“Just Duke, please,” says the one who looks like he’d stepped out of GQ.

  “The big warrior is Marrok. I think you know everyone else. Care to stay while we discuss the latest?”

  Shock appears moments later, fashionably late, looking both sharp and annoyed.

  Then the truth hits me.

  I whirl on Kari with a glare. “Despite the danger and all the ways I’m trying to protect you, you’re letting the Doomsday Brethren meet here?”

  Chapter

  Ten

  Ronan

  “I am.” Kari holds up a hand to stop my furious sputter. “And before you say anything else, you made me promise not to Bind to you. You have no say.”

  Technically, she’s right. Damn it to hell.

  I grab her arm. “I only want to protect you.”

  “I need your love far more.” She yanks from my grasp to face Bram. “It’s all yours, gentlemen. I’ll lock up the front so you’ll have privacy and⁠—”

  Without warning, the door crashes open, cutting off the rest of Kari’s words. I whirl at the intrusion. The sight stops me cold.

  Mathias’s witch, Rhea, clad as scantily as ever, stands in the doorway with a smug smile, flanked by a pair of hooded figures.

  Automatically, I step in front of Kari. Rhea won’t get a second chance to kill my mate.

  “Fuck,” Shock curses to my right. “Always making an entrance… What the hell are you doing here?”

  “Your presence is requested,” the witch drawls. “Call it a family emergency.”

  “Since when is Mathias family?” Bram mutters.

  Jaw clenched, Shock shoulders his way past the others and approaches her. “Think you’re my mummy now?”

  She shakes her head, her dark curls gliding over her pale, half-exposed breasts. “No. Your conscience, who answers to a higher power.”

  Mathias actually fooled some people into believing his intentions are good?

  Shock scoffs. “More like the devil on my shoulder.”

  “Call me names all you like, but you’ve been summoned.” Rhea’s grin widens. “My friends will escort you.”

  On the surface, I’d say she won the encounter…but Shock seems almost pleased with this turn of events. “Thanks, but I’m a big boy. And since you rarely make it out of Mathias’s bed, I know the way far better.”

  “Is that supposed to be an insult? It’s an honor to serve him. Fair warning: when you arrive, be prepared to explain why you’re here with these…people.” Rhea’s gaze sweeps over us as if we’re lower life forms. “I’ll stay behind and take out the trash.”

  “Or we can take you hostage,” Bram quips.

  “And torture you,” I growl. I haven’t forgotten or forgiven the bitch.

  “I wouldn’t recommend trying. I’m hardly alone.” She steps aside, revealing a score of robed wizards waiting just outside the door. “These Anarki are older and stronger than the last you encountered.”

  Caden rubs his hands together. “Mopping them up sounds like fun to me.”

  “Aye,” Marrok seconds. “’Tis a good time to spill blood.”

  “Stand down.” Shock bares his teeth at Bram, then grabs Rhea’s arm. “Leave her to me.”

  “Get your bloody hands off me.” The witch tugs free and stands, hands on hips, like a warrior wearing full armor rather than transparent knickers. “The brilliant tactician Bram Rion outwitted. How delicious.” Then she glances Ice’s way. “Mathias is very much looking forward to seeing you soon, Mr. Rykard. He’d like to extend you the same courtesies he did your dear departed sister.”

  Ice unfreezes from his watchful position, charging her like an angry, mauling bear.

  Bram yanks on the back of Ice’s shirt, stopping him with an arched golden brow. “I make it a point never to pick on those I can squash without so much as lifting my wand. Do the same.”

  Rykard curses under his breath, every line in his body taut with menace.

  I stare back and forth. Does Bram actually intend to let the evil witch go?

  “She’s not as helpless as you think. She⁠—”

  “Stand down,” Bram insists.

  After she nearly killed Kari? Hell no.

  Rhea’s eyes narrow. “Are the Doomsday Brethren too afraid of a mere witch to fight?”

  “Too smart to expend the energy,” Caden tosses back.

  Duke laughs when Rhea’s cheeks flood with red fury. I don’t like that expression… She’s furious and unhinged—a dangerous combination.

