She hadn’t considered that before, her mind immediately jumping to the worst conclusion.
However, she’d stopped herself from reacting without thought. An indication she was at least learning from her past mistakes. While she might not be able to die now, she could be taken captive and endure treatment much worse than death.
Issac kissed her again, his mouth a promise against hers. We’re going to figure this out, Aya.
Thank you. Just being held by him made her feel a little better. No one here would allow Lizzie’s disappearance to go unanswered. They just wanted to ensure the plan—
Gabriel reappeared, his light blond strands windswept and rearranged on top of his head. “Sethios and Caro are with Lizzie,” he announced.
Stas gaped at him. “What?”
“Osiris took her,” he went on to explain. “And he secured her in an estate on a private island in the Caribbean. It’s covered in protective wards to hide her from the council.”
“He knew they would come for her,” Luc said.
“So it would seem,” Gabriel replied. “Skye prophesied that Sethios would gain his wings the same day Lizzie went into labor. As a result, Osiris laced a compulsive spell through Sethios to force him to mist directly to the island the moment his wings appeared.”
“Lizzie’s gone into labor?” Balthazar said, pushing off the wall.
“Yes.” Gabriel held up a hand. “There’s more. They told Ezekiel—who relayed all this information to me—that they believe this is some sort of ornate trap meant to ensnare Stas. Skye says she can’t see anything that confirms that threat, but she also didn’t predict Sethios being compelled into Osiris’s waiting arms either.”
Luc nodded. “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.
