Part 14 (1/2)
”No.” He would restrain himself, talk to her. Keep her safe. ”I came to explain.” She raised a ginger brow.
”I swear, I haven't tried to steal your magical war story. Who would I sell it to?”
”We have compet.i.tors who are ruthless and not picky about ethics.” Though he'd known she suspected he plotted to steal from her, her suspicions still hurt. ”I'm not one of them. Please trust me on that.”
”Holly caught you eavesdropping. What were you doing?” b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, Sydney proved over and over how sharp and direct she was. As always, he admired-no, desired her-for it. ”I wasn't planning to steal your story. I wanted to know what was happening with you. If . . . you were seeing another man.”
Another man? Had he been jealous? ”There's no one else. For the record, I did not ask Holly to release you. In fact, I spoke to her before we ever . . .” Sydney scrubbed her hand across her face. ”Holly is my trusted mentor, so I asked for advice. Whatever you believe, I never thought she'd sack you. I asked her to take you back, but after she caught you eavesdropping, she refused.”
”I understand. It's all right.”
”If you weren't stealing, then why all the questions about my story? Why romance me?” Sydney bit her lip and hesitated. ”Was any of it real?”
G.o.d, he wanted to avoid answering that telling question and just ask her if Anka was her source. But that was impossible. Sydney would ask too many questions. And the first would be, how did he know Anka, a magical woman? If he was honest and said that she was his brother's former ”wife,” Sydney would know he was close to magic. She would want more information about magickind that wasn't his to give or safe for her to know. Or she could think he was one of Mathias's minions, looking to torture Anka again. If Sydney thought that, she would shut him out completely. But he owed her as much of the truth as he dare give.
”Everything I felt, every touch, every concern, was real. Being with you . . . was incredible. This is a terrible time in my life for romance. I should've stayed away. But you're d.a.m.ned hard to resist.” She flushed, and he smiled.
Then he sobered. How the devil could he answer her questions about his interest in the story? d.a.m.n. He felt rotten. Tired, hot, and aroused, his thoughts were sluggish and his body demanding. Worse today than yesterday by far. b.l.o.o.d.y transition.
Sydney still looked at him expectantly, and the more information he gave her, the stickier the explanation.
Lies upon lies upon lies, and he hated them. The truth was no better. The more he gave her, the more she'd put in another story, further jeopardizing her.
Finally, an idea hit him like a bolt. A G.o.dsend. He sighed in relief.
”I'm looking for a witch named Anka.” He watched Sydney's face, but it remained impa.s.sive. If she knew Anka, she hid it well. ”Nothing has helped my brother's condition, and I spoke with a . . . healer who believed that Anka had magical powers that could help Lucan. I've tried everything else to make my brother whole, to no avail. Anka disappeared recently, and when I started reading your stories in the paper, I wondered if she was your source.”
Not a lie . . . just not the whole truth.
Regret and sadness crossed her face. ”I can't tell you if the woman you're seeking is my source. As much as I want to help your brother . . .” She grimaced. ”I can't.” Caden nodded. ”I know. Working with you under false pretenses was wrong. I didn't mean to be dodgy. I was desperate.”
He refused to coerce her into compromising her ethics and giving him her source's name. She'd resent him, and he couldn't tolerate adding more fuel to the anger she'd feel after tonight. Already he felt guilty for doing his best to stop the story that could help her prove her merit to the world and her stodgy parents.
Somehow, he must devise another way to locate Anka, and he could barely think beyond his exhaustion and need to touch Sydney. But now he must deceive her again. The knowledge burned, though this was for her own safety-and that of magickind.
”The other reason I came was to prove I have no designs on your story. I've found two people who are experts on that old book Aquarius got you, the one you want to write about.” He nearly choked on the lie.
”You told people about it?” She rolled her eyes. ”Doesn't matter. They can't beat me to press.”
”I told people who can help you understand the book. I swear, no one has designs on your story.” She hesitated. ”All right, but everything I've written is conjecture. If you brought me experts . . . I've already turned the story in, but I've got a bit of time-”
”A story about the book?” At her nod, his stomach lurched. Dear G.o.d. With that article, she was painting a huge red target on her forehead for Mathias. He forced himself to relax. ”Well, you have until tomorrow afternoon to change it, right?”
”Unless Holly puts it up as a web story first. She'll let me know in the morning.”
