Looking around, it was clear that Mathias didn’t believe in anything so human as guards, so there had been none to overtake. Though he and the Doomsday Brethren now waited near Mathias’s stronghold for the “go” signal from Shock, he was more interested in Mathias and Sydney’s conversation.

The evil wizard was testing her, toying with her. It took every ounce of restraint not to burst into the building and slay him on the spot. Clutching the butt of his semiautomatic, he had second thoughts about refusing a wand. Embracing magic wasn’t on his agenda, but could he fight an evil wizard with a 9 mm? He knew from their battle in the tunnel that bullets had little effect on Mathias. To add a human element Mathias would never think to combat, Caden had placed C4 at every corner and window of the building. Once inside, his mission was to place more around the support beams so the building would come down at the touch of a button, preferably with Mathias in it.

“That’s why I came here,” Sydney said. “To give you the Doomsday Diary. But I wonder, you’re such a powerful figure in magickind, could I persuade you to answer a few questions first?”

She managed to look both starstruck and sheepish. The fact she had the temerity to ask such a man questions without looking nervous staggered Caden. She was baiting a very dangerous bear. Even the look on Shock’s face was, well, shocked.

Mathias crossed his legs and leaned back in his black leather chair. “A woman with backbone . . . I haven’t known many human females. Perhaps I should remedy that.”

Sydney looked down with just the right amount of coyness. “Is that a yes?”

Mathias laughed. “Amusing and lovely. I smell a man on you. A wizard.”

Her eyes widened, and Caden’s heart stuttered. Could Mathias identify her lover? Would he know that she’d been intimate with someone aligned against him?

She glanced at Shock, who said, “She fancies my brother. They’ve been nearly inseparable for days.”

Mathias regarded her carefully. “That’s where he’s been. And he convinced you to bring the book to me?”

She shook her head. “It was my book and my choice. Actually, Shock suggested I give it to you. I just have a few questions first.”

Leaning forward, Mathias leveled a bland stare at Sydney, but Caden saw the lethal way his gaze dissected her. If she couldn’t read men, she was screwed.

Nodding, she adjusted her handbag in her lap, perching it on the edge of her knees. What the . . .

Suddenly, Caden understood. The camera was in her handbag, now close to Mathias. Brave little fool. She was going to get herself killed. Everything inside him clenched. Somehow, he had to get her out of there without compromising the mission.

Sydney bit her lip in a nervous gesture. “I understand the book has awesome power.”

“An object with this much magical ability has not been seen in centuries. It will give me the power to provide the Deprived a chance at equality.”

“A commendable goal, but how exactly can the book help you achieve it? What will you do with the Doomsday Diary? Could you control, say, an entire class of magickind if you chose?”

“Before acting, I must study the book carefully. An object like this deserves respect. To answer you now would be premature and rash.”

“Naturally,” Sydney countered. “But give me an idea of the things you anticipate being able to do with this diary.”

“Forgive me if I decline to answer your question. Shock looks quite protective, and you’re Zain’s current amour. To keep my plans secret, I would hate to be . . . impolite.” The wizard sent her a tight smile. “The book, please.”

Mathias’s tone hadn’t changed. Nor had his expression. But Caden could tell the wizard was done indulging Sydney. He hoped she realized it. She needed to get the hell out. Heart racing, fear burned his veins as Caden mouthed to Bram, Now?

Bram shook his head. Caden clutched his gun so tight, his fingers turned white. When it came to her job, Sydney didn’t understand the word “stop.” If she pushed Mathias further, what happened to Anka and Aquarius would look like fun.

“In a moment,” Sydney assured. “What about your background makes you willing to lead the Deprived out of their poverty? It sounds like an admirable cause, and a favorable story about the inspiration behind your dedication might help your cause.”

With a brow raised, Mathias leaned forward and spoke softly. “The time for reporting magickind’s news in your human rag has ended. My presence is still something of a surprise, and I prefer to keep it that way. No more questions.

The book. Now.”

Though the plan entailed making Mathias steal it, screw Bram’s plan. Give it to him before he kills you and get out!

