Blood Seeker (Immortal Curse #7) - Lexi C. Foss Page 0,73
replied.
She gestured to Jayson with her chin. “Keep him focused.”
“I am,” the mind reader confirmed, his palm on the other man’s shoulder.
“I’ll be in the hall,” Astasiya said, grabbing Issac by the arm to drag him with her. “We are never doing that.”
“Please make that a demand,” Issac murmured.
If she does, will it keep them from sleeping together? Sethios wondered.
“You’re incorrigible,” Caro whispered to him, lifting up to nip his lower lip. “But let’s join them. I’ve already lived through this twice. I don’t fancy watching it. And I’d like a proper introduction to my son-in-law.” She frowned then. “That’s the right term, yes?”
“I think we should just call him Issac. Son-in-law is weird.”
She nodded slowly. “Yes. I like that more.”
“He will, too,” Balthazar said, intruding on what should have been a private conversation. But as they were only a few feet away from the bed, Sethios supposed it was fair game to interfere.
He wrapped his arm around Caro’s shoulders and led her into the hallway toward their pale-faced daughter. Issac’s palms cupped her cheeks, his voice low as he said, “She’ll be fine, Aya. She’s strong. You know she’s strong.”
“But she’s not a pure-blooded Seraphim. What if this kills her?”
“We’ll find a way to bring her back,” Issac promised her. “However, I don’t think it’ll be necessary. She’s a survivor.”
“I agree. She’ll be fine,” Sethios said. They would all make sure of it. “I’m more concerned about Skye foreseeing her birth and the council’s response to it. We can’t keep her here indefinitely. Not with Osiris holding the master key.”
“We also need to discuss the Fates,” Caro added. “And how we believe they’re working against the council.”
Sethios nodded. “The High Council of Seraph has always believed the prophecy is in regard to you taking down Osiris and his abominations. But we think that’s their arrogance talking, and the Fates just never corrected their interpretation.”
He went on to tell her about Skye being a Seraphim, how they’d removed her wings, and why they’d done it.
Caro continued the conversation by detailing her realization that the Fates had predicted certain things to give them the upper hand. Such as her being born with a dormant healing ability that came to life when she needed it most. How the Fates had probably helped conceal their locations, perhaps by not predicting the rune on Astasiya’s lower back.
“It’s all theoretical, but Skye’s commentary suggests we’re on the right path,” Sethios concluded. “Which means Osiris might be right about us working with him.”
“So you believe the council is worse than he is,” Astasiya summarized.
“I think there are all matters of evil in this world and that sometimes we have to align with our enemies to take down the larger of threats,” Sethios replied.
“That will require the Hydraians to work with the Ichorians,” Issac said. He’d moved to Astasiya’s side, his arm wrapped loosely around her lower back. It was a gesture that seemed to claim her for all to see—her father included.
Another sign of his confidence and power. Sethios could make the man heel with a simple command, but he suspected Issac would fight back with the full force of his abilities. And Astasiya would help him.
Caro was right.
He couldn’t kill Issac.
But he wouldn’t admit to liking him either.
“My father encouraged a war between you all to test your strengths and remove the weak bloodlines,” Sethios said. “He never admitted that to me out loud, but I know that was his intention. He’s been preparing for this battle with the Seraphim for millennia. He’s obsessed with it.”
“While I can understand the theory, he’s also instilled significant distrust throughout his supposed army.” Issac’s sapphire gaze blazed with intelligence. “The Hydraians will never stand side by side with the Ichorians who attempted to slaughter them. Just as the Ichorians have been bred to hate their offspring for being more powerful and immune to the blood-drinking requirements.”
“Give them a common enemy, and they might fight,” Caro said. “The Seraphim want to destroy all of them. It doesn’t matter if they’re Ichorians or Hydraians; to the council, they’re all abominations that need to be destroyed.”
“How do we fight an army that can’t die?” Astasiya asked. “Even if the Ichorians and Hydraians work together, it’ll be moot if the Seraphim will just survive.”
“I think that’s where you come in, love,” Issac murmured. “The prophecy.”
“An unknown power is surfacing. She will possess the strength and will to destroy us all unless certain measures are put in place to curb her inclinations.” Caro