Page 65 of Possess Me at Midnight (Doomsday Brethren #4)

Chapter Forty-Four

Sabelle

T he next morning, I pace Ice’s caves, transcast mirror in hand.

I’ve yet to see the stubborn warrior. After he collapsed at Blackbourne’s, Bram and Tynan carted him inside the Council Chancellor’s house.

Tynan stayed with Ice. My brother insisted on escorting me here.

No matter how much I protested and railed, Bram refused to budge.

Why? Granted, I’m not Ice’s mate, and Tynan is better equipped to protect Ice in case the Anarki strike on Mathias’s behalf. Though I feel certain the crafty wizard is too injured to do anyone harm—at least for the moment.

“Did you find the mirror, Sabelle?” Caden calls down the dark stone hallway.

Sighing, I follow the sound of the voice. In one of the larger rooms, I find Caden with an arm around his mate as Sydney puts the finishing touches on her lipstick.

They look so happy together, so secure in their love for each other.

In my head, I know their road to happiness wasn’t an easy one.

But my heart beats with pain and envy. I want that with Ice, have no question in my mind that I love him—and that he loves me.

This nonsense about deserving me? Perhaps that’s true in Bram’s shadowed mind, but I don’t care anymore.

I won’t sacrifice my future to please my brother.

I’d rather give the rest of my days to the man I love.

But he’s avoiding me. Foolish, honorable wizard. Damn him.

“It’s here.” I hold up the mirror for Caden as I address his mate. “Ready?”

She nods. “Have you heard from…the others?”

As much as it pains me, yes. “Bram rang me a few minutes ago. It’s done. Officially.”

Ice is now a full-fledged Council member. Bram has no reason to stand between Ice and me, not that I would allow it. Yet the man I love still won’t speak to me.

“Then let’s go.”

I nod. No matter how my heart is breaking, magickind must be made aware of all the changes, not to mention the danger around them. As disappointed and miserable as I feel, I’m glad to have this opportunity to serve my people.

“Be sure to include this news, as well.” I hand Sydney a scrap of paper on which I’ve jotted notes from Bram.

Sydney reads them, eyes widening with each word. “Truly?”

“Indeed.” I smile faintly.

Already Ice’s involvement on magickind’s governing body is making a difference, and I couldn’t be prouder.

A few moments later, I put the mirror in place for Sydney, then cast the spell that allows her to transcast to all magickind. We wait a few moments, allowing the mirror in each household to draw its owners to the magical reflection.

“Good evening, magickind. I’m Sydney Blair-MacTavish with breaking news.

Yesterday, Isdernus Rykard, the first Deprived to join the Council in over five hundred years, was sworn in, replacing the late Thomas MacKinnett.

Rykard defeated Mathias d’Arc in a Council-sanctioned challenge.

He takes his place beside another new Council member, Tynan O’Shea, who replaces his late grandfather, Clifden.

“In related news, the new Council met earlier at the home of Council Chancellor Carlisle Blackbourne. After a heated debate, they issued their first collective edict denouncing Mathias d’Arc’s return and ongoing violence against the Privileged, women in particular.

The edict, proposed by new Council Member Rykard, passed by a narrow margin of four to three.

“Rykard delivered his first public statement after the vote: ‘The Council’s new resolution makes Mathias public enemy number one. His actions, including the rape and murder of many women, like my younger sister, along with the assassination of my predecessor, Thomas MacKinnett, should prove he’s the most menacing wizard among magickind.

We will capture him and dispense swift justice. ’

“I’ll bring you more details as they become available. Until then, safeguard your homes and families. D’Arc should be considered very dangerous. That’s all the news for now. This is Sydney Blair-MacTavish. Good evening, magickind.”

With a nod, I lower the mirror. “Good job.”

“The best, firecracker.” Caden kisses her, looking as if he’d like to do a great deal more to his mate.

“My pleasure.” Sydney tucks a lock of red hair behind her ear. “I hope your Ice and the others catch him soon.”

My Ice? I wish that was true. But no sense spilling my guts to Sydney—or anyone else. No one can shake sense into a hardheaded warrior like Ice. As soon as that wizard returns?—

In the next breath, gentle whooshes sound near the cavern’s primary door. Bram appears, then Tynan. Ice trudges behind them, watching the ground as he teleports in and makes his way down the rocky hall.

As he passes me, he spares me a glance. Just one. It drips regret and love, remorse and need. And exhaustion. Still, he refuses to have anything to do with me.

I want to tear my hair out.

