“Perhaps I should take both of you prisoner,” Osiris proposed. “That ought to provide the motivation she requires for a visit.”
Gabriel lifted a shoulder, unbothered by the looming danger. “You could, but that will only infuriate her more.”
“I can work with fury.”
“Can you?” Gabriel countered. “Your granddaughter was raised by humans, Osiris. She thinks with her heart, not with the logic of her birthright. Hurting her will only drive her further away from you.”
“You should probably listen to him, Father. He’s currently on the receiving end of her wrath. She broke his nose just this morning. Which was what? The third time this week?” Sethios pretended to consider. “Or was it the fourth time?”
“Second,” he corrected, his tone emotionless despite Sethios’s attempt to ruffle his feathers. He also never once looked his way, his focus entirely on Osiris.
“You’re right,” Sethios conceded, matching his flat tone while internally grinning. “The first one just gave you a black eye.”
Gabriel ignored him. “The point remains, Stas won’t go to you willingly, Osiris. Not even if you kidnap everyone she loves. She’ll just fight you, and while you may be able to best her, she won’t stop until she’s utterly broken. If that’s your goal, then so be it. But I think we both know that a broken weapon isn’t in your best interest.”
Ah, so that’s the angle you’re playing at, Sethios realized. He was indeed suggesting Osiris try to win over Astasiya’s trust, something that would be impossible to do. However, his father would be just arrogant enough to try. Because Gabriel was right—Osiris needed Astasiya intact and functional for his plans.
He wanted to go to war with the Seraphim. Sethios had known that was his goal for centuries. And they’d finally reached the point in their existence where the chess master could place the influential queen on the board.
“You’ve not done yourself any favors,” Sethios added, playing off Gabriel’s commentary. “And Gabriel’s observations are correct. I’m not strong enough to compel her, so even if you provided me with the motivation to try, it wouldn’t do much.”
Sethios ensured his voice and expression gave nothing away. He infused each word with certainty, sounding apathetic by even the prospect of being forced to persuade his own daughter.
Oh, it might work.
But his father didn’t need to know that. And the gleam in his green irises—the same shade as Astasiya’s and Sethios’s eyes—said he was taking their statements seriously.
Good.
That meant they might just make it out of this alive. Not that Osiris could kill either of them. Sethios also suspected Gabriel had set off some sort of alert with that watch on his wrist. His father hadn’t seemed to notice. Or perhaps, more accurately, he’d actually allowed it, simply because he wanted his granddaughter to arrive.
Hmm. Too bad, old man. The call had likely gone to Vera and Leela, who weren’t with Astasiya at the moment but with the Hydraians.
“All right,” Osiris said, sending a wave of shock through Sethios’s system.
Those were two words he never expected to hear from his father’s mouth, and they immediately put him on full alert.
He waited for the Seraphim of Resurrection to say more, but he didn’t. He merely clasped his hands before him, his expression giving nothing away.
What are you playing at? Sethios wanted to ask him, his defensive instincts firing as power rippled over his skin. It caused every hair on his arms to rise. He recognized the compulsion yet couldn’t determine the purpose.
A ringing sound broke the suffocating silence.
None of them moved.
It continued until Osiris sighed, “Answer it.” Persuasion underlined that statement, forcing Gabriel into action.
He pulled the mobile from his pocket and pressed it to his ear. “Yes?” His eyes widened a fraction at whatever was said, his light eyes landing on Sethios. A hint of alarm met his features, confirming an unexpected change. One that couldn’t be good.
“What have you done?” Sethios demanded, the invisible strands of power seeming to slink backward into Osiris. Each cord brushed Sethios’s body on another plane of existence, reminding him of just who had provided him life.
Your power is my power, it whispered across his senses. I own you.
“I’ve offered my version of a gift,” Osiris explained, the electricity fizzling out around them as he absorbed it all into his system. “It also happens to serve as a practical course, considering you need the guidance more than I do right now.”
A practical course? Sethios repeated to himself, the air cooling around him. He slowly began to relax, the electricity humming over his skin subsiding.
His father gently rolled his neck, a slight shudder passing over him from harnessing all that energy.
Gabriel still hadn’t spoken a word, but surprise radiated off of him.
“I had hoped we would have more time, but I can feel the tide shifting.” Osiris looked up at the sky, releasing a sigh. “That’s the problem with being as old as I am. I miscalculate in terms of centuries, not minutes. Alas, here we are. I’ve provided all the tools. It’s up to you to use them.”
Sethios nearly snorted. The only “tools” his father had provided were via lessons on physical and mental torment.
“You released Skye of your compulsion,” Gabriel said, causing Sethios’s eyebrows to hit his hairline. “While a worthwhile gift, I believe Astasiya would look more favorably on having her mother back.”
Holy shit, Sethios thought, stunned by Gabriel’s announcement. Gabriel’s suggestion actually worked.
The prophecies surrounding Astasiya all depicted her as powerful and a force that would destroy all in her path. Sethios wasn’t naive; he knew why his father wanted her. But he had no idea that Osiris would go to such lengths to secure her allegiance.
Clearly, Gabriel had guessed just how far his father would go to ally with her. And he’d used that notion brilliantly to his advantage.
Sethios’s respect for the man intensified greatly in that moment.
Osiris slowly lowered his face to meet the young Seraphim’s gaze. “That’s not within my control.”
“You could tell us where you left her,” Gabriel suggested.
“I could.” He looked out at the ocean. “But it won’t help you.” He canted his head. “She’s no longer there.”
Gabriel and Sethios shared a glance, both of them trying to decipher the evil man’s words.
“My offer for Astasiya’s protection remains,” his father said softly. “She’s going to need it.” His feathers appeared around him half a beat later. “I’ll be awaiting your call.”
Osiris vanished.
Sethios said nothing for a long moment, his gaze on Gabriel. The Seraphim studied him right back. “Caro’s not underwater.”
“What?” How had he gleaned that information?
“Osiris said the vision was an eighteen-year-old memory. Then he commented on her mental state, which I thought was a reflection of her dying over and over again. However, he just said she’s no longer here. He also implied that he doesn’t know where she is, which means someone found her before we could.”