“You two.” Bram pointed to Caden and Shock. “Bury the animosity. We’ve no time for it.”

“You’re simply going to trust him and hope he doesn’t fuck you over?” Caden challenged.

“That’s my problem. Marrok has warned us repeatedly about these rows. If we’re too busy fighting one another, how will we ever unite against our common enemy?”

“Agreed.” Caden nodded. “Only because focusing on Mathias, Zain, and the Anarki will better help me find Anka and keep Sydney safe.”

“Fine.” Shock rolled his eyes.

“Good.” Bram nodded. “Shock, take Aquarius upstairs. Please. We haven’t much time to save her.”

If it’s not already too late. The unspoken words hung in the air.

Bram sighed. “When that’s done, return here. Sabelle, follow and wait for Aunt Millie. Sydney, you’ll want to stay with your friend, I presume? Go with them.”

With that, she was dismissed. She cast a gaze toward Caden, feeling lost in Wonderland without a map or any bleeding clue what to do next. He squeezed her hand and nodded.

“I’ll find you soon. I promise.”

What choice did she have? Aquarius’s life hung in the balance, and her friend might need her if she had any hope of pulling through. But the reporter in her wanted to stay behind. Something told her the men were about to have a conversation she’d kill to hear. But as the door to that museum-quality office closed behind her, Sydney knew she wouldn’t get that chance. At least not today.

The giant, Shock, laid Aquarius on an enormous four-poster bed with a sumptuous beige silk coverlet. He took a half step back, still staring. His expression seemed to ask the same question tearing through Sydney’s mind: Would she live? The worry was like an awl gouging out her composure.

For Aquarius, she had to be strong.

Sydney grabbed her friend’s hand, edging Shock aside. He adjusted his sunglasses on his face, then glanced her way. “Need anything more?”

How would she know? Sydney could barely comprehend that this giant’s brother had nearly fried her friend’s insides. But Shock looked at Aquarius with something like compassion.

Olivia, the woman she’d met in the pub, entered the room and grabbed Sydney’s hand while answering Shock. “If we do, we’ll let you know. We’re fine for now.”

Shock hesitated, brushed a knuckle down Aquarius’s arm, then turned away. Staring after him as he left, Sydney wondered what that was all about.

The question must have shown on her face because Olivia said, “Don’t try to figure him out. You’ll give yourself a headache. I’ve been living here with my mate Marrok for about six weeks, so I see the guys often. Except Shock. He completely baffles me.”

She lived here? “Marrok?”

“Yeah. Big, bossy warrior, carries a sword.”

Indeed. Sydney remembered him vividly. Imposing bloke. Hard to imagine that the tiny, violet-eyed beauty belonged with such a man. But lately she’d seen far more unusual things.

“Smashing.” Sabelle breezed into the room, rubbing her hands together—the only indication of her nervousness. “Aunt Millie will be here shortly.”

“She’s got heart magic and can do a bit of healing,” Olivia whispered to her.

“Precisely. Sorry.” Sabelle sent her a rueful grin. “Ask me questions when I don’t explain. I’m a bit topsy-turvy at the moment.”

Sabelle might regret that offer someday, but Sydney intended to take advantage of it.

“How long until this aunt shows up?”

“I’m here, dear,” a spry voice said from behind her.

Sydney whirled to see a little woman with lively blue eyes wearing a dotty lace dress and a straw bonnet. This was Aquarius’s savior?

“No offense, but wouldn’t a doctor be more effective?”

“Not with a magical malady.” Millie took Sydney’s hand in hers. “Let me have a look, then.”

The lady with the thick, pale bun ambled past Sydney and put bony hands across Aquarius’s chest. Then frowned. “Does the girl have any magic?”

Olivia and Sabelle both turned to her. Sydney shrugged. “I-I don’t know. Does it matter for her healing?”

“A bit.”

Sydney blew out a breath, then realized that Aquarius had rarely talked about her family. She mentioned friends and lovers, her failed uni days, karma, and her hopes for the future. But the family, she’d carefully danced around that.

“It’s possible. Caden’s brother’s wife is her cousin, and Anka is a witch, right?”

“Yes, but your friend may not be magical. It isn’t automatic. I’ll just have to hope I get it right.” Millie sighed, then closed her eyes.