“Ice, wait!” The plea tumbles out before I can stop it.

“We’ve nothing to say.”

“ You may feel that way. I, however, have plenty?—”

“Not now, Sabelle,” my brother cuts in. “The Doomsday Brethren have grave matters to discuss. There are wider implications to the Council’s newest vote.”

I press my lips into an angry line to hold in my frustration—and barely succeed. Magickind and the future, the Doomsday Brethren, and the Council are all important. But damn it all, so is my heart. So is Ice’s love. But Bram has taught me well over the years.

Duty first.

As I follow my brother to the back of Ice’s cavern and the massive dining table, the others emerge as well.

Marrok kisses Olivia tenderly, then settles in a chair.

Caden whispers something in Sydney’s ear, then kisses her forehead before sitting.

She smiles, then loops arms with Olivia.

Together, they retreat to the back of the cavern.

I stand my ground, refusing to leave, as Lucan, Tynan, Bram, Duke, Ice, and the twins all settle into chairs around the table, my brother at the head.

Bram casts me a challenging stare. I meet him head-on, arms crossed over my chest. “I’m not leaving before I hear about the Council initiations and the edict vote.”

“There’s little more to it than what Sydney announced via transcast. Tynan and Ice are official, and Mathias now has a bounty on his head.”

I read his mind well enough to know that’s a partial truth at best. “Did any of the Council members try to protest the initiation?”

“Blackbourne and Spencer aren’t pleased, but they’re resigned,” Tynan answers.

To Ice’s presence. Everyone thinks it, but no one says it. Why bother when the truth is obvious? The Council elders are elitist bastards.

“And Camden?” I ask.

“Suspiciously quiet,” Bram adds. “He may be resigned as well. Hard to tell. Either way, Ice will make a better Councilman than all of them combined.”

My eyes widen. Did my own brother truly say that? Is he acknowledging that Ice is more than a convenient vote to push his agenda? Judging from the look on Ice’s face, he’s equally stunned and asking himself the same question.

Gnashing his teeth, Bram snarls, “Don’t everyone bloody look at me as if I’ve grown a third head.

Ice is strong and brave. I admit it. He brings the Council a perspective they lack.

Along with Tynan, we’ll accomplish the critical reform to magickind I’ve long sought.

Ice…” Bram pauses, then grimaces. Whatever words he contemplates, admitting them is clearly painful.

“He has a core of honor. Yesterday’s challenge proved that. ”

Shocking! Bram’s version of an apology, and he delivered it not merely to Ice but with me and all the others listening. I’m not only proud of Ice, but my brother as well.

Since the Devouring Shadow consumed him, Bram has struggled to quell his temper and be diplomatic, especially when his ambition is thwarted or his agenda is threatened.

Tonight, he’s checked himself and fought against his raw ambition, now tucked away under his stoic surface.

In doing so, he both impresses me and provides instant acceptance for Ice.

My brother has never admitted easily that he’s wrong, and it’s worse since Mathias’s nasty black cloud.

But I know exactly the message my brother conveys—and what it costs him.

He approves and accepts my choice of a mate.

Though I don’t require it and would have spoken the Binding to Ice regardless, having Bram’s blessing, even if it’s roundabout, is a relief.

They may never be the best of friends again, but they can work together for the greater good.

It’s more than I dared to hope for, even a few days ago.

Now if I can persuade Ice to understand that not only does he deserve me, but I love him dearly, madly…forever.

As soon as this bit of business ends, I will.

“And you suggested the edict?” I turn to Ice. I love him so much that looking at him makes my heart physically ache. Especially when he nods, refusing to look my way.

“How did the vote go? Did the others agree to a directive?”

Bram grimaces. Tynan curses. Ice grips the arms of his chair. Ah, this is the something they don’t want to discuss.

I tap my toe on the stone floor. “You know I’m not giving up until someone answers.”

My brother shakes his head. “The vote was a four-three split as Sydney reported. Ice, Tynan, Sterling MacTavish, and I supported the edict. The others opposed. No shock there. The original version of the edict contained a directive that allowed any of magickind to kill Mathias on sight.”

Tynan turns to Caden and Lucan. “That’s where your uncle parted ways with us. He won’t condone what he believes amounts to murder among the masses. He prefers that we take care of Mathias.”

“We?” I query.

“The Doomsday Brethren,” Bram supplies. “We alone have the directive to kill him. The rest of the Council vowed to put up no other barriers between us and Mathias’s death.”

“That’s not all bad, is it? Shouldn’t that have been a part of our transcast?”