  As much as I want to squash her, I need to remove Kari from potential harm. I can’t let anything happen to her.

  When I grab Kari’s wrist to teleport her elsewhere, she tugs free with an adamant shake of her head. “Stop.”

  “I will not lose you.”

  “Lose her? You’re all going to die.” Rhea lifts her wand. “And Mathias will adore me for it.”

  Seconds later, she flicks her wrist, and the Anarki begin charging.

  In seconds, it’s terrifyingly obvious the Doomsday Brethren are severely outnumbered.

  Though I’m not battle-trained, I throw myself into the fight. It may be the only way to keep my beautiful—but very human—mate alive. Still, our eight against their opposing horde is likely to be a slaughter.

  What will become of Kari if we fall?

  Magical trails blaze through the semidark room. I duck to evade an oncoming spell and pull Kari down with me as I shoot back a paralyzing spell at the robed figure barreling down on us. It bounces off, as if the creature somehow repels magic. It emanates a blast of cold while peeling back its warped mouth, revealing skeletal gums in a menacing smile.

  “Oh, my god…” Kari sounds every bit as horrified as I feel.

  What the hell is that thing? It’s not magical or human. It’s…other.

  “Magic won’t work on them. Know any human combat techniques?” Caden barks beside me.

  “None.” In fact, I barely know how to fight like a wizard. I devoted decades to carnal pursuits. Now, I regret that like mad.

  “The Anarki—the cold, robed, half-rotted figures—are dead humans minus their souls. They’re immune to magic.”

  “Like an untouchable?” But that doesn’t make sense. No one has seen or heard of a single untouchable in a thousand years or more. They’re almost an urban legend these days. How could Mathias suddenly make dozens of them?

  “No. These beings aren’t special, just husks, susceptible to a good stab wound.” Caden slips a long, wicked blade into my hand, its serrated edge promising maximum injury. “Jab this into the chest or belly, then stand back while they bleed.”

  A moment later, Caden demonstrates. The creature oozes what looks like crude oil before collapsing to the ground, unmoving.

  What the devil? They bleed black? And to kill one of these Anarki, I’ll have to get unnervingly close. Which means Kari will be close as well.

  My every instinct as her mate refuses.

  Two more of the creatures creep my way while Rhea eyes Kari with malevolence. “You can’t protect her, whelp. She’ll make a tasty little sacrifice to Mathias’s pleasures.”

  “Like hell.” Tucking my wand away and holding Kari close, I toss the knife into my dominant hand and advance on the first of the two Anarki. “Stay close, love.”

  The first creature bares its teeth, then leaps on me, icy skin threatening to freeze me altogether before I plunge my knife into its chest. The other rounds on me, grabbing tight, its gaze fixed squarely on Kari. I twist and surge to get free, but the creature is alarmingly strong. The deep freeze of its body temperature holds me immobile.

  From my peripheral vision, I watch another creature lurch closer to Kari. She recoils, shivering as she plasters herself against me. My heart stops. She’s afraid. I can smell her fear.

  She needs me, and I can’t fucking move.

  “Ronan!” Kari screams.

  I redouble my efforts to get free and protect her. If I don’t, she’ll die.

  Damn it all! Has my affection galvanized the Wolvsey curse, putting her in mortal danger?

  Or were Shock and Kari right, that no one is assured a long life?

  “I’m frozen.” I hate it, but I owe Kari the truth.

  The second zombie reaches out a hand of rotting flesh. Though my belly burns with fear and regret, a second blast of cold roots me even deeper in place.

  As the monster extends its decaying hand toward Kari’s hair, she ducks between my legs, grabbing frantically at the blade in my icy fist. The moment she pries it free, the creature in front of me encircles my neck with its decomposing fingers and squeezes hard, cutting off my oxygen.

  I try to fight, coughing and sputtering, thrashing to regain control of my body and struggle to wrench free. To no avail. The creature’s hold is chilling and absolute.

  The edges of my vision begin to gray. My hope fades as I reach out to Raiden through our twin bond.

  But I feel nothing except the zombie behind me clawing its way down my back, deep-freezing my blood and slowing my heart under a layer of ice.

