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“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 ot a bit of time—”

“A story about the book?” At her nod, his sto a huge red target on her forehead for Mathias He forced himself to relax “Well, you have until toht?”

“Unless Holly puts it up as a web story first She’ll let ”

“Call her and tell her to hold it You’ll want to, once you talk to allery and is an expert in antiquities She’s handled so remarkably similar before”

Sydney’s face softened and exciteain, he ed to nod “I also spoke with Sirove?”

“You know hiazine naland’s sexiest bachelor He’s filthy rich and intelligent andhe knows about this book and is willing to talk to me?”

“Indeed Antique books are a passion of his They both need to exaht before they take it “Will you let them? They can either come here or meet you at the pub ‘round the corner I told the”

Sydney hesitated, biting her lip The sight distracted Caden, who restrained the urge to lean across and kiss her Giving into that iically co in the ical war And if she accepted his Call, her lifespan would er, 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 theht No one writes anything down”

Caden nodded, even as the pain of deceiving her again lanced hiood, it ripped his insides “And you’ll call Holly?”

A heartbeat passed, 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 , it’ll run as is”

Caden released a shaky breath He hoped that gave theh time to take the book and somehow convince her to pull the story He’d have to devise a neay 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 nicknah 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 o,” he hedged “He’s a friend of my brother’s”

Sydney shook her head “This is surreal I appreciate you introducing ardless 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 easyLean in, close his eyes, press his ic and fate take over He’d have someone ould be his ‘til death parted them

What if she didn’t want that? Or want to live ato 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 fro 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 fro woman”

She sed The moment pulsed between them, thick, tense Caden leaned in farther, drawn by her fruity jas him by the second No, no, no! His internal te with his amped-up sex 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 ood idea,” she breathed raggedly

She was affected, too The knowledge seared him

Caden caressed his way fro 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

When she paced nervously to her little dining room, he followed “I never ot caught up in you I wasn’t always honest I apologize But I can’t tell you I don’t want you That would be the biggest lie of all”