Page 185 of Wicked Bonds

“I’m rarely, if ever, wrong,” Osiris replied.

“I’m not willing to put other people at risk on an assumption,” she bit out. “I’m not like you.”

“Which is exactly why youneedme,” he informed her. “I was here. Had the situation proved futile, I would have stepped in. Alas, I wasn’t needed.Youwere the solution. But you needed that push to trust your own power, to know what you can accomplish without relying on your mentors to do it for you.”

Meaning Gabe and Vera, Leela thought, her arms folded.That’s how he’s involved. He must have compelled Patreel to tell Mel or Dian where to find us, then persuaded Patreel to go to Vera and Gabe for assistance. He wanted them removed from the situation to test Stas.

So the council wasn’t behind the distraction.

They might have been,she murmured.But it was a result of Osiris’s indirect influence through Patreel. He designed the playing board.

Luc’s thoughts echoed Leela’s assessment, his own mind pondering through the strategy and finding it logical, even a tad respectable. But he didn’t agree with Osiris’s sacrificial approach.

Neither did Balthazar.

They’d lost some good lives tonight. Hydraians they desperately needed for the future fight.

Hydraians like Ash and Grace, he thought, his gaze finding their lifeless forms on the ground.They didn’t deserve this.

Leela’s palm flattened against his spine, her head coming to rest on his shoulder as she offered support. Balthazar would be bearing the brunt of that emotional cost, especially if Luc left him in charge.

Who else have we lost?Balthazar wondered.How many died tonight?

“You cost us several important lives tonight,” Luc said flatly, his thought process on the same wavelength as Balthazar’s.

It was why they were well matched to lead. Luc possessed the strategic upper hand, while Balthazar knew the minds and hearts of their people.

“Ash was our best pyrokinetic,” Luc continued. “Grace was young, but very skilled in the art of reading history from objects, in addition to fighting.”

“I disagree on the former, and you still have Owen for the latter,” Osiris replied.

Luc frowned. “We have no other pyrokinetics on the island.”

“Perhaps not. But there are spares. Which is what I factored into tonight’s events.” He clasped his hands before him. “Hydria’s overall power remains as strong as ever. If anything, it proved quite influential against the Seraphim, something I know will shock them, as the council only sent seven because they didn’t expect much of a fight.”

“So this was a training exercise and a test,” Stas translated, her fists clenching at her sides as though she wanted to punch Osiris again.

Balthazar doubted the ancient would allow another hit.

So he hoped, for Stas’s sake, that she reined in the temper, even though he absolutely agreed with her anger.

“There is more to life than just power,” Balthazar said quietly. “We’re a family. Loss impacts morale, which can greatly deteriorate our ability to fight as a cohesive unit.”

Luc was proof enough of that, his loss of Aidan having impacted his leadership capabilities.

Osiris considered Balthazar for a moment before looking at Lizzie and Aidyn, then returned his gaze to Stas.

“Perhaps there are things you could teach me as well,” he offered. “Humanity is typically regarded as weak, but you’ve shown me today that it can also have its strengths.”

“I will not train with you,” Stas repeated, her tone resolute. But the emotions surrounding her suggested she’d spoken out of anger.

Balthazar couldn’t blame her.

But Luc’s mind held an edge of disappointment to it. Because while he didn’t agree with Osiris’s methods, he could see the practicality of working together.

Balthazar glanced at his oldest friend, surprised by his thoughts.

Luc ignored him, his gaze on the ancient.