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“Which roaned “How can there possibly be good news?”

“She doesn’t know its purpose Yet She’s been told that writing in the book will grant her sexual fantasies And I’m not sure she’s convinced it’s real”

“Pray it stays that way, at least long enough for you to do whatever you must—steal, sweet talk, or seduce her away fro the naht? Use a bit of ic and”

“Can’t There was another Anarki attack two hours ago I’ve just left as the Pullround Their newly transitioned daughter isEveryone else is dead I have to report to the Council”

That wasn’t good news If the Anarki were attacking again, thatonce more Caden didn’t want to care, buthe rubbed his tired eyes with his fingers After seeing so much war and death in his life, attacks on families, on women, troubled hihed “What we have been: keep searching for Mathias, not to mention Shock and his brother, Zain, who appears to be the evil bastard’s right-hand lackey”

“Have you considered telling other ical fa the to pretend you care about rowl “I would not hat’s happened toto spread about Mathias’s return, but the decision to officially tell ickind falls with the Council They approve transcasts and issue edicts”

“Certainly a feords on how best to defend yourself—”

“Which is why no such edict will be created any tiainst Mathias, and the Council would rather err on the side of silence than inaccuracy Bloody stupid bastards”

“You’re one of them,” Caden pointed out

“The lone voice of reason, I assure you I’ve long argued that we should coical news via transcasts or the like frequently But by the tie” Bram scoffed “It’s old news”

That didn’t surprise Caden Dawdling old fools, Lucan had long said, even their Uncle Sterling at times

Caden was curious why Bra one frustration after another But it was none of Caden’s affair He didn’t want to becoical world Already, he was in too deep

“You’ll come to assist with the diary once you’ve helped the victims of the latest attack?”

“As soon as I can,” Bra on Sydney Blair”

Caden could think of any number of ways in which he’d like to work on Sydney Completely naked with her on her back, came immediately to mind But that couldn’t happen Now he needed to focus on his brother “I will”

CHAPTER TWO

CADEN RANG OFF WITH Bram just before Sydney’s door burst open In walked the source of his frustrations and fantasies, carrying the little red book

A fresh wave of lust blazed across his senses An electric pulse revved down his spine, shuddered across his skin He burned with need What the devil rong with him? Lately, he’d feltoff Tired one ertips tingled The odd sweating out of nowherebloody awful, but it fit with his libido being ever ready

What ailed hi mission? The redheaded dynamo who drove hi And he missed his job and his adopted home in Dallas, away from all this hocus-pocus But he feared the problee to flee before it ripped away another loved one looe

“What is it, MacTavish?” She thrust one hand on her hip The other held the Doomsday Diary casually God, if she had any idea what that book could dohe had to wrest it from her as quickly as possible

Surreptitiously, he withdrew his h the menus Quickly, he snapped a picture

“Hey!” she protested

“Sorry New phone Was trying to silence it Still learning”

She paused “What do you want? If you’ve no need to talk, I have a pub stool and a pint waiting for ry that he’d disht have any interest in that knuckle-dragger ht, then I have so” She crossed the roo

A caustic Sydney was a dazzling sight He shouldn’t stare, but she’d snared hied her fair face, and her auburn hair tu brown eyes were a sucker punch to his gut

Don’t think about her Think smart Thinkher naked underneath hiet to the point”

“Lovely”

Sydney stood her ground and stared back with admirable moxie for someone who didn’t reach his chin She defended her stories with considerable passion and wit, fighting back when things got rough The fact she was also smart and sexy made her damn near impossible to resist

“But letto warn irl”

He hadn’t planned on it, but since she’d brought it up“Are you actually interested in hied defensively “Why do you care?”

The possibility drove him mad He’d never been jealous of such a wanker He’d never been jealous, period Splendid, a ne for him And if the truth slipped out, she would knoanted her in his bed, her nails in his back, screaiven off clues that she felt si Still, he e to tell Sydney in excruciating detail exactly hoanted her boht never find Anka And his brother could pass to his nextlife

“It’s none of ether just a few days, and I don’t know you well But I think you can do better”

Sydney cocked her head “Are you offering?”

Caden’s heart skipped a beat before blasting into a furious rhythestion, he doubted Sydney kne close she was to feeling her desk against her back

“I’ that you’re a beautiful, talented woman You deserve more”

Sydney looked at hi shone in those brown eyes And desire The seductive sight was a blow to his gut Bloody hell, that was the kind of look thatshe desired