Page 153 of Devoted

“What do you mean?”

He took my hand in his. “She knows you’re staying here, Sam. That’s why Micah and I were summoned the other day.”

A chill went up my spine at the ominous undertone to his words. “I don’t understand. Are you not allowed to have guests?”

“Technically, yes, but you’re a human. And humans aren’t supposed to know about angels.”

“Are you in trouble? Do I need to leave?” I went to stand up. “It’s not a problem. I can stay nearby and?—”

“No.” Zeke pulled me back to the sofa. “It’s not as straightforward as that, unfortunately. Gloria has issued anultimatum under the guise of keeping our true natures under wraps, but that’s not what it’s really about.”

“It’s about punishing you,” I said, the chill turning to ice. “What was her ultimatum?”

“She gave us five days.”

“Five days to do what?”

Zeke exhaled slowly. “For me to make you my mate. It’s the only reason we’re allowed to disclose our true identities to humans.”

“And if you don’t?”

Zeke’s lips thinned. “Then Gloria has threatened to take matters into her own hands.”

“By killing me,” I said numbly. “That’s what she means, right?”

“Yes,” Zeke said hoarsely. “Or by compelling you to forget everything. Which in itself…”

He didn’t need to finish that sentence. We both knew I’d die if compelled again for an extended period of time.

“I won’t let her hurt you, Sam,” Zeke said fiercely. “If you’re not ready to accept the mating bond, that’s okay. Gloria will have to get through me and every other member of the Seraphim before she gets to you. None of us will let you be put at risk.”

“But that’s putting all of you at risk.”

Zeke’s expression didn’t change. “Keeping you safe, keeping youaliveis far more important.”

It really wasn’t. “If you did that, even if you managed to make her walk away, she’d have it out for you even more than she does now.”

Zeke’s eyes darted sideways. “There’s no way to know that for sure.”

“Don’t lie to me,” I said. Guilt flickered in his gaze as he brought it back to me.

“I’m sorry. I just…I wish I could protect you from the truth.”

“But you can’t.” There was a deadline hanging over him. Over us. A life-changing decision had to be made. One I was ninety-nine percent sure about.

But I’d thought I’d have more time. More time to get my brain on board. To let Zeke reassure me that his intentions would truly never change.

That wasn’t the case. The clock had been ticking down this whole time. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t been aware of it, it had been happening all the same.

“So we need to become mates sooner rather than later,” I said finally.

“Not necessarily,” Zeke said. “We have options if you need time.”

“I don’t need time because I’m uncertain about you or us,” I whispered. “It’s just…I don’t do well with change, not with something of this magnitude.”

“I know, baby.” He kissed my forehead. “You don’t need to reassure me. Before Gloria, I had every intention of giving you as long as you needed. Believe it or not, I was looking forward to taking things slow with you.”

“You were?”

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