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As Bram had ceased Caden’s involvement with the Doomsday Brethren, he needed to do the sa Lucan in at home, he’d protect her, but no more

As he entered the bedroo his unspoken question as she did “Conrad just left Sydney’s fine”

“Indeed,” Sydney insisted as she dug into her handbag and extracted the caainst , but you sa evil Mathias was We can’t let him continue to run amok I want to transcast within the hour”

His advice was going to fall on deaf ears, but Caden felt co back? You’ll both incur Mathias’s supreickind forever”

“Trapped?” She frowned “I have a chance now to save lives and achieve everything I ever drea is without risk”

“Pretty speech I don’t think it will co you transcast”

She cocked her head and peered at hi away and leaving thisyour abilities when you could be helping, too”

“Bra I never wanted to be involved in”

Sydney paused, drew back “You’re leaving me as well”

Caden saw no reason to beat about the bush “I’ll protect you I can’t be this close, care thisher fists, Sydney tried to hold back sudden tears And failed “I don’t understand you First, you ran fro to be American and human, when you’re neither You caation? Because you couldn’t avoid it without feeling like a heel? You’re not running fro from yourself—like you have been your whole life”

Caden accepted the rebuke in silence Sydney sile of affection and duty he felt for Lucan after losing Westin And she had no way of co Would it make a difference if she did? No, it was too late now Sos simply weren’t ,” he said

“Have I? Explain tofrom your destiny”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“SYDNEY, I DON’T EXPECT you to understand”

Whichto try to explain Grief felt like a blow to the chest

“Make me understand Why?”

He raked a frustrated hand through ood”

“Mathias proves that”

“I ood, can change your life in terrible ways”

His words renewed her dread She’d fantasized about him in the Dooed their lives in terrible ways? The possibility sounded ugly How much, if any, of their affection and passion was due strictly to the book’s, he grasped for words “Magic is all new and interesting to you now, but it’s ripped apart e happens in everyone’s lives, whether you’re ical or not Tell e up bad e I just need to go”

“You belong here, fighting beside these warriors I think you belong beside ether to hold in tears “I’ve fallen in love with you You used h you hate it You must care about me a bit Perhaps, in time, it could be real—”

“It is real” His blue eyes burned with truth

But a niggle of doubt remained

Caden’s slu his eyes and s “I wish the ansas as si the next step with you ic I don’t trust It’s too uncontrollable”

Though she knew better, Sydney couldn’t stop fighting for them “So is life!”

“I’ve died a hundred times with the desire to kiss you, but if I do, ould be mated for life You would adopt my lifespan, so that means hundreds of years, literally” He wrapped warm hands around her shoulders, and Sydney wished he’d welcome her farther into his e to die—and take me doith you I can’t stand by and watch It will drive me mad”

His every as a pick ax to the heart, and she struggled to coreatness and love for the mundane and lonely “So you’d prefer to end it, just to be safe?”

Caden hesitated “You’ve chosen to re in the middle of a ith both of us on the front lines, there would be consequences you can’t begin to cohed “Even if I did, it would change nothing We want different lives I won’t lie and say I don’t love you or that I don’t wish things could be different But I’d be doing us both a disservice if I spoke the Call” Caden looked at her then with bleak, hollow eyes The expression nified as he touched her cheek and leaned in to hold her close and kiss her forehead “I’ll re more”

Sydney pulled away from his e her heart into a ret your choice”

She grabbed the video ca inside her But she hesitated That tousled hair that curled at the ends, those electric eyes, the ripped bodyyes, at first he’d been a walking fantasy, and she’d lusted after him But soon, she’d discovered the man beneath, the one who put his brother first, who believed in her, who ht to protect her even when he wanted to run away

But it appeared thatto walk away froickind This had become more than a story to her Braainst a powerful evil If she could help them, she would She’d proudly do this job until she could return to the huickind

Pity she’d take the spotlight alone

“No doubt you’ll achieve all your a her eyes, she watched Caden leave

“sobering video froht that took place earlier today Mathias D’Arc is definitely back and, as you saw, is abducting soldiers fro them to zombies to make his ared fa the women Take precautions Keep close watch on all family members Never stray far from your wand Have so attacked, contact Bram Rion Updates will follow as necessary I’m Sydney Blair Stay safe Good afternoon”

With that, Bra in the library Beside him, Sabelle stood with a smile, despite the strain on her face

“Good job,” Brary Council members will scream their displeasure in mere moments, I suspect, but at least innocent people have been warned”