Page 35 of Wicked Bonds

More lights flickered, thunder reverberating behind them.

Balthazar picked up what had happened from Leela’s mind as she thought about her arrival in the Bahamas and the war that had exploded in her wake. The namePatreelechoed through her mind, followed by a whisper of terror.

Leela feared the tracker and what he represented.

But Balthazar couldn’t exactly see why or what their history entailed.

She was already thinking about the fight, how Sethios had appeared and demanded Kital hand over his sword, and how chaos had ensued.

Seraphim didn’t fight with their inherent powers. They fought withrunes. An error Sethios had quickly realized.

However, it was already too late.

The wards fractured and disintegrated beneath a wave of strength from Patreel that forced the others to flee.

Iceland was an immediate solution, the protective markings here fresh and able to keep out those wishing to do harm. Except leaving in the middle of a fight had allowed the others to follow.

And now the real battle had begun.

In the sky.

Chapter7

Sethios

Gabriel appearedin a blaze of red feathers, his swords glowing in the moonlight as he slammed his blade against the Seraphim asshole trying to slice Sethios into pieces.

Sethios had almost taken the sword from the fucker, but then Osiris had unleashed a compulsion spell that had forced Sethios to mist back to Iceland.

And this warrior Seraphim had followed right along with him.

Allowing him to gain the upper hand.

Thanks, Dad, Sethios thought, irritated as hell.

He’d finally figured out how to return to the Bahamas in time to play, and his persuasion-loving father had sent them all to Iceland to freeze. It was probably meant to be some sort of elaborate training exercise. Or maybe he thought he was helping.

With Osiris, it was hard to say.

The warrior with the wicked sword and short, dark hair paused to blink at the blade clashing against his own. Then he looked up at the red-winged angel holding the hilt of the offending weapon. It happened in slow motion, as though he was struggling to comprehend what had just occured.

“Gabriel.” His voice didn’t convey any surprise or emotion at all. Just a flat comment accompanied by a vacant expression.

“Leek,” Gabriel returned. “Your presence here is unnecessary.”

“Adriel sent us,” Leek replied. “Our presence here is mandatory. We’ve come for the abomination and her child.”

“They’re under my protection,” Gabriel replied. “Leave.”

Leek stared at him for a beat. “Your conditioning is flawed.”

“My conditioning is refined.”

“I will report this to Adriel,” Leek continued as though Gabriel hadn’t spoken. “You will be scheduled for reform.”

Gabriel snorted, the noise highly uncharacteristic of the Seraphim. Then he took his other sword and sliced it through Leek’s neck.

No hesitation.