Page 126 of Wicked Bonds

Or had they been for Leela?

“She manipulated me,” he bit out, trying to respond to Leela’s question. “She faked her own death, too. Taught us the difference between Ichorians and Hydraians.” Which he now realized had been done with a purpose.

One that made him release a humorless laugh.

Because it truly was a brilliant play.

“She taught us how to kill Ichorians.” Probably with the hope that he and Luc would use the information to take down some of Osiris’sabominations. “She timed it perfectly, too. Shedemonstratedthe difference by biting me during sex as a newly turned Ichorian and dying in my fucking arms. Of course, it may just be an implanted memory since she couldn’t have actually died from that. And biting me would create a bond…” He trailed off, glancing at Leela. “Unless that memory was you, just replaced by her image…”

Fuck, this made his head hurt just to think about.

But it made too much fucking sense.

“We met the other Hydraians soon after that because Osiris had begun collecting them from all his Ichorian creations.” And Nythos—Melanythos—had armed him, Luc, and Aidan with the information on how to kill an Ichorian right before that happened.

Maybe because the Fates had warned her or Dian about the impending event.

Regardless, it was beautifully executed.

And could have led to mass slaughter.

Except Aidan and Luc had been too strategic for such a simplistic plan.Did the Fates project that, too? Have they been playing the long game this whole time?

He shook his head. “I need to call Luc and tell him about this.”

“Vera is already in Hydria,” Patreel said. “She went there when I came here.”

That wasn’t good enough. Vera might not know to tell him these details. And she might not even be talking to him. “I know a place nearby. An inn.” They would have a phone for him to use. And he had a standing arrangement with the owner.

She wasn’t a direct descendant of his line, just a woman with ancestors he once knew. Not from his early years, either. He’d met the family a few centuries ago and kept coming back to pay his respects as he was able.

“We might not be safe here,” Leela pointed out.

“Then it’s a good thing you have wings,” he replied, drawing his finger down her spine as he released her shoulders. “This won’t take long.”

Her blue-green irises swirled with uncertainty, but the urgency she read from his expression had her nodding.Okay, she thought, the message clearly for him.

He bent to brush his lips across hers. “We’re not done discussing the past, vixen.”

“I know.”

“We’re going to figure this out.” Because he was determined to retrieve his memories. Every last one of them.

She swallowed and dipped her chin once in agreement. But whispers of uncertainty taunted her psyche, her concern about reformation beginning to press down on her thoughts once more.

“I’m not going to let them catch you this time,” Balthazar vowed. It was a dangerous promise to make, considering what they were up against, but he was determined to end this game.

The Seraphim had fucked with his mind.

Nythos had destroyed his trust.

And Leela’s history with reformation broke his damn heart.

Never again, he pledged.I’m never going to let them touch you again.

He sealed the unspoken vow with another kiss, this time adding a passionate stroke of his tongue against hers.

He didn’t care that Patreel was watching.