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“Lucan MacTavish fights with us…or he did until he was felled by mate mourning. Mathias took Anka from him while Lucan was protecting the Doomsday Diary. We have been unable to locate her.”
That news strikes terror in my heart and reinforces all the reasons I’m determined to keep Kari safe.
“His brother, Caden, is helping a bit,” Bram goes on. “Isdernus Rykard?—”
The nutter outcast?
“Along with Simon Northam, the Duke of Hurstgrove. Tynan, here”—Bram points to the other wizard—“joined recently. An immortal human warrior, Marrok of Cadbury, trains us in human combat. And Shock Denzell plays the double agent.” Bram shrugs. “We’ll see whose side he ends up on.”
Those men are from all walks of magic and humankind, highborn to low, from dedicated to dodgy. “That’s only eight warriors, including yourself. How will you fight Mathias’s army?”
“Good question. We’re…working through the details. Interested in joining? I came here to ask you and your brother.”
Once, my automatic answer would have been no. Wolvseys aren’t interested in battle or politics, just sex. But I have Kari to think about now, her safety to put first. Would my involvement provide Kari more protection or put her at greater risk?
Or is that the wrong question? Maybe I should be asking what will befall magickind—and humans alike—if the Doomsday Brethren fail?
I already know the answer.
“I’m in. But my mate’s safety comes first,” I insist.
“I am not your mate.” Kari shoots me a mutinous glare.
“Naturally. We’ll help you defend her,” Bram agrees as if Kari never interjected. “You and Raiden will be good additions to our force.”
“I can’t speak for my brother, but?—”
“You won’t be able to keep either of them from chasing random skirts long enough to fight,” Kari drawls.
Two urges slam me at once: to lay down the law and to kiss her senseless. She makes me crazy with her vulnerable, mutinous streak of feminine independence. Yet that maddening backbone is one of the reasons I fell for her.
“Get back to me about Raiden,” Bram orders, then turns to Tynan. “We’ve done all we can here. Back to work. When you’ve figured out your…situation here, pop over to my house. Marrok will start you on human combat. I’ll school you on the magic you’ll need to stay alive.”
After a quick shake of hands, he and O’Shea exit the pub. Closing time comes around, so the regulars and random customers all file out, too.
Finally, Kari and I are alone.
With a flick of my wrist, I lock the door. Then I cup her shoulders, holding her firm when she tries to squirm away. “Listen?—”
“Get your hands off me.” She tries to wrench free.
I hold firm. “What Bram and Tynan are involved in is very dangerous. You can’t even comprehend…”
“Then why did you join?”
“Because if Mathias prevails, we’ll all be dead or enslaved. Allying myself with the Doomsday Brethren might be the only way I can protect you. But it won’t work if you keep letting Tynan, Bram, and the rest come here.”
“Piss off. I’m not taking orders from the bastard who Calls to me, then turns around and shags someone else. I fell for one cheating bastard. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Though I staged the incident to put distance between us, I hate Kari comparing me to her ex. I’d do anything to take back that stupid scheme.
“I didn’t shag that woman,” I growl.
“Oh? Did she find her brain in her nonexistent bra and turn you down?”
“No. I turned her down. I didn’t want her.” I grip Kari’s shoulders and stare into her eyes. The hurt there nearly fells me. “I only want you.”
“Liar. I stopped caring about you the moment you left with her. I don’t want you here anymore. I told you that. Now go.” She sniffs, and the tears filling her eyes crush my heart. “And don’t come back. I mean it.”
