Page 28 of Wicked Bonds

Perhaps Balthazar was—

The foundation of the house vibrated beneath them, sending Aya sideways into his chest. He caught her, his knees nearly buckling from the impact. She misted on instinct, her fingers digging into his brown suede jacket.

“That would be the wards,” Vera gritted out, misting to the doorway to throw open the door.

Caro and Sethios were on the other side. “What’s happening?” Sethios demanded as Aya turned corporeal once more. She didn’t release Issac, something her father noticed with a slight narrowing of his gaze.

“The council sent two warriors and two trackers. Orders are to take alive, but they were given permission to kill on sight,” Vera summarized. “I told Leela, but she and Balthazar already misted to Iceland.”

Caro’s brow furrowed. “Without us?”

“Balthazar wanted to check the property to ensure it’s safe for Jayson, Elizabeth, and Aidyn first,” Issac explained.

“Why wouldn’t it be safe?” Caro asked, her flat tone reminding him of Gabriel’s trademark stoicism.

Issac shrugged. He couldn’t exactly say that the mind reader didn’t trust Vera. That would just raise more questions he couldn’t answer.

Instead, he replied, “That’s a question for Balthazar.”

Sethios gave him a look, one that seemed to say,You’re not telling us everything.Followed immediately by,I imagine there’s a good reason for it.

“I’ll go with Astasiya and Issac to talk to Jayson, as I’m sure that little quake has put him on guard. You two determine our exit.” He locked gazes with Caro.

She nodded, agreeing to the plan and probably whatever he’d just said via their bond.

“I need to check you for a tracker first,” Vera said, her focus on Caro.

“A tracker?” Sethios repeated. “Why?”

“Because it’s the only explanation I can think of for how the council found you all so quickly.”

“If that’s true, then they would already know about Iceland,” Sethios interjected. “And that’s where you just sent Balthazar and Leela.”

Vera frowned. “True.”

Which meant they might be in danger there. Issac walked over to his discarded clothes to find his phone. “No service.”

“Likely from the war—”

“Could someone tell me why the ground is shaking?” Jayson called from down the hall, interrupting Vera.

“Warrior Seraphim are attacking the boundaries,” Sethios replied without missing a beat. “Fucking with cellular service too, apparently.”

“Osiris is distracting them,” Vera added. “He’s working on a diversion so we can flee.”

“To a place they’re potentially already aware of,” Sethios deadpanned. “Fantastic plan.”

“Do you have a better one?” Vera snapped.

“I do.”

She arched a brow. “And it is?”

“We go disable the assholes up there to buy us some time to find a new place to hide,” he said, pointing at the ceiling. “I have new wings and I could use the exercise.”

“You don’t even know how to use them yet,” Vera pointed out.

“Sometimes the best way to learn is trial by fire,” he replied.