Once Vera is done, I’ll consider it, he replied, glancing at the memory-wiping Seraphim. “She’s ready.”
Vera flashed him an incredulous glance. “She looks ready to murder us, not comply.”
“She can’t break my hold,” he murmured, his grip tightening on her hips. “And if she does, it’ll be me she tries to kill, not you.”
There will be no “trying” about it, Caro replied darkly.
He chuckled. I’ve missed this side of you, angel. It’s like I need to teach you how to feel all over again.
I feel just fine, thank you.
Yes, anger. Which I can easily turn into something so much hotter, he replied, kissing her neck this time before nibbling on her ear. Keep taunting me, angel. See what happens.
How are we connected? she demanded.
You don’t remember? he asked, frowning.
She fell silent.
His teasing mood fled, his focus falling on Vera. “Fix her mind. She’s losing sight of who I am to her.” He could feel the uncertainty in their bond, the way it wavered between them, her knowledge of their mating undeniable one minute and gone in the next breath.
“So you can offer demands without compulsion,” Vera said as she moved to stand in front of Caro. “Fascinating.”
“Do you prefer to be persuaded? Because I’ll happily comply.”
“No, you won’t,” she murmured, lifting her palm to Caro’s cheek. “This isn’t something you want me to rush—not with how much I’ve altered within her mind.” She closed her eyes, her voice growing softer with each word as she added, “I had to hide her memories not only from her but also from others of my line and all of Seraphim kind. This won’t just hurt her, Sethios. It’ll hurt me as well.”
He wanted to say he approved of that reciprocated pain. However, it would be a lie. Now that he had all his memories back, he’d realized the sacrifices they’d all made—Vera included—in protecting Astasiya.
And for that, he would forever be grateful.
Which was why he kept his mouth shut and merely nodded, his way of informing her he understood what needed to be done and would do what he could to help. He slipped his arms around Caro’s waist, hugging her from behind and holding her as Vera went to work on her mind.
His angel screamed, the sound radiating through the bond and engulfing his entire being. It wasn’t out loud, but internal, and soul-destroying. Her suffering nearly undid him, leaving him shaking and causing tears to spring to his eyes. But he took everything she had to give, his persuasive grasp resolute.
She would not move until this was done, no matter how much she yelled and cried. And he’d accept her anguish as punishment.
He closed his eyes, wincing at the shrieks echoing inside him, at the pure agony setting their connection on fire.
She blamed him.
She hated him.
She loathed her existence.
She mentally wept.
She shattered.
She rebuilt herself, then fractured again.
Over and over it went, each sensation slamming into him as though it were his own. He felt Vera meddling with her memories, picking them apart and piecing them back together again. It was worse than what she’d done to him, the amount of weaving and unweaving so substantial that it was a shock Caro had even been able to function.
And it wasn’t just the memories, but her time in reformation, too.
He overheard the chanting, the rules, the edicts that Seraphim were not supposed to feel or care or consider anything other than logic.
Fuck, it was cruel. How could beings exist without so much as an ounce of humanity or remorse inside them? Not all decisions were driven by reason. Emotions mattered. Which he showed her through the bond, telling her how much he loved her, how much he missed her, how much he wanted her to come back to him.
