Page 1 of Possess Me at Midnight (Doomsday Brethren #4)

Chapter One

Rion Estate

England

Sabelle

M y brother is dying, and I fear I can’t stop it.

With every hour that passes, I hear death beckon, feel its breath on the back of my neck. Bram, it calls. Follow me into the dark. I clutch my brother’s hand, trying desperately to anchor him in this mortal plane.

When I became a fully transitioned witch, I acquired the ability to touch others and make them feel whatever I wish.

In the last sixty years, I’ve perfected that skill.

A rare few are immune to my gift. But in this moment, I have no idea if Bram can feel the healing vibrations I’m sending his way.

If he can, they aren’t improving his condition.

Curse the mysterious black cloud of smoke surrounding my brother, slowly smothering his life force and, I worry, his magic. And damn Mathias d’Arc, one of the evilest wizards ever, for attacking Bram with it.

Fighting back tears of anger, I clench my fists, my fingernails cutting into my palms, and try to decide what to do.

Just yesterday, we tangled with Mathias, who escaped his exile after hundreds of years. Last night, the healer Conrad, along with my Aunt Millie, examined Bram. Neither knew what magic created and sustained the deadly smoke. Nor could they explain what damage it caused…or how to eradicate it.

They only know it’s draining the life of the person I love most in this world.

“Can I come in?”

At the familiar male voice, I look over my shoulder. Lucan MacTavish, my brother’s best friend, hovers in the doorway with a concerned frown.

“Certainly,” I murmur.

At first glance, he’s clearly exhausted. I’m sure I look even worse.

Neither of us has been the same since this bloody magical war started.

Mathias recently abducted Lucan’s mate, Anka, and broke their sacred mate bond.

While he was incoherent with grief and suffering acute mate mourning, I provided Lucan vital energy through a sexual exchange—the way magickind generates all magical energy.

Bram bolstered and protected him, putting a roof over his head, and eventually Lucan healed. Somewhat.

It’s no surprise he wants to help my brother now in return.

“Any change?” Lucan caresses my shoulder.

The gesture surprises me. A gentle warmth spreads from his touch, unexpected and confusing. He never touched me while bound to his former mate. But now that Anka has chosen the arms of another, and he knows I provided the sexual energy to keep him alive, has that changed our friendship in his eyes?

Nibbling on my lip, I risk a glance in Lucan’s direction.

He’s a beautiful man. Coffee-colored hair brushes his strong nape.

His shocking blue eyes lure a woman from between a thick fringe of black lashes.

His mouth… He knows how to kiss; I learned that…

eventually. Over time, he became less frenzied with mate mourning and pressed his mouth to mine. The skill of his kiss shocked me.

Someday, we’ll both need a mate. Becoming Lucan’s would solve many of my problems…

Except I don’t love him.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts. His gesture means nothing; it’s merely one of comfort. Lucan still has strong feelings for Anka. And it is impossible for me to think about my future when my beloved brother might soon pass to his nextlife.

“No,” I whisper.

Lucan urges me to my feet and cups my shoulders. “Come eat. You’re worrying yourself to exhaustion.”

I pull away. “I can’t leave Bram. What if he wakes and needs me?”

“Spare yourself five minutes. Olivia and Sydney have been cooking—the human way. It’s taken them hours to prepare dinner. They did it for you.”

The tears that have been threatening all day sting the backs of my eyes and tighten my throat.

Though I’ve only known the other women for a few weeks, I already consider them great friends.

Yes, circumstance has thrown us together.

Having Mathias on the loose requires a magical army to defeat him, so Bram assembled the Doomsday Brethren, a ragtag group of warriors, mostly magical, who are willing to fight.

Olivia and Sydney are mates to two of Bram’s fighting force and have not only stood by their men, but all of us.

They’ve risked themselves to rid magickind of this cancer, though the fight isn’t theirs.

“Five minutes,” I agree reluctantly.

Lucan brings me closer, just shy of an embrace. “I’m worried about you. You can’t carry all of Bram’s responsibilities on your shoulders.”

