Page 140 of Devoted

Zeke looked at me like I’d grown an extra head. “But it was a violation.”

“Do you think that about other humans when you compel them?”

“Well no, but?—”

“Then why is it different with me?”

Zeke’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Because you’re my mate.”

I opened my mouth and closed it. “I don’t know what to say to that.”

That roguish grin of his finally returned. “Great, looks like I have a go-to response for all future arguments.”

My lips twitched. “Why will we be arguing?”

“I dunno. Maybe you’ll realise my personality isn’t as charming as you believe it to be. I gotta consider these things, Sam. I plan on making this relationship work for the rest of eternity, best to start building my toolkit now.”

“Hang on,eternity?”

Zeke chuckled as he carried me out into the hallway. “I’ve got a lot to fill you in on. This wasn’t how I wanted you to find out, but I’m not sad you know. I’ve felt awful hiding this part of myself from you for so long.”

“I’m glad you did,” I said suddenly. “I like that I fell for you without knowing anything else. Without all this other…stuff, clouding my judgement.”

He came to a stop outside the living room door. “Is it…is me being an angel a dealbreaker for you?”

I rolled my eyes and poked his ribs. “And I thinkI’mirrational. Of course it’s not, you plonker.”

“Good.” He nodded at the closed door. “I know you probably want to hide for a bit, but I’ve got a few questions for Ferry. Is it okay if we deal with that first?”

Ferry. The handsome stranger from earlier. “Is he an angel like you?”

“He’s not an angel, he’s a demon. The Grim Reaper, if you want to be specific about it.”

My jaw gaped. “Like, death? The one who lives in Hell, answers to Satan,demon?”

I didn’t know why this was such a surprise. If angels existed, it made sense that demons would too.

“Technically he lives in Southampton now, and I don’t think he answers to anyone these days. He’s not death either; that’s a common misconception. He was responsible for ferrying the dead across the River Styx. But he is a demon. So is Nox, come to think of it.”

I thought about Nox’s kind smiles. How he’d had my back with the twins. “I’m guessing it’s not as simple as all angels being good and all demons being bad.”

“Definitely not. We live in the shades of grey, just as humanity does.”

I eyed the door. It was one thing knowing there were lots of people on the other side, but knowing none of them were human…it was a lot to take in.

“I can wait upstairs, if you like.” I wriggled in his arms, but gave up when it became clear Zeke wasn’t letting me down. I looked at him questioningly.

“I need you with me,” he said, his voice raw. “I’m not ready to let you go yet. Is that okay?”

Visions of him lying on the ground flashed through my mind, his eyes open but unseeing.

No, I wasn’t ready to let him go either. “It’s okay.”

Zeke put his hand on the doorknob and I blurted out, “Stop!”

He froze. “What?”

“You can’t carry me in like this,” I said in exasperation. It was one thing for Zeke to have lifted me earlier, but what on earth would they think if he waltzed in with me cradled in his arms?

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