am I going to allow him to put more distance between us. No way will I let him prevent me from speaking the Binding again. The moment business is done, I’ll do whatever I must to make him see reason.
“As do I,” Bram supplies. “But look at the others. Who among us has a location so well hidden, remote enough to be clandestine, with dungeons and proper safeguards?”
Ice grimaces. He apparently completed the same mental checklist.
He turns to Duke. “What of your house? It’s large and old, so likely equipped with dungeons. You’ve put safeguards around it, and we could add others?—”
“And there are at least twenty humans underfoot at all times. Would you like to hide your magic from them every moment of every day? Or explain magic to them all?”
“You could give the human servants some time off.”
“Months? Years? Besides, servants aren’t my only consideration. Don’t forget, my half brother and his fiancée are human.”
Caden frowns. “They don’t know what you are?”
Duke pauses, clears his throat. “No. And I’m afraid I must leave you temporarily to attend their wedding in two weeks’ time. It’s on New Year’s Eve. At the manor. We’ll have a house full of bloody guests for nearly a month.”
And in reading Simon’s thoughts… He’s thinking incredibly inappropriate things about his half brother’s pink-cheeked bride. The wedding will be the event of the season—every newspaper, every photographer, every social climber in England will descend on his family’s manor. Poor Duke, forced to play best man to a brother he barely tolerates while lusting after the woman walking down the aisle to marry him. The media circus alone will be a nightmare, but Duke’s torment will be worse. Instantly, I duck out of his thoughts, wondering how he’s going to survive this without completely losing his mind.
“You see, Ice? Looks like we’ll have to trespass on your…hospitality a bit longer.” Bram smiles, knowing he’s won his way.
“Damn it all!” Ice pounds his fist on the table.
Inside, I rejoice. Not only do I like it here—the caverns provide a haunting natural beauty I would have never imagined possible—it also keeps me very close to my beloved. As long as I’m by Ice’s side, I’ll have the chance to work past his defenses and back into his arms.
“Do we dare tell Shock that we’re temporarily locating here?” Duke interjects. “Do we even know who’s side he’s on?”
“His own. Fucking mate-thief…” Lucan’s face hardens. “He can’t be trusted. We shouldn’t risk telling him anything.”
“On the other hand, he provided some useful information about Bram’s condition,” Tynan points out grudgingly.
“For reasons that suited him far more than us, I’m sure,” Bram drawls, though his tone is more measured than Lucan’s. “He refuses to answer when summoned and speaks in riddles. We never know whose side he’s truly on.”
“Though I probably would have died in Mathias’s dungeon if not for Shock, I’m not convinced that trusting him is wise,” Ice adds in low tones.
“The bastard can’t be counted on,” Lucan snarls.
“Aye, and rarely does he appear for weapons training,” Marrok grumbles. “Fen-sucked lout.”
“Then we’re agreed,” Bram decides. “We’ll keep this location secret, at least for now. If Shock is truly loyal, he’ll understand the precaution. If he’s not…then we’re safer.”
