Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“We’re talking about Mathias,” Ice spits out like he’s eaten something rancid.
He’s right. If Mathias regains even half his power, the small but determined cabal of warriors Bram assembled to fight him are screwed, and every man in the room knows it. How can the Doomsday Brethren kill a wizard who has already returned from the dead? He has an army of slaves at his disposal. I can count the Doomsday Brethren on one hand.
Bram winces. “I’m afraid, gentlemen, our problems are even more grave.”
“Would that we knew from whence Mathias finds so many disposable recruits to swell the ranks of his Anarki,” Marrok grumbles.
Indeed. Somehow, Mathias has found the means to strip souls from their human bodies to create walking-dead soldiers to help him enslave magickind and destroy the Doomsday Brethren. During their last battle, the black-blooded zombies were both plentiful and completely immune to magic.
“Indeed, I wish we did,” Bram agrees. “But I called you here to discuss something even more critical.”
Ice casts him a cutting stare. “The fact that, according to your magical signature, you’ve taken a human mate since we last met yesterday?”
My jaw drops. Bram, one of the most pedigreed wizards alive, took a human mate last night?
Bloody hell. Talk about a newsflash.
“Wouldn’t your grandfather be proud?” Ice sneers. “Merlin prized that pure bloodline of yours. Pity.”
Bram charges Ice like a bull. “Shut your bloody mouth, you fu—”
“Cease!” Marrok grabs Rion and holds him back.
Over the past two weeks, Bram and Ice have constantly been at one another’s throats. If Bram needs loyal wizards in the Doomsday Brethren, why the devil did he ask Ice to join?
“Let go!” Bram growls at the Arthurian warrior. “Or I’ll transform you into a rat.”
Marrok scoffs. “You cannot afford to lose a warrior to pettiness. And the Doomsday Brethren can fight no enemy if we are too busy fighting one another.”
Bram struggles against the big man’s hold. “Beating in the tosser’s skull would make me feel better.”
“What has you on edge?” Duke asks. “A new mating should be like a honeymoon. You should be euphorically happy. Honestly, you should still be in bed with her.”
He’s not wrong. Instead, Bram is all but crawling out of his skin, seemingly with one foot in the magical mental ward.
“Where is your mate?” Ice drawls. “I’d like to offer her my condolences.”
“My mate is none of your concern. However, the Book of Doomsday is.” Bram hesitates. “Last night, while I slept, she found it.”
“Found it? Just lying about?” Duke raises a dark brow.
“Of course not. It was hidden. She must have stumbled across it.”
“Or she cozied up to you for the book.” Ice laughs, the sound harsh and cutting. “What a gullible sod!”
“I approached her,” Bram grits through clenched teeth.
“So? Stop being naive. I can’t think of another reason a female would willingly mate with a dodgy prick like you.”
“Shelve your personal vendetta and focus!” I snap at the stubble-headed wizard. Though I’d rather not get involved, this situation has taken a decidedly dangerous turn. I face Bram. “Where is the diary now?”
When he hesitates, an ominous gong clangs in my gut. Magickind’s issues aren’t mine, but if that book falls into the wrong hands, everyone—magical and human—will be at terrible risk.
Bram clears his throat and winces. “She took it and vanished.”
Chapter
Three
Bram’s quiet admission resounds through the room. I struggle to pick my jaw off the floor. A quick glance around the study tells me I’m not alone.
“Fuck,” Ice growls.
“Do you have any idea where she took it?” I demand. “Or where she is?”
Bram shakes his head. “None.”
“Fuck.” Ice sounds even less pleased.
The Doomsday Diary is the ultimate weapon in the magical war. If used properly, it’s rumored to grant any wish, up to and including the annihilation of the world. People have died to obtain it. Lucan’s life is in shambles because of it. The Doomsday Brethren formed to fight—and die—to protect it. If Mathias gets his evil hands on the book and uses it to bring about doomsday, that’s everyone’s problem.
Even mine.
“What Ice said,” I mutter.
Duke looks apoplectic as he glares Bram’s way. “You had no magical protections on the book?”
“Of course I did—against anyone magical. I never imagined that a human would know of the book’s existence, much less that I had it.”
“The only way she could even suspect that is if she’s Mathias’s pawn.”
The titled prat has a point—which leads me to my own. “And you took her as your mate?”
Bram whirls on me, looking as grim as I feel. “I refuse to believe she’s willingly doing his bidding. Perhaps she’s under his thrall. I can’t say. We…didn’t talk much.”
“What if Mathias has the diary now?” I hate to ask…but I have to.
He paces, raking a frantic hand through his mussed hair. “I don’t know. I can only guess what he intends to do with it. And what he’ll do to her.”