"Give it to him!" she screamed at Bram.

Bram huffed, rolled his eyes. He wasn't budging.

The book must be more powerful than Aquarius had indicated. In her head, she knew that putting it in Zain's hands would be as good as putting it into Mathias's, but her friend . . . if Bram didn't comply, Zain would kill her.

To her surprise, he eased the book toward Zain, who reached for it while retaining his hold on Aquarius.

Sydney cast an anxious glance at her friend. G.o.d, she looks so still, so dead. Sydney held in a cry.

At the last second, Bram pulled the book back into his protective clutch and slung the tip of his wand toward Aquarius. The little woman was suddenly caught up in a sweep of wind, like a giant vacuum that sucked her toward Bram.

But Zain was having none of that. He brandished his wand at Aquarius, too, and her body jolted as she stopped, jerking in midair. She keened, the sound rife with pain.

Around her, Duke dispatched the final two Anarki with a pair of spells, both normal looking men who clutched wands in their frozen fists.

"Your Anarki are all unconscious. You're alone," Bram pointed out. "Give up or fight me." Suddenly, he shoved the book into Sydney's hand. Startled, she grasped it. Her eyes met Bram's blue ones, sharp with warning. Do not give it to Zain. He'd described it as a weapon of some sort, but what about Aquarius?

Zain paused, looking uncertain for the first time. Bram took advantage of the opening and lunged, hooking one arm around the other man. With his free hand, he grabbed Aquarius.

"Go!" he shouted at Duke.

Instantly, Duke's arm tightened around Sydney. A sense of falling a.s.sailed her. Like being in a dark, endless well. She thrashed about, looking for escape, but Duke and Caden both held her tight. She squeezed her eyes shut.

Long moments later, the sensation stopped. Cautiously, Sydney opened her eyes to a stunning office, filled with weak afternoon sunlight, pricy artwork-and a roomful of men so menacing, she took a step back.

"Who the h.e.l.l are these people, where am I, and how did I get here?"

"The Doomsday Brethren," Caden whispered in her ear.

Truly? "Anka has spoken of them. Only a bit, but . . ." She hadn't been sure of their role earlier, but now? These imposing wizards fought on the side of right.

"I teleported you here," Duke said quietly. "This is Bram's office."

"Good. How am I getting home?" She put a hand on her hip.

The blokes all looked at one another, then Caden sighed. "We'll work it out." Oh. She got the feeling that her concept of home had just changed. If the Anarki knew where she lived and believed that she had possession of a magic book . . . no "if " anymore, really. There was danger, just as Caden had said. She'd landed in the middle of it. Caden had tried to talk her out of running the story on the book. Though he'd given her no substantial reasons, she wished she'd listened. But now that danger wasn't imminent, her inner journalist was thrilled to be embroiled in the paranormal.

Her next story for Out of This Realm would turn heads and win awards!

First, she had to help Aquarius and get the information she needed, then make haste to somewhere safe.

Then perhaps once the article printed and she brought forth proof this magickind existed, her parents would have to look outside their academic box and take her seriously. Dare she even hope they'd be proud for bringing in a story no other journalist had?

Holding Zain in one arm, Bram appeared a few meters away and dropped the unconscious wizard on the ground. In the other arm, he held her friend cradled against his chest, the little woman so heartbreakingly still.

"Aquarius!" She dashed for her friend.

As soon as she drew close, the big blond wizard s.n.a.t.c.hed the red diary from her hands.

"That's mine!" she protested.

"No." Bram's tone didn't invite argument. "It was stolen from us. Thank you for returning it. We will keep it safe."

"But-"

"After what you saw today, do you honestly believe you can defend yourself against the kind of garbage who will hunt you for this?" He held up the journal.

The wizard had a point. She might be able to fend off a normal man, but Zain wasn't normal. None of the wizards she'd seen today were, Caden included.

She had been making love with someone magical. Oh. My. G.o.d.

As if the thought had conjured him by her side, Caden took her by the hand and led her to a love seat.

"Let him have it, firecracker. Please."

What would she do with it? Coerce Caden into bed again? Be a target for Mathias? Sydney nodded.

Bram accepted with a smile, then nodded to all the men in the room. "You're all here. Excellent."

"Waiting for news of the book," said another, a big bloke with a goatee, a sword at his side, and the look of a battle-hardened warrior. "Thank G.o.d you recaptured it."