Long, agonizing moments of silence passed. The woman skimmed her hands above Aquarius’s belly and chest, making only occasional murmurs. Sydney had no idea what the devil they meant. And in the meantime, her friend’s breathing had grown more labored. The purple, swollen color remained. Her lips were blistered, her lids nearly swollen shut, her skin cracking.

“Can you help her?” Sydney finally asked, losing patience.

The older woman looked up with regret in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ve never seen anything like this. The damage is extensive.”

The little woman’s answer slammed Sydney’s composure. She covered her mouth with her hand as the little woman left. Somehow, Millie’s poise had made her hope that she could solve Aquarius’s crisis. To hear otherwise crushed her.

“I think I know someone who might be able to,” Olivia said. “A moment, please.”

She disappeared. Sydney had no notion what to do or say, so merely grabbed her friend’s hand and held it tightly in her own.

“Fight,” she whispered to Aquarius. “It’s bad karma for you to leave me all alone.”

Her breath caught in her throat, and tears stung her eyes. Guilt stabbed her. If Sydney had listened to Bram when he’d said to get out, Aquarius would be well. If I hadn’t struggled to escape Zain or if I’d found some way to protect my friend, no harm would have befallen her. But Sydney couldn’t change any of it now. All she could do was hope.

“It’s not your fault,” Sabelle offered, stroking her shoulder. Sydney blinked.

“How—how did you know?”

“I can read your thoughts. Sorry. Thought I should give you fair warning. But I’ve delved into your friend’s mind. Deep. She’s worried about you.”

The tears started flowing in earnest. Only a friend like Aquarius would be near death and still worry about someone else.

“I feel so helpless. Aquarius would at least have some healing crystal, sacred chant, herbal tea. All I’ve got is my hand.”

“And the power of your friendship. She feels it.”

Sabelle’s understanding sank into Sydney. Even if she thought the gorgeous blonde was full of rubbish and trying to soothe her, Sydney appreciated the gesture. Perhaps Sabelle wasn’t so bad after all—as long as she kept her hands off Caden.

“In the future, I will. He’s all yours, I promise.”

Sydney hiccuped, smiling despite her tears. “You’re not intimidated by me surely?”

“Caden and Bram both said you’re tough, but no. My attentions are . . . engaged elsewhere.”

“Olivia said you wanted to see me,” a voice growled from the door.

Sydney turned, along with the other two women. Ice stood there. His behemoth shoulders bulged out of a black tank. An expressive mouth and the dark stubble dusting his otherwise sleek head, along with the faded fatigues, made him an intimidating figure. And when Sydney looked at him, the hunger in his expression, directed purely at Sabelle, blasted her like a heat wave.

The blonde merely blushed and cast a demure glance down. Then she sent Ice a nervous smile. “I think Olivia believed you might be able to help.”

He frowned as he glanced at Aquarius. “I know blast and damn about her condition.”

“Zain cooked her from the inside out,” Sydney blurted.

“I’m not a healer.” His craggy face gentled in apology.

“But Olivia sent you.” Sydney couldn’t understand why she had if Ice couldn’t help.

He shrugged uncomfortably. “To stand guard?”

Sabelle edged around Sydney and approached Ice, drawing in a bracing breath. “Your nickname, does it imply ability? Maybe . . .”

At his scowl, Sabelle broke off. Sydney’s thoughts raced. Did Ice have some ability to cool down Aquarius’s insides?

He swallowed, hesitated, then nodded. “But I don’t know how to heal.”

Ice turned away, and Sydney moved to chase him down, anger flashing through her. He’s giving up, just like that? Aquarius may not mean anything to him, but her friend meant the world to her. Sabelle pulled her back and held up a steadying palm. Then she stopped Ice herself, wrapping her hand around his huge biceps.

“Please . . .”

Sabelle looked up at Ice, beseeching blue eyes wide open. Renewed hunger stormed his face. The wizard wanted her. Badly. And he was letting her see it. Sabelle didn’t back down; she gripped him tighter, though Sydney sensed that the witch was overwhelmed by Ice. Yet she held her ground for Aquarius’s sake, a woman she did not know.

Initial impressions be damned. Sabelle had just earned herself a new friend.

Ice huffed, then groused, “I need a conduit. I can create objects of ice, but transferring it to something living is beyond me.”

