Sethios and Caro had attended some of the lecture—if it could truly be called that—to learn more about the wards and other ways to defensively use ethereal energy. Issac had remained on the beach below the entire time, observing the lesson through Aya’s eyes and hearing her internal comments along the way.
I’m going to fucking kill himwas her current chant.
Gabriel had spent the last hour helping Aya learn how to perfect her aim.
Or that was Issac’s translation of the events, anyway. Gabriel had kept throwing ethereal energy at her via his sword, which she was now catching with her hands and tossing right back at him.
Her brother responded by increasing his speed and power, pushing Aya to her limits both physically and mentally.
She was clearly exhausted.
Meanwhile, Gabriel appeared to be out for an afternoon jog.
Sethios and Issac continued observing the pair in the sky as the sun began to rise over Hydria. They didn’t speak, the roll of the waves the only sound other than Aya’s constant cursing in Issac’s mind.
She was certainly creative.
And colorful.
He was about to suggest she come down for a break when an image of Tristan mouthing,Sire, flashed inside his mind.
Issac’s ability to manipulate vision essentially granted him access to a thousand mental images at once inside his mind—something he’d learned to control ages ago—but those who mattered most to him always remained relatively close to his thoughts.
His two progeny qualified.
Luc and Amelia, too.
And, of course, Aya.
It helped those close to him catch his attention easily, typically in a manner such as what Tristan had just done.
He responded by tapping into Tristan’s vision and portraying an image of himself arching an inquisitive brow. That was Issac speak for,Yes?
Tristan drew up a mental fantasy of Issac walking into the nearby tree line to join Tristan and Mateo.
Hmm, Issac thought, conveying the message to Aya.It appears my progeny want to have a private word.
At least, he assumed that was why Tristan had reached out mentally rather than calling for him to join them. Maybe he didn’t want Sethios to hear whatever they had to say.
An odd development.
But Issac would entertain the notion for Tristan. They were best friends, after all. And it was the least he could do after temporarily questioning Tristan’s loyalty.
Try not to kill Gabriel while I’m gone, love. I would hate to miss the show.
No promises, she hissed back at him.
“I’m going to make Aya something to eat,” he said to Sethios. “She’ll be hungry when she’s done.”
Tristan’s ability to pick up sound would allow him to overhear the statement. But just in case he didn’t receive the message, Issac showed him a vision of Balthazar’s home. It wasn’t too far from the beach.
The image changed to Tristan giving a nod.
“Keep taking care of my daughter and I’ll keep allowing you to live,” Sethios drawled.
Issac’s lips twitched. “I think we both know Aya would kill me herself if I ever hurt her.”
“I’d bring you back just to do it again.”
