Osiris had gotten her out just in time, sequestering her to the manor he’d procured for this purpose. But that left Hydria exposed and vulnerable, which wasn’t acceptable.
Mateo had stayed behind on the island, despite his cover being blown—a disappointing development he’d overheard via his penchant for technology. Regardless, he’d remained and put the lives of all those on Hydria ahead of his own, an admirable feat and one Vera very much understood.
She frequently put her life in jeopardy.
Such as now as she awaited the verdict.
If Vera reported a pending attack, Mateo would deliver the message to Lucian and accept the penalty of confirming his allegiance to Osiris. It would alert the others to her recent activities as well, but they were going to learn about those soon anyway.
Attacking Osiris that day had resulted in a new understanding of him—one that had given her pause.
She’d witnessed his memories of what the council had really done to him.
A vile, horrid event that had knocked the wind from her lungs and forced her to return to him a day after ensuring everyone’s safety at Gabriel’s home.
“I have to know,” she’d told him. “Let me see it again.”
He’d studied her for a long moment, his green eyes flashing with fury. “If you alter my mind again, I will add you to my collection downstairs.”
She knew what he spoke of—the immortals he kept locked away in conditions far worse than death.
But she’d taken a chance and agreed to his terms.
Then she’d relived his memory in each excruciating detail.
By the time she’d finished, she’d been on her knees in tears while he’d stood over her with a stoic expression. “Now you know.”
There was no faking a memory like that. Even now, it sent a chill down her spine. Because it’d happened inside these ancient coliseum walls.
She might not agree with his methods or his penchant for cruelty, but she respected his goal of taking down the council.
They needed to go.
And he was one of the few beings with the power to do so.
His memories had also proved his intentions in regard to Sethios and Stas. He truly saw his actions as teaching methods, as ways to empower them and strengthen their abilities. Caro was slightly different, as he’d believed her to be a weapon sent by the council. Now he understood the truth and wanted her to prosper with Sethios in a twisted, dark, horrible manner.
Yet it was the right manner. Because he knew what they would face.
Vera shook her head.
It was troubling to be inside Osiris’s mind for that long and actually understand his choices, to see the practicality behind each harsh decision, and realize his true intent wasn’t to torture or harm but to grow.
She nearly blew out a breath, her mind exhausted from the myriad of tasks she’d performed over the last few days. But this one was too important for her to fail, which was why she stayed utterly still, waiting for the council to disperse.
They were quiet inside, just the bare minimum of rumbling, which meant they hadn’t argued much.
That could mean anything.
The council wanted the Hydraians destroyed and could easily agree to take that path right now, under the guise of wishing to find and annihilate Elizabeth.
Or they’d unanimously decided it wasn’t time yet—which had been their ongoing decision for millennia. Until the Hydraians posed a significant threat, they’d leave them alone and hope Osiris would come to his senses.
That was the party line, anyway.
Vera understood the truth now. Just as she knew that Osiris would never “come to his senses.” Not after what they’d done to him.
Shuffling started, the sound echoing around her. She pressed herself more firmly into the stone siding, waiting in her ethereal form. If someone happened to see her—which they wouldn’t—she’d be able to mist to a safe location in seconds.
