Page 86 of Blood Bonds
“Indeed.” His father tapped his chin, considering. “A logical ploy.”
Sethios’s shoulders relaxed infinitesimally as he gathered his strength to stand. “You know I’m all about survival.”
Osiris assessed him with a flat stare. “I do, but I also know when you’re lying, and on this, you are not being truthful. You love her.”
Sethios chuckled even as his chest throbbed. “Do I?”
His father arched a condescending brow. “You deny it?”
He shrugged again. “I like her enough.”
“And you?” Osiris shifted his focus to Caro. “Do you deny loving him?”
“Seraphim do not love.” A trademark reply. Caro had even brought out her old stoic tone. The realization pleased him because it indicated she’d fully recovered from the incendiary bullet.
“But you do,” Osiris murmured. “You forget I’m the Seraphim of Life. I feel your bond thriving healthily, and that requires emotional commitment.” His lips twitched at the edges. “I can’t wait to shatter it.”
A cold chill swept down Sethios’s spine. Caro said bonds were impenetrable. How could his father break it?
The note of concern flowed from Caro as well, her panic nearly overwhelming in clarity. If Osiris destroyed the connection between them, how would it impact Astasiya?
Gabriel warned that they would live in agony for an unspecified period of time but failed to mention this part. Was it something Skye hadn’t predicted? Had Ezekiel betrayed them all? His gaze locked on his best friend, but his expression remained unreadable. Not even a hint of sadness floated in those ebony eyes.
Shit.
Sethios knew the assassin would do anything for Skye—he even understood it, now that Caro had entered his life—but to hurt them in this manner? Sethios had to believe his best friend would have at least warned them.
“Ah, the silence is beautiful and proves my point. A love bond.” Osiris revealed his teeth. “This will be a suitable punishment indeed and may even encourage me to allow you to live, though trust me when I say you’ll both prefer death.”
Neither Caro nor Sethios could speak. What was there to say? Begging would only intrigue the mad Seraphim.
“I know what you’re thinking, young one,” Osiris continued. “That breaking a bond is impossible, and on that, you may be correct so long as both Seraphim are alive. But when one dies, the connection falters.”
“You can’t kill a Seraphim,” she growled. “Or, trust me, I would kill you.”
“Oh, such fire!” He clapped enthusiastically. “Yes, breaking you will be such fun indeed. And, my son, I can see the allure.” His gaze danced lazily over Caro in a way that caused Sethios to clench his hands into fists. “You chose well.”
“Don’t touch her.” Sethios could handle a lot of torture, but the defiling of his mate? No. Fuck no.
What will you do about it? some dark voice whispered.
Kill him.
How?
With my bare hands.
The chuckle that responded sounded far too much like his father’s, even though Sethios knew it to be impossible. Osiris did not possess telepathic abilities. It was merely Sethios’s own subconscious fucking with him.
Dick.
“And there’s the proof of the love match,” his father mused. “I sensed it before, but now it’s blossoming like the hottest of fires. How fascinating.”
Sethios folded his arms. “Let me know when you’re done showboating. I’m bored.”
Some of the amusement fled his father’s features, his emerald eyes hardening. “Bored, are you? Well, we can’t have that.” He scratched his chin, focus shifting to Caro. “As I said, death shatters a bond, or makes communication very difficult. And while a Seraphim will only continue to heal and be reborn, a constant state of death essentially destroys the connection.”
A hint of fear traveled through the line as his words settled over them both.