  It stops beating completely when the fiend grabs Kari’s hair and looms over her with malevolent glee, bony teeth bared. But she refuses to surrender.

  “Die, you bloody bastard!” She shoves the knife into the monster’s belly.

  It staggers away, black sludge oozing from the open wound.

  The beast still choking me snarls, then tightens its grip. My world narrows to a pinpoint with Kari at the center as I fall to my knees.

  I’ve been too depleted of energy for too long and not skilled enough in human combat to fight back. My end has come. But if I can distract the Anarki long enough to let Kari escape, I can die in peace.

  Get out! Love you, I mouth.

  She shakes her head stubbornly. “I’m getting out—and you’re coming with me.”

  With that, she kicks at the zombie’s rotting hip. The bone dislodges from its socket, and the leg crumbles. The creature begins to topple, lurching out with a gnarled hand to either attack Kari or balance itself.

  Thankfully, one hand at my throat suddenly disappears. I’m able to suck in a gasping breath.

  Before I can even strike my attacker, Kari links her hands above her head and swings down, connecting with the fiend’s elbow. Its rotting arm breaks in half—and ends its hold on me.

  But the weakness it leaves behind is debilitating. How is Kari not affected? I’m literally chilled to the bone. My heart is barely beating. I’m oxygen starved and watching the melee through tunneled vision.

  Hopping back, the creature glares at Kari, then grabs her neck with its good arm. A solid push later, and she falls to the ground on top of another zombie who enfolds her in an icy, deathlike grip.

  “Not happening,” she grunts before plunging the blade in the zombie’s side.

  It howls. Black sludge flows from its open wound.

  Kari hops to her feet—only to be dragged down again by another hollow-eyed monster. Her scream chills my blood even more than the creatures’ icy clutches. She’s fought valiantly to save us both…

  I’m desperate to rescue her, but I’m still immobile. My heart struggles to beat, and my defrosting hands tingle painfully. My energy is nearly nonexistent.

  Raiden! I scream through my senses. Please. My mate…

  A flood of resentment invades my consciousness, and suddenly, I understand: Raiden isn’t angry with me; he’s jealous that he has no mate of his own.

  If I make it out of this battle alive, I’ll be a better brother. I’ll do whatever I can to help him secure the woman meant to be his.

  A moment later, Raiden’s energy floods me, a wellspring of force and intensity. It couples with my determination and fills me with fresh vigor.

  Wrenching the blade from Kari, I whirl and slice off the head of the robed figure attacking her in one clean sweep.

  Together, we send three of the terrible things to hell. Around us, Bram and the rest of the Doomsday Brethren has nearly dispensed with the others.

  Duke grabs at Rhea to trap her. She flicks her wand at him, releasing a nasty spell. I can only guess at its dark magic. Thankfully, the well-dressed wizard deflects the blow as if the threat was negligible and hurls it back at her, determination stamped across his chiseled face.

  With a howl of frustration, Rhea dodges Duke’s cast and teleports away with Shock, leaving behind the fallen bodies of Mathias’s undead soldiers.

  With the threat momentarily neutralized, I sever the link between Raiden and me. My energy drains again, and I collapse against the wall, breathing hard and fighting for consciousness. Kari hunches beside me, her hands clasped around my shoulders. “Are you all right?”

  An instant later, my twin appears, his watchful gaze taking in my mate’s devotion. I feel Raiden’s envy. He doesn’t want Kari for himself…but he craves the happiness of a mate. Who is she? And why didn’t my brother tell me sooner?

  “Raiden,” Bram greets, still catching his breath. “A bit late to join the fight.”

  “But the perfect time to take care of my brother. And to witness the brutality Mathias plots to unleash on magickind.”

  “I’m fine.” I manage to stumble upright and pull Kari close. “You saved my life, love.”

  “And you ended those creatures. We stayed safe and alive together.”

  Indeed, because she’s tough and tenacious, clever and strong. And because she refuses to be anyone’s victim.

  “Together,” I murmur, kissing her softly.

  “This is where I leave,” Duke mutters, grabbing a few of the bodies and disappearing.

