“What do you expect me to do? And why do you think I would do it when none of the Doomsday Brethren trust me?”
“You answered my brother’s summons when he first formed the group. You threw your lot in with them and have assisted the cause…in your way. I like to think you give the appearance of helping both sides so you can eventually deal Mathias his death blow.”
Shock shrugs, the inky gloss of his straight black hair brushing his shoulders. “Anyone ever call you idealistic?”
“Probably, but it’s better than being called a dodgy prick.”
“It’s part of my charm.”
Personally, I’m certain the man has none, but since he has the ability to read minds, as I do, I bury that thought very deep.
“If you don’t wish to assist me openly, tell me the location of Mathias’s compound. I’ll go there myself and find some way to free Ice.”
The tight smile disappears beneath an ominous scowl in seconds. “Don’t be stupid. You know the fate you’ll suffer. And if you’re not convinced it’s terrible, I’ll wake Anka so she can talk to you about the joys of Terriforz.”
I shudder at the reminder of Mathias’s mentally controlled violation. Anka isn’t the same witch she was before Mathias’s abduction, before he ripped her from her century-long mating with Lucan. The strong, sparkling female who adored her mate was replaced by an angry, skittish witch who left Lucan to shack up with Shock. Anka hasn’t finished dealing with her ordeal, and I can only hope that my friend’s cohabitation with a wizard of Shock’s low caliber is somehow helpful and temporary.
“Low caliber? Tsk tsk,” Shock mocks.
Damn it, I have to remember to bury my thoughts.
“A wise choice,” he adds. “But the truth is, I’m not certain I can help you. I won’t send you to Mathias. Alone, he would kill you like a pesky fly—quickly and mercilessly. And in case you’re securing the information of Mathias’s whereabouts for the rest of the warriors… Well, I don’t think he would appreciate me giving away the location of his new lair.”
“Please.” I’m not above begging, and if it will free Ice, I will do whatever I must. “Help me.”
Shock cocks his head, his hair spilling over his shoulders like a black curtain. “A Rion begging me. There’s a sight no one would believe.”
“I’ll give you whatever you want,” I say recklessly, wishing I could stare into his eyes and read his thoughts. But as always, those ever-present sunglasses ensure I see nothing. “Tell me what it is, and I will find some way to grant it if you will help Ice.”
“You have nothing I want. Not now…” He looks me up and down. “The time may come, however. Or maybe not. Your three minutes are up. Go.”
Damn it all. Shock is going to throw me out, and I’m no closer to securing his help. “Will you tell me where to find Ice?”
“There’s no reason for you to go near Mathias’s compound. Or to return here. So don’t.”
With a mental shove, Shock forces me onto his chilly, snow-laden doorstep to shiver in the December air. On the surface, it’s clear Shock won’t lift a finger to help me. But with Shock, one never knows…
Will he assist Ice at all—or am I on my own?
Dejected, I return to Sterling’s estate, Shock’s mocking laughter still echoing in my ears. The adrenaline that carried me through our confrontation has drained away, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion. My legs feel leaden as I climb the stairs, each step a monumental effort. The bitter December air clings to my skin like a reminder of failure—another dead end while Ice suffers in Mathias’s hands.
Weeks ago, Shock told Bram that his frequent absences and refusal to come when called were merely keeping up appearances for Mathias’s sake. But as soon as the other warriors openly doubted his loyalties, Shock’s attitude became less clandestine double agent and more “fuck off.”
I was a fool for hoping the leather-clad bastard is secretly doing his part to assist the Doomsday Brethren.
Trying to block out my hopelessness, I push open the door to the room I tucked Bram into shortly after arriving, the one beside mine. The warmth hits me immediately—a sharp contrast to the bitter cold that’s settled in my chest. Inky night oozes through the windows as Olivia sits next to him, perched on the edge of the bed. Sydney lounges in a nearby wing chair, a phone pressed to her ear.
“You’re back! Thank god. What happened?” Olivia tosses her dark hair over her shoulders, violet eyes bright with concern.
I simply shake my head. “Dead end. How is my brother?”
But a glance at his graying skin tells me Bram’s health has slipped another notch. The black smoke around him pulses. It’s thicker, more aggressive, as if sensing its victory is near. I fear my brother is dying, and it’s ripping out my heart.
Is there anything that will cure him? I don’t know, and I hate that all I can do now is perform a few spells to keep his body hydrated and functioning. When will this nightmare end?
“Has she been able to locate the mysterious Emma yet?” I ask Olivia, tipping my chin in Sydney’s direction.
The redhead rings off and sets the phone down with a sharp clatter that echoes in the sudden silence. The sound feels final, like a door slamming shut on another avenue of hope. “Well, I spoke with Aquarius, my former assistant. Your brother’s missing mate is, apparently, an old school chum of hers. Aquarius received the Doomsday Diary from Emma shortly before she gave it to me. All Aquarius knows about Emma’s whereabouts is that, after uni, she moved to Manchester. They lost touch. Then Emma turned up one night, very nervous. Afraid. She shoved what she called a magical diary into Aquarius’s hands and said she should hide it. She was convinced it had something to do with the series of articles I was writing for Out of this Realm. But Emma refused to say more.”