”Call her and tell her to hold it. You'll want to, once you talk to my connections. Olivia Gray owns a local art gallery and is an expert in antiquities. She's handled something remarkably similar before.” Sydney's face softened and excitement bloomed. ”Really?” Feeling guilt sear him again, he managed to nod. ”I also spoke with Simon Northam. He's-”
”The Simon Northam? The Duke of Hurstgrove?”
”You know him?”
”I know of him. Who doesn't? h.e.l.lo! Magazine named him England's s.e.xiest bachelor. He's filthy rich and intelligent and . . . he knows about this book and is willing to talk to me?”
”Indeed. Antique books are a pa.s.sion of his. They both need to examine the book. In your presence, of course.” Right before they take it. ”Will you let them? They can either come here or meet you at the pub 'round the corner. I told them I would call if you were willing.” Sydney hesitated, biting her lip. The sight distracted Caden, who restrained the urge to lean across and kiss her. Giving into that impulse? Disaster. He didn't want to be magically compelled to mate. Sydney was human. She didn't belong in the middle of this magical war. And if she accepted his Call, her lifespan would match his. Who would want to live centuries fraught with danger, surrounded by people who could kill her in the blink of an eye when she had no way to fight back? And did he want to risk losing her and winding up like Lucan? No and no.
”I want to talk to them. But no pictures. The book doesn't leave my sight. No one writes anything down.”
Caden nodded, even as the pain of deceiving her again lanced him. Though it was for her own good, it ripped his insides. ”And you'll call Holly?”
A heartbeat pa.s.sed, another. He'd do anything to keep that article out of the paper and keep her safe.
”If I like what Olivia and Hurstgrove say, I'll call and tell her to hold the story so I can make some modifications. If I don't hear anything interesting, it'll run as is.” Caden released a shaky breath. He hoped that gave them enough time to take the book and somehow convince her to pull the story. He'd have to devise a new way to find Anka. Because he refused to keep hurting his pretty redheaded firecracker.
”Thank you. I hope you find Olivia and Duke's information helpful.”
”Duke?”
”Simon's nickname.”
”Simon, is it? How well do you know him?”
Well enough to have fought a battle by his side. Well enough to have endured Marrok's physical training with Duke until they nearly dropped. Of all the Doomsday Brethren, Caden liked Duke most. He didn't bark orders, like Marrok. He wasn't half mad, like Ice. Or a manipulative sod, like Bram. He was reliable, unlike Shock. Duke was quiet, shrewd, and tough when necessary. Having a bazillion pounds hadn't made him pretentious at all.
”We met a few weeks ago,” he hedged. ”He's a friend of my brother's.” Sydney shook her head. ”This is surreal. I appreciate you introducing me to Olivia and 'Duke.' But regardless of what they say, I still can't give you the name of my source.” Caden wished otherwise, but he respected her loyalty. ”I know.”
”If you want me to meet these people, why come here alone?” Because he wanted to see her. Talk to her. Touch her one last time.
Her lips parted expectantly, and he tensed, stepped closer. It would be so easy. . . . Lean in, close his eyes, press his mouth to hers, let magic and fate take over. He'd have someone who would be his 'til death parted them.
What if she didn't want that? Or want to live a millennium? Committing to him wouldn't be for a typical fifty years, after all. What if they discovered they didn't like each other in a few hundred years, or for that matter, two decades, or two months? Or what if the war took her from him tomorrow and he slid into mate mourning madness?
”Caden?” she prompted.
Impossible to be totally honest with her, but he had to be as honest as he could and leave with the cleanest conscience possible.
”As I said, I can't stay away from you. You're an amazing woman.” She swallowed. The moment pulsed between them, thick, tense. Caden leaned in farther, drawn by her fruity jasmine scent, by those chocolate eyes that were melting him by the second. No, no, no! His internal temperature kicked up- right along with his amped-up s.e.x drive. He hadn't touched her and already he felt unbearably aroused. He cupped her cheek with shaking hand, trailed his thumb over her lips. Her mouth looked like heaven.
”This isn't a good idea,” she breathed raggedly.
She was affected, too. The knowledge seared him.
Caden caressed his way from her shoulder to her nape. ”Stop me.” Her breathing picked up speed. ”Why do you want this?”
”I think of you. Constantly. For once in my life, I'm not in control. I shouldn't do this. I know it. Yet, I can't stop.”
That was the complete truth.
Sydney breathed hard. ”This is a terrible idea.”
Agreed, but that didn't douse his need.