Page 168 of Wicked Bonds

Her mother nodded. “I will mist and grab him.” She disappeared, leaving Stas’s father to frown in her wake. He didn’t speak out loud, suggesting he was speaking to her mother via their bond.

Which didn’t exactly help Stas understand the point. “Why Blake?”

“Because he’s a human who has undergone a version of reformation, something that proves Osiris at least has a working knowledge of the process. The impractical use of applying such a thing to a human may be the distraction we need to keep the Seraphim at bay.”

“And if it isn’t?” Issac pressed as another surge of power thundered through the air.

Only one barrier left, Stas thought grimly.

“Then we hope our fight lasts long enough for Osiris or the others to arrive,” Luc replied, holding his hand out to Jacque. “Teleport me to Mateo. We have a plan to discuss. This is your show now, Alik.”

The telepath smiled. “About fucking time.”

“Where are Jay and Lizzie?” Stas asked.

“Safe,” Alik answered vaguely, his focus above. “All right, here’s what we’re going to do.” He began issuing orders to the Hydraians, causing them to jump into action with an efficiency that said they’d prepared for a moment like this for the last few centuries.

Except they had anticipated fighting Ichorians.

Not Seraphim.

Something that became evident almost immediately as the angels reached the beach. They appeared almost bored, their swords having been put away in a show of arrogance that made Stas’s insides twist.

“Last chance to comply, child,” Adriel said, his gaze on Stas.

Shit.They were not going to have time for a distraction. Because even if her mother was able to bring Blake up for a chat, these Seraphim were in the mood to kill. Stas could sense it in their stances, see the need for blood in their eyes.

They despised abominations.

They were here to mercilessly kill those they felt weren’t meant for this world.

Which left them only one choice.

We fight.

We fight,Issac echoed.Always.

Always,she agreed, her lips curling at the confidence in his tone and the way the word worked as a caress to her senses.

“I choose life,” she admitted honestly. “I choose love. I choose family.”

She started drawing a rune that Gabriel had taught her, aware that it would do hardly anything to a being of Adriel’s power. But it served as a message.

I will not bend.

She threw the ward.

Adriel deflected it.

And the battle began.

Chapter33

Leela

A tugat Leela’s consciousness made her wince. It was directly tied to the rune on her lower back, the fealty bond alerting her to Stas’s discomfort.

She conveyed the sensation to Balthazar, telling him what it meant.