"Indeed." Then he stuck his head out the door and yelled, "Sabelle!" A moment later, a breathtaking blonde appeared-literally out of nowhere-looking tired and disheveled.

Bram narrowed his eyes. "Where have you been?"

"Nowhere you'd disapprove of, big brother. Merely helping Lucan." Caden's brother? Bram's sister knew him?

"You had a.s.sistance, yes?" Bram prompted.

"Yes," Sabelle a.s.sured.

"Did he take your energy?" Caden asked, sounding choked and desperate.

Sydney's heart went out to him. Then she realized . . . Zain had been telling the truth about Caden's magical people s.h.a.gging to rev themselves up. Which explained a lot about his stamina with her. And why his brother was bedding Bram's sister. His wife was the missing Anka.

"Some. He's a bit stronger than the last time you saw him. I'm trying." Sabelle laid a soft hand on Caden's forearm.

Sydney didn't like the gorgeous woman touching him. At all.

Gritting her teeth, she said, "Could someone explain to me how we're going to help Aquarius?"

"Aquarius?" Sabelle asked. "Sydney's friend." Bram held up the limp figure in his arms.

She wanted to cry. They desperately needed to get Aquarius some medical care, or . . . no, she wouldn't think the worst.

Suddenly, Bram handed the book back to her. Sydney stared at him as she took it cautiously. Was he mad? Hadn't Caden just pleaded with her to let Bram keep it?

"Give this to my sister." His tone didn't invite argument.

She held the little book to her chest. "You just told me I couldn't handle it, now you give it back, then ask me to hand it to another woman who doesn't look equipped for battle either?"

"Do. It," he ordered through clenched teeth. "The book must pa.s.s from female to female. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner we can focus on helping your friend." If she didn't, would they withhold care? Sydney didn't want to learn the answer the hard way. Not understanding Bram's female-to-female comment, Sydney glared at the beautiful woman and slapped the book into her hands.

Sabelle gripped it tightly. "I will guard it with my life."

"Hopefully, that will not be necessary," Bram said grimly. "Just hide it until I'm free. For now, call for Aunt Millie. Have her meet you upstairs."

Bram glanced at Zain on the floor, then kicked him aside. When he stepped away, Sydney could see another big bloke on the sofa, shrouded in sungla.s.ses, leather, and bad att.i.tude.

"Shock." Bram sounded almost surprised to see him. "You've returned, then?" What kind of name is that?

"As of a few minutes ago. I have news." The man took up the whole sofa.

Bram nodded. "Good. Will you take the injured woman upstairs? Ice, take Zain to our lovely barred accommodations below. And filch his wand."

"Can't we just kill him?" asked a menacing figure with hair trimmed nearly to his skull.

Shock growled in response. Bram raised a hand. "No, Ice, we can't. He has useful information." With a sigh, Ice picked the unconscious Zain up as if he was holding a big pile of refuse, slammed the body over his shoulder, then disappeared.

The big man on the couch finally rose to his feet. Holy cow! Shock was enormous, easily topping every other man in the room, except perhaps the one with the goatee and sword. Gingerly, he took Aquarius in his arms. He dwarfed Sydney's friend, but his gentle grip rea.s.sured her. The man's gravelly voice didn't.

"I'll do your bidding this once, but kick Zain again, and I'll cut off your b.l.o.o.d.y stones." Sydney didn't care how big and bad Shock was. If he was going to defend Zain, he was going to hear from her. "Zain nearly murdered my best friend. A swift kick is the very least he deserves." Shock whipped his head around to face her. She couldn't see his eyes behind the dark sungla.s.ses, but she had an impression of cold fury.

"He may be a s.h.i.t, but he's my brother. Who the h.e.l.l are you?" Caden came to her rescue, putting an arm around her shoulder and sending the other man a challenging glare. "She's not to be harmed." Shock raised a questioning brow, black above the rim of his gla.s.ses.

"Do you think you're a big, menacing wizard now that you transitioned all of ten minutes ago?" Transitioned? From a man to a wizard. Was that why he'd needed so much energy? Why there'd been two of them afterward, his new and old self? What had happened to the other Caden?

"You two." Bram pointed to Caden and Shock. "Bury the animosity. We've no time for it."

"You're simply going to trust him and hope he doesn't f.u.c.k you over?" Caden challenged.