“I can try,” Sabelle assured, her hands dropping from his biceps.

“How?”

The blond witch licked her lips. “I’m part siren. I can often influence people’s feelings by touching them. If you can pass the feeling onto me . . .”

Part siren? There was such a thing? And they could change other’s feelings? Wow, the material she’d have to put in her next article.

Ice retreated. “Your brother will object.”

“Bram can’t always have his way.”

He clenched his jaw. “Sabelle, I have to touch you to use you as a conduit.”

She drew in a shaky breath, clearly nervous. And excited. She stared at Ice as if he was the forbidden fruit. “Touch me how?”

Desire leapt in his gaze again. “As much as you’ll let me. The more contact, the more successful I’m likely to be.”

The witch paused.

“Worried my insanity is contagious, princess?” Ice challenged with a dark raised brow.

“No,” Sabelle snapped, then glanced at Aquarius, who labored for each breath. The witch bit her lip. Something about Sabelle’s demeanor told Sydney that her reticence wasn’t about Ice’s intimidating demeanor, but the sexual vibes floating between them.

“I’ll do it.” Sabelle said in a voice that cracked and wobbled.

“Relax and trust me. You can’t be afraid, no matter what.”

Sabelle gave a shaky nod. Sydney suspected that Ice’s request was easier said than done. Either way, she wished they’d hurry. Aquarius’s clock was ticking down.

“Do we need anything else?” the blond witch asked.

“Just put your hands on her and concentrate. Whatever happens, don’t move away from me.”

The gorgeous witch positioned herself at the side of the bed, arms out so that her hands rested on Aquarius’s torso. She drew in a deep breath, as if bracing herself.

Ice moved in behind her, stopping a mere breath away.

“Ready?”

She nodded, but her body tensed. And no wonder, the sexual tension between them was thick and undeniable.

Closing the last bit between them, Ice wrapped his arms around Sabelle’s middle, just beneath her breasts. His legs shadowed hers, thighs to thighs, shins to calves, his feet braced around hers. The woman’s breath caught when Ice dropped his head, resting his cheek against her neck. His breath fanned the little tendrils of hair at her nape. Some of the hair artlessly piled on her head slipped free of its clip, caressing Ice, and she leaned back into him.

Neither moved, yet their bodies seemed to meld together.

“I’m going to blast you with cold, like an inanimate object. Try to pass it through you to her.”

Like some sort of energy transfer? It didn’t escape Sydney that if Aquarius were awake, she would embrace this holistic energy healing bit and give it two thumbs up on the karma scale. But Sydney herself held her breath, willing this to work.

Sabelle closed her eyes. A moment later, she stiffened, gasped. Then she tried to jerk away from Ice.

“No,” he growled. “Stay with me. Pass it through. See where she needs cooling and give it to her.”

With chattering teeth, Sabelle tried to nod. Her hands turned white, then blue. Sydney frowned. The chill seemed to be coating Sabelle outside, but not reaching inside her so she could transfer it to Aquarius.

“Please,” Sydney cajoled. “Can you . . .” But she didn’t know what to tell Sabelle to do.

Olivia rushed back into the room and gave her hand a supportive squeeze.

Ice wrapped his arms around Sabelle tighter, touching his lips against her ear. “Take it in, princess. Send it through.”

Sabelle squinted, trying to focus inward, judging from her expression. Ice gripped one hip, pressing himself closer until there wasn’t a breath of air between them. The other hand he splayed across the flat of her stomach, fingers stretched from just beneath her breasts, all the way to her navel. Sabelle’s head fell against his shoulder, eyes closed.

“Feel me?” he whispered.

“Yes,” she gasped raggedly. Within seconds, color pinkened Sabelle’s skin and flushed her cheeks.

But Aquarius looked unchanged.

“What the devil?” Sydney perched on the other side of the bed, close to Aquarius. Another look at Sabelle’s face shocked her. Face dreamy, lips parted, head tilted back against Ice’s shoulder, she looked . . . aroused.

“Fuck!” Ice jumped away from her suddenly, as if scalded. “You sent me a blast of heat.”

“I-I don’t know why.” Sabelle glanced away, but Sydney could see her eyes. They looked unfocused, dilated—and guilty.