And for that, she required stealth, precision, and the perfect ploy.

Yes.

One last game before she left.

Then she would complete her mission.

6

Shattering Blood Bonds

Sethios smirked at Caro’s clothes on the floor of the living area. Would she stalk out here naked for their negotiation? He certainly hoped so. And if she did so angrily, all the better.

A little nude sparring would suit his mood just fine. The knives were in his pocket, just in case she wanted to play again.

He grabbed two mugs from the cupboard and started the coffee maker. Surely Seraphim enjoyed caffeine. If not—

A familiar presence tickled his spine, interrupting his thought process.

Hmm. Bad timing. Normally, he’d welcome his best friend’s visit, but Sethios preferred to taunt his angel without an audience. For today, anyway. Maybe he’d invite Ezekiel over to play tomorrow.

“E,” he murmured as the Ichorian materialized beside him. “I’m in the middle—”

“He’s coming.” A hint of urgency underlined the words, causing Sethios to meet his friend’s ebony gaze.

“Who?” he asked, curious.

“Your father.”

Sethios snorted. “Right.” Osiris never visited. All of their interactions were through summons only or during a Conclave. Sethios selected a third ceramic mug from the cupboard. “I assume you’re staying for coffee.”

Ezekiel snatched the mug and slammed it down on the counter. “Skye prophesied Osiris’s demise, and it involves you and some unknown entity.”

Sethios blinked at his oldest friend. “What?”

“He’s already on his way here. We need to go. Now.” Ezekiel reached for him just as Caro walked out wearing Sethios’s clothes. “Fuck.”

His best friend whipped out a knife and threw it without blinking an eye. The metal glinted in the early afternoon sunlight streaming through the windows as the sharp edge sailed toward Caro’s head.

Sethios didn’t think. He just reacted.

Mist to me. The command hit her faster than the blade, forcing her to shift to his side. Caro stumbled into him, and he caught her with his arm.

Ezekiel gaped at them, his eyebrows shooting upward. “Well, hello, unknown entity.” Those gold-flecked eyes radiated awe. “A Seraphim?”

“Pretty, isn’t she?” Amusement touched Sethios’s chest as Caro growled at his diminutive tone. “And please don’t kill her, E. I’m not done playing.”

He mentally ordered her to remain still before she could react and smiled when she glowered at him.

“You can speak, darling,” he taunted. In fact, I encourage you to.

Ezekiel shook his head as if waking from a spell. “We don’t have time for this. You need to run. Now.”

Sethios smirked. “Because of a prophecy.” He’d been on the receiving end of his father’s fury more than once and survived. This wouldn’t be any different. Though, he might have to send Caro home first or force her to disappear. He wasn’t ready to lose her yet.

“What prophecy?” Caro demanded. “And which seer delivered it?”

“Skye. She foresaw Osiris’s death at the hand of his son and someone without a face.”