AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Bram and Tynan exchange a glance. “The Doomsday Brethren. We’ve banded together to defeat Mathias.”
My blood runs cold. So the group Rhea mentioned before the bitch attacked is real. My instinct to protect Kari multiplies.
The “Brethren” part I understand, since that echoes the name of the group that fought Mathias centuries ago. But only one object in magical lore bears the other part of that moniker.
I lower my voice. “Doomsday, as in the Doomsday Diary, Morgana Le Fay’s enchanted book?”
“That grants its user any power, even to destroy the world? The very one,” Bram says. “We recovered it a few weeks past. So our mission also includes keeping it from Mathias.”
Such a weapon in the hands of a madman… I only know of the evil wizard from history. I wasn’t alive when Mathias last terrorized magickind, but if history is even half accurate… I shudder.
“How have I not heard this news? Why isn’t all of magickind talking about it?”
“You know the rest of the Council.” Bram shrugs.
Indeed. Notoriously closemouthed, even to magickind’s detriment. They would rather appear indecisive than be publicly excoriated for their decisions.
“You’re leading this effort?” I ask Bram.
“Indeed. I formed the group. Mathias must be eliminated.”
“Agreed. But you cannot be here. Anyone involved in this resistance puts Kari in danger.”
Kari, standing near Bram, scowls. “You can’t tell me who to serve in my own pub.”
I turn to Tynan. “A few days ago, she was attacked by a witch named Rhea, who was looking for you. Small brunette dressed like a streetwalker. Ring a bell? She blasted Kari with a dangerous green spell I’ve never seen.”
Tynan and Bram exchange a glance, then shake their heads.
“Sorry. I don’t know her,” O’Shea adds.
“Well, Rhea knows you. She demanded Kari tell her what you and Shock discussed.”
Tynan frowns. “Since his family has long supported Mathias, I wasn’t keen on the idea of his involvement. Maybe he got wind of that fact.”
“Who is this Rhea, and why would she spy on Shock? Or attack a human to learn about his conversations?”
“I can only guess.”
I’m done guessing. “Bloody hell, I need answers! My mate is in danger!”
“I’m not your mate!”
Kari’s hands-on-hips protest tramples my last nerve. I should want distance between us…but something primal isn’t having any of that. The wizard in me insists she is my mate and won’t let her go. “Say that again, and I will take you over my knee.”
She rolls her eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Want to try me?”
Bram clears his throat. “I know why. Shock Denzell is a member of the Doomsday Brethren…in theory.”
“So…Rhea supports Mathias?” I ask. “And Mathias wants to know where Shock’s loyalty lies, so he’s using the witch to find out?”
“I think so, yes. Ask many more questions, however, and I’ll conscript you.”
I scowl. “Who else has joined? Who must I keep far from Kari?”
Bram sighs. “This information cannot go beyond these walls, and I’m trusting you only because you were my sister’s childhood friend, and you’re clearly overprotective because of your unanswered mating Call.