Instead, she frowned. “You understand why I’m reluctant to turn over what is, by your own admission, an awesome weapon without more information.”

“I’m a busy man. By your own admission, my cause is an admirable one, and my attention is better spent on the war and the matter of equality.”

Sydney pursed her lips. “Indeed. But I have heard troubling rumors about your treatment of witches. Can you comment?”

Horror washed over Caden, and he bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood. Mathias would have no compunction about killing her for merely asking the question.

“Give him the book, damn it,” Shock snarled and ripped it out of her hands, then shoved it into Mathias’s outstretched arms. “You came to do that, and now you have. Let’s go.”

Sydney managed to look flustered and irritated. “I wasn’t done asking questions. What about—”

“Yes, you were.” Shock warned.

Caden hoped to God Sydney heeded him. What in hell had possessed her to interrogate a man who could squash her like a bug? If she walked out of this warehouse alive, she had no idea the tirade he planned to unleash on her.

“What about Auropha MacKinnett, Anka MacTavish, Elmira Craddock?” She kept aiming her handbag and the video camera in the dark wizard’s direction.

Mathias’s expression looked empty, yet Caden saw fury creeping through the wizard’s black magical signature. He held his breath, terrified the evil bastard would draw his wand and end Sydney in one flick of his wrist.

“Come on!” Shock grabbed Sydney’s elbow and hauled her to her feet.

Normally, Caden would be furious that Shock had touched her and dragged her to the door, even as she held her bag in Mathias’s direction. But now, he was grateful to Shock for every centimeter of distance he put between Sydney and Mathias.

As they neared the door, Mathias stood, his weighty gaze on Sydney. “Stop.”

Instead of walking—or better yet, running—out of the warehouse, Sydney turned to him.

“The wizard I scent on you doesn’t smell like Zain.”

Caden’s heart nearly beat out of his chest. A flush stained her cheeks, but she shrugged. “If you’re not inclined to tell me all about your intentions concerning the book or your past actions, I hardly feel obligated to explain my sex life.”

“It’s in your best interest to reconsider. Are you fraternizing with my enemies? Maybe one of the Doomsday Brethren?”

Terror struck Caden cold.

She tilted her head and glared at Mathias. “Would I be bringing you the book if I was?”

Because she was a minx, Sydney didn’t wait for the answer, but turned and headed for the door, exiting the little room.

Then all hell broke loose.

As she crossed the threshold, the Doomsday Diary vanished from Mathias’s hands. The wizard looked down as it dissipated. Letting out a horrific roar, he tried in vain to grab the little red volume, then whirled toward the warehouse’s interior door—and Sydney.

Caden didn’t bother waiting for any “go” signal. He kicked in the window and leapt through, dropping to the concrete and rolling to a crouch, gun drawn. He’d have one chance to surprise the fucker and he meant to make the most of it.

The evil wizard whirled toward the noise, then grabbed his wand and raised it, his enraged blue eyes ringed in red. The plastic grip of the gun heated Caden’s hand. Its weight was nothing compared to the gravity of Mathias’s magic. Again, he wondered if he’d have been better off with a wand and magic he could use.

Before Mathias could level Caden with a lethal spell, Bram jumped through the window, wand drawn, and faced their nemesis.

With Mathias’s attention momentarily divided, Caden fired. One of the bullets tore through Mathias’s stomach, and he grunted, surprise transforming his expression. Quickly, blood spread, darkening an ever-widening circle on Mathias’s black T-shirt. He clutched his gut, glaring at Caden with even redder eyes.

“You are going to die,” he growled. “Along with Rion.”

Mathias jerked his wand in their direction. Bram waved his own and deflected whatever the bastard had hurled their way. But the effort cost Bram as he stumbled back with a gasp. Caden popped off another shot, but the element of surprise was gone, and Mathias dodged the bullet.

Bram flicked a wrist at the wall behind Mathias, and it came crashing down in a tumble of plaster. Sydney stood behind the door with the book in one hand and her handbag in the other. Why the hell hadn’t she departed with Shock as planned? Caden wanted to blame the other warrior, but knowing Sydney, she’d stubbornly stayed.

