Page 171 of Wicked Bonds
She wouldn’t heal like the warriors. They possessed regenerating powers that expedited the process. Some Seraphim could take up to a month to heal from a beheading. Her half sister would probably be more like a few days. Maybe even a week.
Perhaps the humans would put her in the ground by then.
That would trap Mel indefinitely.
A thought that very much appealed to Leela in her current state.
Actually…She swooped down to pick up the remains and misted out to the ocean, about a hundred miles offshore, and dropped her head.
Then she went in the opposite direction another hundred miles to deposit the body.
Thatwould slow her down quite a bit.
Especially if her body or head ended up sinking to the bottom or being eaten by a sea creature.
“Good luck healing fromthat,” she said, aware her sister’s soul would be nearby. Of course, she couldn’t hear her. The spirits didn’t lurk in the plane of existence like a ghost so much as disappear to another state temporarily before attempting to piece their corporeal form back together.
Satisfied, Leela returned to Balthazar, Gabe, and Vera. They were taking in the humans with grim expressions, phones snapping photos and videos everywhere.
“There isn’t time, Vera,” Gabe said. “Their memories will just have to remain.”
Balthazar appeared grim. “The videos have already made it online. Even if you altered their minds…” He trailed off, the rest mutually understood.
“Too many have seen it now,” Leela voiced out loud.
“This has happened before and been contained,” Vera started, her eyes taking on a haunted gleam.
“Not like this,” Balthazar replied. “The technology age allows news to spread instantly all around the world.”
“They’ll come up with some sort of excuse for it,” Gabe pressed. “We don’t have time to worry about them. The wards have fallen in Hydria. I canfeelthe battle energy in my veins.”
“This was a distraction,” Vera said, her expression darkening. “My memory manipulation on Leek was too hasty because of his warrior genetics healing him faster than I could work. From what Melanythos told me in the sky, Leek knew something wasn’t right and went to the council. They restored his memories and now know our true allegiance.”
Gabe fell silent for a moment before nodding. “Then we have nothing to hide.”
“Agreed.” Vera didn’t sound surprised or saddened by it, just accepting.
“We need to go.” A hint of urgency underlined Gabe’s tone, his pale green irises flickering with concern.
He’d bonded Clara, which meant she’d just said something to him.
Leela almost asked, but a shimmer of dread danced along her spine, the fealty rune throbbing with power andagony.Something is very wrong.
“We need to go right now,” Gabe reiterated, disappearing.
Vera followed without a word.
Gasps echoed through the crowd, causing Balthazar to noticeably flinch. He could hear all their thoughts and feel the confusion radiating from their auras.
Leela wrapped her arms around him. “I have you,” she whispered into his ear, engaging her misting ability.
She took them straight to Hydria, landing on the beach beneath the moon.
But it wasn’t romantic or sweet.
It was nightmarish and cruel.
With the acrid stench of burnt flesh littering the air.
