Page 64 of Wicked Bonds

“Leela.” He kept his voice soft and low in an attempt to coax her from the confusion of her thoughts. “Can you create protective wards here?” They hadn’t worked as expected back in Melbourne—yet another issue they needed to address—but Balthazar was determined to take this one step at a time.

Protective barriers first.

Then clothes or maybe food.

Followed by a discussion on their current location and next steps.

I… I…Her mental voice trailed off. She hadn’t returned to a corporeal state, leaving her invisible to his senses.

He couldn’t feel her arms around his neck, yet he knew they were there because she’d grabbed him like that before leaving Melbourne.

And he could hear her thoughts.

“Leela,” he repeated.

Yes,she replied.Wards. Yes.

A kiss of wind ruffled his hair, coupled with the distancing of her thoughts, telling him she’d just flown above to work on the wards.

With a nod, he focused on the electronic keypad by the door. It required a passcode for entry—something Jay had installed himself for the sole purpose of not needing a key. They owned too many properties throughout the world for them to carry around keys everywhere they went; thus, this system made it easy to come and go as they pleased.

It also helped with general upkeep.

As this was one of Luc’s favorite getaway homes, it was cleaned and stocked regularly.

Which meant there would be food in the fridge and fresh linen on the beds.

Balthazar punched in the requisite code to both disarm the alarm and open the door.

He glanced back at the gate situated at the end of the drive, then up into the sky, curious all over again as to how Leela had known to come here.

Balthazar had been here maybe once in the last decade, and that’d only been to see what upgrades Luc had made to the place—the Hydraian King was constantly adding new gadgets to his favorite home. And women weren’t typically invited here on principle, the estate too precious to Luc for casual flings to temporarily visit.

Yet Leela had known exactly where this home was located. However, the thoughts in her mind had confirmed she couldn’t say how or why.

Balthazar continued to puzzle over that while listening to her think through the wards above. They were distant, but definitely within a mile or so of him—something he knew since he could still hear her.

She was currently considering where to place each ward, confirming none existed here presently.

Not a surprise, really, but he’d wondered at the possibility since she’d been able to mist them directly here without directions.

He closed the front door, the locks sliding immediately into place. Leela would need to either ring the bell or mist inside. He assumed she would do the latter.

Balthazar passed through the two-story foyer, beyond the white marble staircase, and past the open seating area to his left, heading straight for the kitchen.

Which was fully upgraded, as he’d expected.

A quick glance in the wood-plated fridge confirmed a recent supply of food had been delivered, including a few pre-made meals.

Those would definitely come in handy.

Luc’s service typically stopped by every third day, taking any untouched food back with them to feed themselves and replacing upgraded supplies.

It was all part of their ongoing property maintenance throughout the world. Upgrades, cleanliness, and general preparedness were organized by a team of Hydraians that specialized in international laws and financial management. They were the only ones other than the Elders and a handful of Guardians who knew about these properties.

Well, them and Ichorians like Wakefield since he’d helped invest in a few.

Aidan had known about them as well.