He doesn’t understand. “I have to try. My brother has worked so hard to build his political influence and this army?—”

“No one will allow it to crumble. Come see. Everyone is assembled downstairs, waiting for you. We all want to help.”

Everyone? Surely not… “Shock?”

Lucan clenches his jaw. “No one wants that traitor here.”

Especially not one who’s currently shagging Lucan’s former mate.

I’m touched that the Doomsday Brethren have come to pay homage to their fallen leader, but I fear only one person can help my brother. “Has anyone searched for Bram’s mysterious mate? Emma’s energy?—”

“Might heal him. I know. It’s quite difficult to locate a woman when we know only her first name. Sydney volunteered to call Aquarius, since she presumably knows this Emma who ensnared Bram.”

I shake my head. “Don’t bother. Aquarius already said that she doesn’t know Emma’s whereabouts. The woman’s flat is empty, her mobile phone disconnected. The shop where she once worked is closed tight. Bram already tried all those avenues. Clearly, the woman doesn’t want to be found.”

“In light of the situation, Sydney agreed to speak to Aquarius once more, see if she remembers anything else…”

I pray the woman remembers something. If not… The looming worry that my brother will perish stabs despair through my heart. I beat back a fresh batch of tears. I cannot cry. A waste of time that solves nothing. I can fall apart later. Alone. Now too much is at stake.

Lucan smooths a thumb across my cheek. “You’re one of the bravest women I know, Bella. Bram is my best friend. You can lean on me. In fact, I want you to. I’m here.”

The offer is tempting. Lucan is a strong wizard and warrior. But in the past month, his whole life has been torn apart. He needs to get back on his own feet before worrying about my problems.

I send him a sad smile. “I’ll be all right, but thank you.”

“Let me help. There wasn’t time earlier for me to express…” He sighs. “Thank you. I know the sacrifice you made to save me, the risk you took in bedding someone feral to provide me proper energy.”

“No thanks necessary. I?—”

“I remember being with you. Your fear. Your determination.” Lucan threads his hand through my pale hair. “Your softness.”

He remembers? I didn’t expect that. Damn and blast. That complicates everything.

But it isn’t as if I’ve forgotten the feel of Lucan either—his heat, his hardness, his single-minded intent.

The unexpected desire. During our time together, I came to know him as a lover…

and I’m not certain how I feel about that.

But now is hardly the time to sort it out.

“Lucan, I?—”

He brushes his lips over mine, cutting off my words. Soft but firm. Achingly gentle. He merely feels me. Breathes me. Then he lifts his head.

For a heartbeat, my body responds to him, a whisper of warmth unfurling low in my belly before I remember where we are, who we are. This is Lucan—my brother’s best friend, a man still haunted by his lost mate. I step back slightly, unsettled by my reaction.

“Anything you need, I’ll be here for you.”

Why? Friendship? Gratitude? Or…something more?

Though I usually block others’ thoughts, I peek into Lucan’s. Friendship, certainly, and gratitude by the bucketful, a hint of confusion about his feelings. I relate to that. But the attraction simmering under his surface gives me pause.

Slipping from his mind, I step away from his touch. “I’ll go update everyone and thank them for their efforts. Lead the way.”

Lucan takes my hand and guides me downstairs to the dining room.

As he said, everyone has assembled. Marrok stands, tall and daunting as ever.

Olivia, his American mate, sits beside him as he rests a big hand on the crown of her dark head.

Envy tears through me. I ache for the sort of love they share.

Between my brother’s protective streak and my obligation to marry politically well, I wonder if I’ll ever find it.

“Sabelle.” Sydney jumps to her feet. “Are you all right? What can I do to help?”

The human redhead stands beside her wizard mate, Caden, who is Lucan’s brother. The two men exchange a glance I don’t have the energy to decipher.

I shake my head. “I’ll be all right. I appreciate your concern.”

“Are you sure?”

Somehow, I manage a wan smile. “Something smells good. Thank you for cooking.”