  Caden and Ice follow suit, each grabbing more of the fallen to haul them away. Marrok places one hand on Caden’s arm, while holding three bodies with the other. In the next moment, the small group teleports away.

  Bram approaches Raiden and me, glancing between us before he settles his stare on me. “Not bad for a first effort and no training. Ready to join us permanently?”

  The brewing war will be dangerous and filled with struggle. I know that. Does Kari understand, too? I turn to her.

  She nods. “You should. Mathias can’t be allowed to prevail. There’s strength in numbers, and the only way to win is to fight back.”

  “Precisely,” Bram seconds, then raises his brow at me. “So?”

  Though I worry about our uncertain future, I nod. “The cause is worthy and the battle necessary. I will.”

  “And you?” Bram regards Raiden.

  My twin snorts. “Someone has to keep him out of trouble.”

  “Our bond was invaluable today,” I tell him solemnly. “Thank you.”

  Raiden sighs. “I might have wanted you to fuck off, but not forever. We’ve done most everything together all our lives, including joining this world. We’re leaving it together, too. If you intend to join this conflict, I’ll follow.”

  Relief fills me as I bring my twin close for a brotherly hug. Raiden returns the gesture with a hearty slap on my back.

  “Will she Bind to you now?” he asks softly in my ear.

  “I hope. Will you accept her?”

  “If she makes you happy, I’m happy for you.”

  “She does. You should seek your own happiness, too.”

  Raiden pulls away with a tight, empty smile. “I’m afraid my situation is rather hopeless. See to your woman. I’ll confer with Bram and inform you later.”

  I hate that my brother can’t—or won’t—embrace his own happiness, but perhaps time and love will reveal the path for him. “Thank you.”

  Bram and my twin collect the remaining bodies, then disappear.

  “What was that about?” Kari asks, smoothing her askew hair back in place.

  “An understanding.”

  “Perhaps we can have one as well?” Tynan suggests. “If you’re going to be a member of the Doomsday Brethren, we must learn to accept and trust one another.”

  He’s right. After all, I’m the one who Called to Kari. She loves me and wants to Bind to me, not Tynan. I need to use my logic, not my territorial instincts.

  “You will maintain proper behavior with Kari, I presume?”

  Tynan laughs. “She will always be the little sister I never had.”

  “And you’ll be the bossy big brother I never wanted,” Kari teases.

  Their exchange is full of affection, not desire. Now that I’ve set aside my jealousy, that’s obvious.

  The last of my worries eases away. “I sense we’ll need friends in the dark days ahead.” I stick out my hand.

  “Indeed.” Tynan shakes mine, smiles Kari’s way, then, with a wave, disappears.

  Finally, my mate and I are blessedly alone.

  I have so many things to say to her. After coming too close to perishing today—and after nearly seeing Kari die—I refuse to let anything tear us apart again. I want her as my mate. I need her. My life will never be complete without her.

  “Do you still wish to Bind to me?” I ask, bringing her close.

  She cuddles into my arms, nuzzling my neck. “More than anything. But what about the curse? Do you still believe in it?”

  “Whether some long-dead witch cursed the Wolvseys or not hardly matters. Ten minutes with you is far better than an eternity without you. Avoiding you to avoid the pain of losing you only hurts us both. Every moment we have together is precious, just like you. I love you. Will you Bind to me?”

  “Yes.” She smiles, and tears of joy seep from the corners of her eyes. “As I become a part of you, you become a part of me. Each day, I will be honest, good, and true. I heed your Call. ‘Tis you I seek. From this moment on, there is no other for me but you.”

  Rightness settles between us. I’ll never let anything keep us apart again.

  “For one cursed, how did I get so lucky?” I ask, then press my mouth to hers for a kiss. “How did we get so lucky?”

  “You’re not cursed, and we’re not lucky.” With a mischievous smile, she pulls at my shirt until she tugs it free from my body and drops it to the ground. Then she does the same with her own. “We’re fated.”

  Join the Doomsday Brethren on their next spicy, addictive adventure. Caden is determined to deny his coming magic—and the nosy human reporter threatening to expose them all. Too bad she just happens to be his mate…

 

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