Page 109 of Devoted

If this was the rope Gloria was hoping to hang us with, she was going to have to find another option.

“Given we filed all the appropriate paperwork, I can only assume that there’s an issue with your administration staff.” Micah inclined his head. “Perhaps that’s where you should be focusing your attention, if something as simple as a form can be lost.”

Gloria gave a tinkling laugh that set my teeth on edge. “You think aformgives you the right to prevent the regents from fulfilling their roles?”

“I think that following the laws set out by God herself allows that,” Micah said mildly. “If you’d prefer, I can summon Benji here. I’m sure his thorough studies of said laws can clear up any misunderstandings.”

Which was exactly why she hadn’t summoned Benji. “I do not need to be educated by asoldieron how to interpret those laws.”

I snorted. “Really? Because that’s not the impression we got last time. The way I remember it, thatsoldierwiped the floor with you, thanks to his knowledge and interpretation.”

“That’s neither here nor there.” Gloria dismissed the notion with a wave of her hand. The arch to her left shifted slightly, like he too was remembering how foolish Gloria had been made to look. “The fact remains that there are…peopleoccupying the Seraphim compound that shouldn’t be there.”

Confusion nagged at me, undoubtedly at Micah too, not that he gave any sign of it when he spoke. “Last I checked, allthree regents have returned to their former duties and living situations.”

“Ah, but it’s not just about the regents.” Her gaze slid to me, her smile widening. “There’s a human there. A human, inside the most sacred space on earth. You Seraphim are quick to tout the laws when it’s convenient to you, and here you are, breaking one of the most fundamental ones. ‘Humans are to be protected from the existence of supernaturals, unless deemed necessary by God or her council.’”

A bead of sweat ran down my spine. The monster tensed, ready to leap.

“I’m confused.” Gloria tapped her chin with a delicate finger. I pictured grabbing it and pulling downwards, hearing each individual bone break on the way. “I know we haven’t given permission for you to disclose your true identities to any humans. So unless you want to claim you’ve convened with the Almighty directly…”

Micah didn’t look at me, keeping his gaze steady on Gloria. “We make no such claim.” No, to do so would be to commit treason of the highest order. God chose who she convened with, never was it the other way around—hence why this council existed in the first place. “Yes, there is a human at the compound. His place there is temporary. We offered him sanctuary in a time of need for him.”

“He knows nothing of our true natures,” I added gruffly, ignoring the fact that I’d been about to reveal everything to him earlier. “Nor does he suspect anything is out of the ordinary as far as we are concerned.”

I could admit that Sam was my fated mate. As such, he was allowed to know everything about me. He’d be protected by every law that was supposed to protect me. But my instincts were telling me to keep it quiet. That, somehow, it would put Sam at a greater risk than he was at now.

I didn’t trust much in my life, but I did trust my instincts. They’d never led me wrong before.

“It won’t be long before he does suspect,” Gloria mused, tapping her chin again. “Especially given the behaviour of some of the members of the unit. And what will happen then? How long will it be before he’s telling the world about the existence of supernatural beings?”

Ice filled me. It was so different to the usual fire of rage that I felt. More dangerous. It tunnelled down into my soul, wrapping around the collar of my monster, preparing to fully remove the leash.

“I think it’s safer if the human forfeits his life,” Gloria commented, like she was discussing the weather. “Removes all threat of complications.”

The monster roared as the ice cracked the collar. I let it. I did nothing to try and stop it.

Until I saw Micah’s hand. His fingers twitched, a subtle gesture. A command to stop. To stay.

To trust him.

I tugged on the leash reluctantly.If we screw this up, we could lose Sam.

I expected a fight, a protest, but there was none. My monster dropped to his haunches, waiting for the instruction.

“Forgive me, but even my rudimentary understanding of our laws says that taking the life of an innocent is the gravest of sins.” Micah had lost all pretence of his smile now, making sure to look every last arch in the eye. “Are you really suggesting that we commit treason against our Lord by willingly breaking this law?”

The archs shifted uncomfortably in their seats, exchanging glances. However they’d thought this was going to play out, this wasn’t it.

“We could debate for hours as to which law trumps which, but the matter is simple. He is a liability. A risk. Unless of course, someone in the unit has a claim on the human?”

Micah stayed silent, leaving the choice up to me. My brain was screaming at me to admit that Sam was mine. That he was my fated mate. That if any of these fuckers even suggested hurting a hair on his head, I’d shred Heaven to pieces with nothing more than my bare hands.

But my heart, my gut, my instincts, they were telling me to be quiet. That there was something more sinister at play. That Gloria already suspected who Sam was to me, but to confirm it would set something in motion that I’d have no hope of stopping.

I couldn’t deny him. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

But I didn’t claim him either.

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