“Come eat so you can get back to Bram.” Olivia shoves a plate into my hands and gestures toward the spread of food on the sideboard.

Roasted hen, a flaky white fish, even a beef Wellington, along with an array of vegetables and breads.

The gesture touches me all over again, pricking my eyes with tears.

“Thank you so much.” I sniff, blinking to hold back the tears.

“Eat.” Lucan pushes me toward the food as he accepts a plate from Sydney and stands behind me protectively.

Absently, I dish myself a few spoonfuls of everything. I’m not hungry. Even the thought of food makes my stomach turn. But I tell myself that every bite is nutrition that will help me be nursemaid to Bram. Nothing else matters.

Behind me, the others plate up. I settle into my usual chair. Lucan sits directly to my left. Marrok and Olivia settle in at the far end of the table. Caden and Sydney plop down beside Lucan.

The Doomsday Brethren’s newest member, Tynan O’Shea, sits glumly across from Marrok and picks at his food. His vengeful thoughts blare past my mental barricades, along with his grief over his intended mate’s murder by Mathias. Both kill his appetite. I have no trouble understanding why.

Beside me, Bram’s chair at the head of the table sits empty. The realization that he might never again occupy it hits my chest like a blow. I lower my fork and look at my plate, now blurred through my tears.

The thought of losing Bram isn’t merely devastating to me as his sister—it would be catastrophic for all magickind.

Without his leadership, the Doomsday Brethren might splinter.

And without his political savvy, Mathias will overrun our feckless and cowardly Council.

My brother isn’t just fighting for his life; he’s the linchpin holding together our entire resistance.

If he falls… I can’t bear to finish the thought.

“Sabelle.” Simon Northam, the Duke of Hurstgrove, approaches slowly.

Until the formation of the Doomsday Brethren, Bram and Duke hardly knew each other, but despite his lofty human rank, he’s been a solid member of this fledging resistance from day one.

I take a moment to swallow my tears, then raise my gaze. Being born a Rion, everyone expects me to lead by example, tamp down my fear, and move on. Bram, most of all, would demand it. For my brother, I’ll stay strong.

“It’s all right. I’m well.”

Duke nods, dark hair looking uncommonly shaggy, as he sets his plate on the table and eases himself into Bram’s chair. I swallow an urge to jump up and rail at him. He cannot usurp my brother’s place!

“Would you rather sit here, or shall I?” he asks softly.

The angry wind leaves my sails. I take a deep breath, common sense prevailing. The group needs a leader, and Duke occupying Bram’s chair signals that he’s willing to take the job.

“You. I’m no warrior, and I’ll have my hands full with Bram’s Council business.

I have to hope the others haven’t realized…

” Or they would try ousting him from his hard-won seat.

Thank goodness the Council isn’t in active session right now.

So with any luck, the other members aren’t paying close attention to their mirrors.

I haven’t heard from any of them about his darkened crest, so perhaps they haven’t noticed.

But that won’t last forever. I’ll need to spin some story, stave them off.

It’s a risky approach…and the best I’ve got.

With a nod, Duke casts me a sympathetic gaze, a silent promise of support, then looks down the table. This is for the best. Mathias is weakened, but in no way defeated. The Doomsday Brethren have to stay together and remain strong.

A subtle shift in the room’s energy draws my attention. Marrok straightens almost imperceptibly, while Tynan’s expression darkens further. Even Lucan, beside me, tenses slightly. I follow their gazes as Duke opens his mouth to speak when the last of the warriors sits—directly across from me.

Ice.

Towering and powerful, with his dark hair shaved close to his scalp and those unnervingly intense green eyes that seem to strip away my defenses, he exudes danger in every line of his warrior’s body.

His penetrating gaze fastens on me like a blowtorch, scalding hot and undeniable—entirely different from the gentle warmth of Lucan’s touch.

Despite my better judgment, my breath catches.

My skin tingles. He’s my brother’s enemy… but I can’t seem to look away.

Oh, god …