Page 66 of Possess Me at Midnight (Doomsday Brethren #4)

“What will Mathias do if he learns that he’s free to kill at will among magickind, and those witches and wizards are allowed to take up their magic in defense of themselves or their families only after it’s clear Mathias means to kill them?

By then, it’s bloody too late. There will be more carnage. More murders.”

I’m stunned and horrified. “Stupid fools.”

“Exactly,” Ice agrees, then looks down once more.

Again, I wonder how Ice can see himself as unworthy and undeserving.

He fought a battle with the evilest wizard in a millennium and survived.

He earned a seat on the Council, despite the fact no Deprived has in centuries.

He battled and nearly died, but came back stronger, full of the honor and valor I so love about him.

Yet he remains humble, even ashamed. How can I embrace him and create a future with him if he won’t stop focusing on his perceived failures?

Doesn’t he understand that there was nothing he could do to save Gailene?

That no one expected him to actually kill Mathias in the challenge ring?

“The edict is behind us, and at least for now, nothing can change the directive we’ve been given.

Maybe after enough innocent deaths, the other Councilmen will concede, but until then, we have our orders: kill Mathias at all costs.

” Bram glances down the table at all the Doomsday Brethren warriors. “That’s a mission we can all embrace.”

Amid nods and choruses of yeses, Bram sighs. “There’s another matter we must address, our temporary residence. I’m planning to rebuild Goldcroft Manor, bigger and better. Stronger. More secure. It will, however, take time. With Ice’s blessing, I’d like to remain here until it’s complete.”

That snaps Ice’s gaze up, straight to me. Again, the yearning and devotion on his face nearly kill me. Just that one stare makes me dizzy with want. Foolish, headstrong man.

“I–I…” Ice sighs as he looks away. “I prefer my privacy.”

His eyes dart to me when he says it. He’s not talking about the others, but I know better than to believe he doesn’t want me.

What he doesn’t want is to weaken and give in to his need for me.

I smile. No way am I going to allow him to put more distance between us.

No way will I let him prevent me from speaking the Binding again.

The moment business is done, I’ll do whatever I must to make him see reason.

“As do I,” Bram supplies. “But look at the others. Who among us has a location so well hidden, remote enough to be clandestine, with dungeons and proper safeguards?”

Ice grimaces. He apparently completed the same mental checklist.

He turns to Duke. “What of your house? It’s large and old, so likely equipped with dungeons. You’ve put safeguards around it, and we could add others?—”

“And there are at least twenty humans underfoot at all times. Would you like to hide your magic from them every moment of every day? Or explain magic to them all?”

“You could give the human servants some time off.”

“Months? Years? Besides, servants aren’t my only consideration. Don’t forget, my half brother and his fiancée are human.”

Caden frowns. “They don’t know what you are?”

Duke pauses, clears his throat. “No. And I’m afraid I must leave you temporarily to attend their wedding in two weeks’ time. It’s on New Year’s Eve. At the manor. We’ll have a house full of bloody guests for nearly a month.”

And in reading Simon’s thoughts… He’s thinking incredibly inappropriate things about his half brother’s pink-cheeked bride.

The wedding will be the event of the season—every newspaper, every photographer, every social climber in England will descend on his family’s manor.

Poor Duke, forced to play best man to a brother he barely tolerates while lusting after the woman walking down the aisle to marry him.

The media circus alone will be a nightmare, but Duke’s torment will be worse.

Instantly, I duck out of his thoughts, wondering how he’s going to survive this without completely losing his mind.

“You see, Ice? Looks like we’ll have to trespass on your…hospitality a bit longer.” Bram smiles, knowing he’s won his way.

“Damn it all!” Ice pounds his fist on the table.

Inside, I rejoice. Not only do I like it here—the caverns provide a haunting natural beauty I would have never imagined possible—it also keeps me very close to my beloved. As long as I’m by Ice’s side, I’ll have the chance to work past his defenses and back into his arms.

“Do we dare tell Shock that we’re temporarily locating here?” Duke interjects. “Do we even know who’s side he’s on?”

“His own. Fucking mate-thief…” Lucan’s face hardens. “He can’t be trusted. We shouldn’t risk telling him anything.”

“On the other hand, he provided some useful information about Bram’s condition,” Tynan points out grudgingly.

“For reasons that suited him far more than us, I’m sure,” Bram drawls, though his tone is more measured than Lucan’s. “He refuses to answer when summoned and speaks in riddles. We never know whose side he’s truly on.”

