Free Doomsday Brethren, Book 04: Entice Me at Twilight by Shayla Black

told Mason, but I know there’s more.”
    Duke hesitated. How could he say more without exposing magickind and endangering her further? “You’re … special.”
    “Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes.
    “Different,” he clarified. “Hopefully, Sabelle’s research will uncover the answers we need.”
    Her brow wrinkled. She had intelligence, this one. She’d figured out quickly that she was genuinely in danger. She had a knack for knowing when he was less than honest. Duke feared what she’d figure out next.
    “You think my birth parents were important in some way?”
    Not in the manner she meant, but … “Until we have thefacts, I can’t say. But my mission was—is—to keep you safe, no matter what. I know leaving Mason behind to face danger was difficult. But it was necessary. Until we can find some way to throw Mathias off—”
    “That’s his name, the leader of all those hooded creatures? And his group is the anarchy people.”
    Duke winced. She’d been listening to his call. He hadn’t meant to let any of that slip. But it was late, his nerves were unwinding. Felicia distracted him until he could scarcely think. He
must
be more careful in the future.
    “It’s not important.”
    She wrinkled her nose at him. “That’s a lie! Because of this man, my life is in shambles—”
    “I’m doing everything I can to stop him. Until then, you must stay close to me. Bram and the others will help.”
    “So we won’t be … alone?”
    Duke whipped his gaze to Felicia. Anxiety filled her expression.
    So, she didn’t want to be alone with him. Duke knew why. He’d become very adept at reading the subtlest signs of a woman’s interest, and Felicia blared them against her will. He’d bet his last penny she was aware of him as a man.
    Duke’s gut tightened. Being with Felicia was like getting closer to a shimmering ocean, beautiful, inviting, almost irresistible. But getting entangled with her would be like falling into a drowning pool. As much as his magical senses may decree otherwise, she belonged to Mason, loved him. Felicia would be a part of this war only briefly, and in a limited fashion. If he didn’t want to lose his family or keep her in danger, he had to shove his instincts aside.
    “Once we reach safety, we won’t be alone,” he assured.
    “Good.” She sighed. “Th-that’s good.”
    He gripped the wheel tightly and stared at the shadowedroad. “Felicia, I know you’re Mason’s. I respect that.”
    Or he was trying to.
    “Thank you,” she said stiffly. “Who will be with us? The friends you brought to the wedding? This Tynan and Lucan, who’s evidently not quite sane?”
    Damn she had been listening intently. “Likely.”
    “Who is Sabelle?”
    Did he detect a note of jealousy? The possibility jolted him with an unexpected thrill. He should strive to alienate Felicia romantically. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
    “Ice’s … wife.” And he’d already said far too much. The less she knew the safer she’d be. “Get some sleep. We have a long journey.”
    An hour later, Duke’s phone rang. Bram. He answered almost instantly, hoping not to wake Felicia.
    “Talk to me.”
    “I’m glad that fucking nightmare is over. Your mother and Mason are safe. Ronan and Marrok escorted the guests into your library, away from windows overlooking the gardens or chapel so the humans wouldn’t see all the magical activity and lose their minds. It was a good plan.”
    Despite the positive news, Bram’s tone told Duke everything had gone to hell. “But?”
    “The Anarki halfheartedly fought us. Very odd. We cut through them in minutes. I think Mathias brought them merely to distract us. As soon as he could perform magic, he realized the Untouchable had gone. I chased him through the house as he teleported from room to room until he found the guests.”
    Duke’s heart beat in his chest. Mathias with a roomful of humans. He wouldn’t bother to show them his magic, just kill them.