Blood Seeker (Immortal Curse #7) - Lexi C. Foss Page 0,21

left the room, not having time for this asinine discussion. He’d explained the situation with a few words. If the girl chose to give in to her pregnancy hormones, that was on her.

He stepped through the threshold to breathe in the island air, his heart thudding painfully in his chest.

A part of him couldn’t stand being around the pregnant female inside because she reminded him too much of Caro and her pregnancy with Astasiya. What he wouldn’t give to go back to that time and hold them once more, to safeguard them within the protection of his arms.

Caro hadn’t spoken to him again since the Seraphim’s arrival. It almost made him wonder if he’d imagined the entire thing. Yet he’d felt her. Just for that brief moment, she’d been inside him, much different from the visual he’d been sent a few hours prior.

He suspected that image from the coast of Maine had served as a test of sorts, one he and Gabriel had failed. It wasn’t a coincidence that hours after they’d visited the area, a Seraphim had arrived with an edict. They’d planted that memory into his mind with the purpose of drawing him out, to find them. And they’d likely tracked him and Gabriel right back to the South Pacific.

Which suggested it hadn’t been Osiris at all, a thought that left Sethios decidedly uneasy.

“…viable, yes.” The deep baritone came from a male Sethios hadn’t seen in a very long time.

“Lucian,” he said as the blond, godlike man stepped into view. He had a charisma and power about him that made his role as leader of his people a natural expectation. Sethios had always maintained a level of respect for the man, despite their clear differences.

“Hello, Sethios,” Lucian replied.

Gabriel stood beside him, his expression as vacant as always. “I was bringing him up to speed.”

“Good. Meanwhile, I’ve been causing problems inside,” Sethios admitted. “I’m rather certain Jayson wants to kill me now.” He’d welcome the challenge, if only to amuse himself for a minute. The Hydraian Elder could control metal, which was a fascinating gift to battle.

Of course, Sethios could just use that ability to his own advantage with a few carefully worded commands.

“Stas says she wants to go with Stark to the council. While I agree that it’s an ideal opportunity for reconnaissance, we’ve discussed an alternative plan that may work better,” Lucian said, getting straight to the point.

This was why Sethios liked him—he never wasted time. “Does it still involve her going to the council?” he asked. “Because if it does, I’m going to veto it.”

Issac had told him Astasiya’s thoughts on going with Gabriel to see the council. He commended her bravery; however, it was exactly what Osiris had predicted would happen and had advised against. And while Sethios typically ignored his father’s instructions, on this, they were in agreement.

“The council wants her, just like Osiris does,” Gabriel said, stating the obvious. “I think we should apply a similar strategy. Which means I need to go alone.”

Sethios listened as Gabriel detailed the plan, his admiration for the Seraphim growing with each passing second. Caro had once mentioned that Gabriel came from an old line of warriors. He’d assumed that meant the young Seraphim could handle himself well in battle in a physical sense, but by the end of the discussion, he realized it applied to strategy as well.

“I had no idea you were so manipulative,” Sethios drawled.

Gabriel merely blinked at him, then continued his plotting. “I need someone to test my current level of mortal influence. Is there an empath on the island?”

“You want to make sure the Seraphim can’t detect any emotions in you,” Lucian translated.

“Exactly.”

The Hydraian King studied him. “I thought you were immune to our abilities.”

“I am,” Gabriel confirmed. “But there are ways around it.”

He arched a blond brow. “Enlighten me.”

“Do you have an empath?” Gabriel countered.

“I do. But she might not be a willing participant.”

Gabriel stared at him. “I don’t need her to necessarily cooperate. I just need some of her blood.”

Well, that’s interesting. “You need to imbibe her essence?” Sethios guessed.

“Yes.” Gabriel’s tone was flat. “But not much.”

“That’s not why she’ll be unwilling,” Lucian informed them. “The only empath on the island is currently in custody.”

“Clara,” Gabriel said.

“Who’s Clara?” Sethios asked, hating all these new names and associations. This would be so much easier with just a handful of acquaintances, but the Hydraians operated as a family unit. Hence, their hierarchal structure resembled more of a brotherhood than a dictatorship.

“An Ichorian.