Page 86 of Mercy & Her Devils

Now, he’s one of my Devils.

Tears are chasing down my cheeks, and I don’t even reach to wipe them away.

“Whoever you are,” Gabriel says curtly but without making a move to push Lark off him, “know that you’re lucky I’ve sworn to never fight an Omega.”

“Well, thanks for the condescension.” Lark bares his teeth.

“Calm down, my solider,” Kai warns with a dominant edge that sends a delicious shiver through me. “This is one of the Broks who we saved. He has a right to be wary.”

“How many are there?” Gabriel demands.

I force myself to walk closer on shaky legs.

I’ve imagined meeting Gabriel again many times.

Often in my fantasies, while I’ve been touching myself and driving myself to shuddering orgasms.

Imagining that I was with Gabriel, rather than Fletcher, was the only way that I survived my first bonding.

But standing looking a hot mess in nothing but another Alpha’s shirt was never part of it.

“My brave Omega.” Antonio hurries forward to drag Lark off Gabriel by the back of his collar. Then he turns him and kisses him, hard. “Everything that happens in this pack is consensual. Lucifer is fierce, and I fucking love that. Rag doll, remember? But so you know, what you just did…? So fucking hot.”

He kisses Lark again.

“I need to keep you safe.” There’s a brittleness in Lark’s eyes that’s painful to witness.

Because I couldn’t protect my daughter hangs in the air unsaid but heard nonetheless.

Antonio’s expression gentles. “How many years have you been on the alert, fighting to keep other people safe and taking punishments to protect everyone else? Your daughter? Mercy? Well, you’re pack now. I’m yours, and you’re mine. We look out for each other, which means that you can relax. You don’t need that burden on your shoulders anymore. Every person here will care for Millie. You’re not alone. You’ll never be alone again.”

Lark melts against Antonio, as if he’s finally allowing himself to relax. Antonio pulls Lark to his neck, and Lark licks him in what looks to be partly a self-soothing gesture and a way of thanking him.

It makes Antonio glow with happiness.

I take the final step toward Gabriel, who clenches his jaw and leaps to his feet. His muscles bunch, as he dusts off his clothes, before returning to a military stance.

Then his gaze zeros in on me.

My breath catches because for the first time in years, I’m looking into the most beautiful eyes that I’ve ever seen.

Lavender ones.

Gabriel freezes.

I think that he’s stopped breathing.

“Mercy,” he breathes like a prayer.

I nod, blinking the tears from my eyes.

Gabriel takes a shuddering breath, dragging his gaze over me like I’m a vision that could fade at any moment and he needs to memorize me.

“Are you real? How…?”

“Just hold me,” I beg.

Gabriel marches the final few paces toward me.

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