Mathias raised his wand to Sydney. Caden roared forward, gun at the ready. On the far side of the warehouse, Marrok and Tynan broke through another window, distracting Mathias again. Ice charged through the warehouse’s front door. Apparently getting the signal, Duke teleported into the room behind Mathias.

Now the wanker was completely surrounded. Time to play. . . . As soon as Sydney left.

“Go!” he shouted at her.

She ignored him. Damn it, would the woman never listen! Fury and fear juiced his bloodstream that had his adrenaline on overdrive. He itched to snap Mathias’s wand—and neck—in two.

“Lower your wand,” Bram shouted at Mathias. “You’re done tormenting and raping magickind, tearing apart families. You’ll never get your hands on the Doomsday Diary.”

“You overestimate your ragtag band, Rion.” With a wave, Mathias pointed his wand at the wall behind Duke. In a hiss, it disappeared—no rubble, no mess, just—dissipated.

Behind the missing wall stood a sea of Anarki, all zombies, dead on the outside, malevolent on the inside. Their sheer numbers shocked Caden. Not a dozen or a hundred . . . at least a thousand with grave-white faces and vacant expressions.

Beside him, Bram sucked in a breath. “So many. How?”

Clutching his bleeding gut, Mathias smiled. “You have your secret weapon; I have mine.”

The Anarki army surged forward, revealing the far corners of the room. Over the top of the Anarki’s heads, Caden saw a soldier in fatigues—a U.S. Marine—fighting two wizards.

“No! No!” the soldier screamed, struggling against them, kicking out. The wizards overpowered him and managed to shove him against a raised, slanted dais, and with a flick of their wands, strapped him down. If Caden had a wand, he might be able to free him.

An instant later, they passed a round object over his skull. The man belted out a spine-chilling yell of pain.

Once the object was pulled away and moved to the next victim, Caden looked at the limp man. In his early twenties, he’d been strong, healthy, vital only moments ago. That man was gone now. In his place was an Anarki zombie, like all the others coming toward Caden, a puppet whose flesh was already whitening. The eyes staring back were devoid of life as he melted in with the attacking crowd.

There were at least fifty soldiers strapped to tables, lined up one after the other against the warehouse’s back wall. The two wizards were passing the round object over one head at a time, all to horrific screams. A few moments later, they left behind corpses, alive only by Mathias’s magic and will.

Shit! Time to save who they could, lay the C4, and blow this joint—literally. With Mathias’s attentions engaged by the others, Caden raced to complete his mission, darting to the first visible support beam and applying the explosive putty.

Marrok stepped toward the crowd of Anarki zombies, sword drawn. Bending low, he swung, cutting several in the front row in half. Black blood spurted in every direction. With a fist pump, Caden dodged his way to the next support beam, in and out of the battle—stopping to slice and dice any Anarki intent on stopping him. Duke joined him, shooting down several zombies in his way.

While Caden bent to secure the next explosive, Mathias snarled, eyes narrowed at Bram as he closed in on one side. Ice approached from the front, Tynan from his opposite side.

“Your Anarki can’t stop us. We’re not going to rest until you’re back in exile,” Bram said. “You’re surrounded. Give up.”

Mathias snorted, the sound abrasive and amused. “You may have Merlin’s blood in your veins, but I will still decimate you and your worthless bunch.”

He whooshed his wand toward the crowd. Shrieks sounded all around. The frigid zombies crushed in, forming a protective circle around Mathias. Those close to a Doomsday Brethren wizard attacked.

Marrok and Duke cut through them as fast as they could. Bram dodged his would-be killers with a blade here and an elbow there, charging after Mathias. Tynan followed, determined to get his pound of flesh.

Mathias leapt toward the exit. As the wall of Anarki encircled him, now closer to the warehouse door, Sydney set her handbag on a nearby ledge, shoved the book inside, and peeked into the bag. A moment later, she grabbed an aerosol can and a lighter.

“Duck!” she screamed, then she flicked the lighter and sprayed the contents of the can into the open flame.