“Though I probably would have died in Mathias’s dungeon if not for Shock, I’m not convinced that trusting him is wise,” Ice adds in low tones.

“The bastard can’t be counted on,” Lucan snarls.

“Aye, and rarely does he appear for weapons training,” Marrok grumbles. “Fen-sucked lout.”

“Then we’re agreed,” Bram decides. “We’ll keep this location secret, at least for now. If Shock is truly loyal, he’ll understand the precaution. If he’s not…then we’re safer.”

“I think it’s a solid plan,” I chime in.

“Mathias’s witch, Rhea, is in the dungeon.

Since she isn’t Mathias’s mate, he should be unable to trace her.

We’ve begun questioning her. Already she’s admitted to placing the tracking spell on the Doomsday Diary.

I…persuaded her to remove it. She’s a valuable hostage, and relocating her would be fraught with opportunities for her to escape or give Mathias the potential means to free her. It’s best if we all remain here.”

“Good. It’s settled.” Bram slaps the table. “Caden, thank your mate for her prompt and excellent transcast. So glad I sent you to that silly human rag she worked for to lure her away.”

Caden frowns. “You sent me there to shut her up.”

Bram waves. “Whatever. It worked.”

Most wizards around the table laugh as they rise. Predictably, Caden goes in search of Sydney, Marrok after Olivia, while Ronan seeks out Kari.

Beside him, Raiden grumbles. “Mating has turned you into a sap.”

Ronan’s stare swivels, studying his twin’s increasingly dark mood with a scowl. “Aren’t you a bright ray of sunshine these days? Bloody miserable, more like. Still not speaking to that witch you got pregnant?”

Raiden’s face goes stone cold. “Tabitha is better off without me.”

“Right. Because you’re such a terrible wizard?” Ronan’s voice drips sarcasm.

“She needs someone who can give her what she deserves, not some cursed manwhore who will never be able to sense if she’s truly his.”

“The curse is bollocks. I’m living proof of that, and you know it.”

Raiden’s jaw works silently. “Doesn’t matter now. Her parents arranged for her to mate with an acceptable wizard, the Council Chancellor’s nephew.”

“She’s having your youngling.”

Raiden flips him a flat stare. “No one cares. Besides, this is better for everyone.”

I don’t mean to eavesdrop…but it’s hard not to overhear.

The pain bleeding through Raiden’s mental barriers hits me unexpectedly.

Walking away from the witch and his coming child filled him with raw anguish and nearly brought him to his knees, but he forced himself to do what he thought was right—even if it’s destroying him.

“Stop bashing yourself,” Ronan argues. “You’re more noble than you think, brother.”

I have to agree. Though I grew up with the twins, who admittedly lived colorful lives before Mathias’s return, I’ve seen a change in them. Raiden’s thoughts and choices are so much like my beloved Ice’s that I’m forced to agree with Ronan. His twin is more noble than he’ll let himself believe.

“It’s done. Leave it,” Raiden snaps, stalking away before Ronan can probe deeper.

Ronan stares after him, shaking his head at his twin’s stubborn martyrdom.

“He’ll come around,” I murmur. “Tabitha never strays far from his thoughts.”

“It will be too late. Tabitha will be mated to someone else, and I’ll continue losing my brother to heartbreak.”

He’s not wrong, but I’m in no position to persuade Raiden. The last few weeks aside, we’ve barely spoken since we were kids.

I send him a supportive smile, then cast a lingering stare Ice’s way. “Don’t give up. Things may change yet.”

Duke says his farewells and teleports away to tend to preparations for the upcoming wedding. Finally, Bram and Lucan stride side by side out of the room.

My brother pauses to pat my shoulder. In that single glance, I read his pained acceptance.

Bram giving his blessing for a mating he’s long opposed is costing him, but he’ll no longer object or try to stop me.

Ice has proven himself a worthy warrior, loyal to me and the cause.

Now that Ice is a fellow Councilman, Bram has no other logical objection.

The development isn’t perfect…but it’s a start. I smile in return.

With that, Bram turns back to Lucan, murmuring that he had a call from Anka, who has information about Mathias’s next move. She also wishes to speak to her former mate. Intriguing, yes…but not my first priority.

Finally, Tynan, looking angry and introspective as always, stomps from the room. He’s a heartbeat away from an explosion of violence or grief. I know he’ll break free of his control someday. Then? Watch out…

That leaves me alone with Ice, who’s staring at me with a mix of dread and resignation that makes me wonder if he’s put too many obstacles between us to have any sort of future.