Page 105 of Devoted

Yes. I’d spend every day making him happy. This beautiful, accepting man who asked nothing from anyone.

I was going to give himeverything.

“That’s right,” Nate said, elbowing his twin in the ribs. “We shouldn’t have wound Zeke up. We won’t do it again.”

Theo scowled at Nate, rubbing his ribs. “We won’t?”

A throat cleared, making me startle. I turned to see Nox leaning against the doorjamb, arms folded over his chest. He raised a brow at Theo. “Do we need anotherchat?”

“No,” Theo muttered. It was then I noted the slight burn marks ringing the base of their throats and around their wrists. “We’re good. Wewillbe good. Sorry, Zeke.”

“I’m sorry too,” I said, my voice gruff. Wasn’t like I was used to apologising, but the twins were trying, so I would too. “I shouldn’t have reacted violently.”

Theo’s lips twitched, like he was dying to ask if I had another way to react. But whatever Nox had done or said while I’d been walking with Sam had him keeping his mouth shut.

“See? It’s easier if we use our words,” Sam said, nodding in satisfaction.

I wanted to squeeze him, to hold him against me and never let go. He was too good for this world. He was too good for me.

Nox winked at me before vanishing into the shadows of the hall. Sure, some words and a fuck-tonne of violence and threats from our resident demon.

Sam continued. “Save the violence for the situations where it actually matters.”

My head whipped around at the dark note in his voice to find him staring at me. I knew what he was thinking about, the situations in which he’d approve of violence.

I couldn’t love this man more. Seriously, I couldn’t.

Nate sighed from the table. “Okay, they’re just too cute. I need to find my ma?—”

Theo slapped his hand over his twin’s mouth. “His man. He was going to say his man.”

Sam frowned in confusion while Nate eyed me sheepishly. It was a good reminder of why we’d come indoors and the conversation we needed to have. “Come on, let’s go upstairs.”

My nerves spiked as we walked through the house. Could Sam feel how clammy my hand was? Could he tell that my breathing had sped up?

There was no denying how monumental this was. What if he didn’t take the news of what I was well? What if he didn’t believe me? I could prove it to him, of course I could, but what if that freaked him out even more?

“Hey.” Sam squeezed my hand, giving me the same reassuring smile he had earlier. “It’s okay. Whatever you’re going to tell me, I’m sure it’ll be okay.”

He said that now, but Sam didn’t know anything about my world. What if he didn’twantto be tied to me for all eternity?

You don’t have to bond with him right now,I reminded myself.There’s plenty of time. You’re giving him all the information so he can make an informed decision.

I took a steadying breath, smiling weakly back at my mate. “I hope you’re right.”

Maybe he would be. He’d taken what I’d told him about my father far better than I could’ve hoped.

“Ezekiel?”

Micah’s blond head poked out of the study. His eyes darted between Sam and I. “Sorry. Can I borrow Ezekiel for a few hours?”

My jaw clenched. “Now?”

Micah winced apologetically. “Yes. I’m afraid this is…urgent.”

Frustration had me wanting to scream. I’d psyched myself up for this talk, and now I was going to have to wait?

“It’s fine,” Sam said quietly, sliding his hand out of mine. I felt the loss immediately, needing to clench my hand into a fistto stop myself from grabbing him. “I’m behind on work anyway. My phone’s been vibrating in my pocket for the last half hour.”

---