Page 100 of Devoted

That thought was easy to dismiss. The day I started believing in supernatural crap was the day I was admitted to the grippy sock ward for a mandatory holiday.

I’d jumped up immediately, along with Nox. He’d gone to the other side of the island while I’d rushed over to Zeke. It had taken me several attempts to get his attention, but once I touched him, he’d finally released them. As if my touch had untethered him somehow, freeing him of whatever he was warring with in his mind.

He’d let the twins go, but he hadn’t turned around yet. His shoulders were rising and falling rapidly, every muscle from his neck to his arms tensed.

“Zeke?” My hand moved from his back to his bicep, tugging on him slightly. “Look at me. Please.”

Fuck, he was so tense. Was he still struggling with his temper? Or did he not want to face me?

Finally, he turned. His skin was ashen, head hanging low. I knew then that it was the latter.

He was ashamed.

What Zeke had been afraid of had happened. He’d shown me his worst, and now expected me to run.

And I got it, I did. His temper hadn’t been aimed at me, not this time, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t happen in future.

If that ever happened, Iwouldwalk.

Some innate, buried part of me didn’t think that would happen though. He’d never so much as raised his voice in my direction, let alone a hand.

I needed to know what was behind this. If Zeke was willing to open up to me, then this wouldn’t be the end. If he was willing to work with me and my brain, then I was damned well going to do the same for him. None of us were perfect. Normal was something that only existed on paper, not in the real world. We all had flaws. We all had demons to fight. It just so happened that some demons were louder and more difficult to control than others. But Zeke wasn’t letting me fight mine alone. What made him think I wouldn’t fight his alongside him?

“Come on,” I said firmly, tugging on his arm again. “We’re going to take a lap.”

He nodded but didn’t lift his head. I started to tug him towards the back door, pausing to glance at the twins still on the floor.

“How Zeke behaved wasn’t right,” I said, shocked by the fire in my voice. “He has no excuse for reacting violently. But you two are also in the wrong. You know he has an issue with his temper, yet you intentionally provoked him. You’re supposed to be friends—what kind of friend does that?”

They both gaped at me.

Great.Even if I worked things out with Zeke, would the twins even want me here now I’d called them on their bullshit?

Before I could follow that thought spiral down, Nox appeared, opening the back door for us. Zeke stepped through without looking back, his long legs carrying him towards the woodland.

Nox touched my shoulder, winking in approval. “Good for you. You deal with Zeke, I’ll sort the fuck-knuckles here. And don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

I smiled at him, wishing I had his confidence. At least it seemed like I had Nox in my corner, that was something. “Thank you.”

Zeke was almost at the tree line now. I had to jog to catch up to him, the whole time cursing at myself for skipping cardio at the gym.

Okay, that made it sound like I went to the gym, which I didn’t. Like most millennials, I had a shiny membership that had been used…twice.

A very long time ago.

By the time I caught up to him, I was wheezing. Zeke spun on his heel, his eyes widening as he took in my heaving chest and how I’d stopped to brace my hands on my knees. “Baby, are you okay?”

Unable to speak over the cramp in my side, I shot him a double thumbs up.

“I keep fucking up today,” Zeke said glumly, running his hand up and down my spine as he waited for me to catch my breath. “I’m sorry, Sam.”

“Okay.” I straightened, finally able to expand my lungs fully. “Firstly, you’re going to stop talking right now, and we’re going to take a walk.”

Zeke hesitated. “Sure that’s a good idea? You want to be alone with me after that?”

I looked him square in the eye. “Are you going to hurt me? Lose your temper with me?”

Zeke physically recoiled, all the blood draining from his face. “Of course not. I couldneverhurt you. I can’t even fathom being mildly annoyed in your direction.”

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