"That's my problem. Marrok has warned us repeatedly about these rows. If we're too busy fighting one another, how will we ever unite against our common enemy?"

"Agreed." Caden nodded. "Only because focusing on Mathias, Zain, and the Anarki will better help me find Anka and keep Sydney safe."

"Fine." Shock rolled his eyes.

"Good." Bram nodded. "Shock, take Aquarius upstairs. Please. We haven't much time to save her." If it's not already too late. The unspoken words hung in the air.

Bram sighed. "When that's done, return here. Sabelle, follow and wait for Aunt Millie. Sydney, you'll want to stay with your friend, I presume? Go with them." With that, she was dismissed. She cast a gaze toward Caden, feeling lost in Wonderland without a map or any bleeding clue what to do next. He squeezed her hand and nodded.

"I'll find you soon. I promise."

What choice did she have? Aquarius's life hung in the balance, and her friend might need her if she had any hope of pulling through. But the reporter in her wanted to stay behind. Something told her the men were about to have a conversation she'd kill to hear. But as the door to that museum-quality office closed behind her, Sydney knew she wouldn't get that chance. At least not today.

The giant, Shock, laid Aquarius on an enormous four-poster bed with a sumptuous beige silk coverlet.

He took a half step back, still staring. His expression seemed to ask the same question tearing through Sydney's mind: Would she live? The worry was like an awl gouging out her composure.

For Aquarius, she had to be strong.

Sydney grabbed her friend's hand, edging Shock aside. He adjusted his sungla.s.ses on his face, then glanced her way. "Need anything more?"

How would she know? Sydney could barely comprehend that this giant's brother had nearly fried her friend's insides. But Shock looked at Aquarius with something like compa.s.sion.

Olivia, the woman she'd met in the pub, entered the room and grabbed Sydney's hand while answering Shock. "If we do, we'll let you know. We're fine for now." Shock hesitated, brushed a knuckle down Aquarius's arm, then turned away. Staring after him as he left, Sydney wondered what that was all about.

The question must have shown on her face because Olivia said, "Don't try to figure him out. You'll give yourself a headache. I've been living here with my mate Marrok for about six weeks, so I see the guys often. Except Shock. He completely baffles me."

She lived here? "Marrok?"

"Yeah. Big, bossy warrior, carries a sword."

Indeed. Sydney remembered him vividly. Imposing bloke. Hard to imagine that the tiny, violet-eyed beauty belonged with such a man. But lately she'd seen far more unusual things.

"Smashing." Sabelle breezed into the room, rubbing her hands together-the only indication of her nervousness. "Aunt Millie will be here shortly."

"She's got heart magic and can do a bit of healing," Olivia whispered to her.

"Precisely. Sorry." Sabelle sent her a rueful grin. "Ask me questions when I don't explain. I'm a bit topsy-turvy at the moment."

Sabelle might regret that offer someday, but Sydney intended to take advantage of it.

"How long until this aunt shows up?"

"I'm here, dear," a spry voice said from behind her.

Sydney whirled to see a little woman with lively blue eyes wearing a dotty lace dress and a straw bonnet.

This was Aquarius's savior?

"No offense, but wouldn't a doctor be more effective?"

"Not with a magical malady." Millie took Sydney's hand in hers. "Let me have a look, then." The lady with the thick, pale bun ambled past Sydney and put bony hands across Aquarius's chest. Then frowned. "Does the girl have any magic?"

Olivia and Sabelle both turned to her. Sydney shrugged. "I-I don't know. Does it matter for her healing?"

"A bit."

Sydney blew out a breath, then realized that Aquarius had rarely talked about her family. She mentioned friends and lovers, her failed uni days, karma, and her hopes for the future. But the family, she'd carefully danced around that.

"It's possible. Caden's brother's wife is her cousin, and Anka is a witch, right?"

"Yes, but your friend may not be magical. It isn't automatic. I'll just have to hope I get it right." Millie sighed, then closed her eyes.

Long, agonizing moments of silence pa.s.sed. The woman skimmed her hands above Aquarius's belly and chest, making only occasional murmurs. Sydney had no idea what the devil they meant. And in the meantime, her friend's breathing had grown more labored. The purple, swollen color remained. Her lips were blistered, her lids nearly swollen shut, her skin cracking.

"Can you help her?" Sydney finally asked, losing patience.