“He likely left behind compulsions in her mind that keep her from commenting on his actions.”
“Exactly,” Gabriel agreed. “So this is all some sort of setup, but Caro checked the runes and said they’re legitimate. Which means that regardless of his trap, it’s a safe place for Lizzie to give birth.”
“Safer than Hydria,” Luc translated, his muscular arms tensed across his chest, his distaste of that proclamation clear.
“Your island isn’t warded, something we can change, but we need more time than we currently have available.”
“Gabriel’s right.” Leela sat up, her blue-green eyes alert and very unlike the healer beside her. “She’ll give birth within the next hour or two. Which means we need to go. Now.”
“Misting her back here could also put her at risk,” Gabriel added. “And not just because of the missing wards. She’s in a fragile state, as is her unborn child.”
“Moving her isn’t an option. We’ll go to her.” Leela was on her feet, her cheeks flushed with renewed color. She glanced at the worn-out female on the floor. “Thank you, Lara.”
“You’re welcome.” Her eyes drooped closed, causing Stas to frown.
“Isn’t she supposed to assist Leela with delivering Lizzie’s baby?” she asked warily.
“We’ll handle it,” Balthazar said, walking up to Leela.
“There’s no we here,” Leela replied.
“There is absolutely a we here,” he corrected. “You have your Seraphim fertility mojo. I have the medical training. And she’s my best friend’s wife. So you’re going to have to deal and let me help, Lee.”
The Seraphim blanched. “Don’t call me that.”
“Oh, I’m going to be calling you a lot of names, sweetheart. Just as soon as we deliver a healthy baby together.” He grabbed her hand and looked at Gabriel. “Tell us where to go.”
Her brother looked her way. “You heard my warning about what they think is going to happen?”
“Yes.” If Osiris wanted to trap her, then so be it. She’d escaped him once before. She’d happily do it again.
Except she was starting to think that he might not be her biggest enemy, that the Seraphim who wanted her best friend dead might pose a bigger threat.
“Then what you do with this information is up to you,” he replied, then gave the location to Balthazar and Leela. “I haven’t verified that yet, and it’s a crude guess based on what Caro found outside while looking at the wards. She didn’t have much time to survey the property, just long enough to confirm it was safe before returning to Lizzie.”
“If they’re wards meant to keep Seraphim out, I might have a problem,” Leela pointed out.
Gabriel shook his head. “Caro said the protection runes thwart those who mean Lizzie harm.”
“He used her blood to create the markings,” Leela said, her eyebrows lifting. “He really did create the place for her.”
“So it would seem,” Gabriel replied.
She nodded. “We’ll meet you there.” She disappeared with Balthazar, leaving them all to discuss the next steps.
“I’ll stay here and wait for Jay to wake up,” Luc informed them. “As soon as he does, we’ll have Jacque teleport him in.”
“He’s back at Ezekiel’s house,” Gabriel replied.
“Technology will fix that.” Luc pulled his phone from his pocket, showed it to her brother, and returned it to rest against his upper thigh.
“Speaking of technology,” Issac murmured. “Tristan is with Mateo.”
What wasn’t said out loud was that Tristan had volunteered to supervise Mateo and report back on his movements. Luc would understand Issac’s context without him elaborating, something he proved by dipping his head once in understanding.
“If they stop by, I’ll bring them up to speed,” the Hydraian King said.
A lie, but one that would make the comments seem normal to everyone else in the room. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust Gabriel or Lara, but they weren’t sure who else might be listening. With Mateo’s penchant for technology, he could have placed bugs all over Balthazar’s house without anyone knowing.
That part freaked Stas out the most—she didn’t like that Mateo could be listening to everything she said. Which made her even more thankful for her bond to Issac and their ability to talk mentally.
I want to go to Lizzie, she told him now.
Yes, he said. I knew you would.
Am I being reckless for going? She knew he would tell her the truth, which was why she voiced the question.
You’re aware of the potential consequences. It’s quite possible Osiris will make an appearance. That said, I don’t think he intends to harm you. He needs you.
But he might put you in a cage and use you to force