Page 159 of Devoted

I’d hoped my heart wouldn’t break now I’d found my mate. I hadn’t realised there were ways to shatter it that I hadn’t even considered. What was upsetting me wasn’t how he was behaving, but that he was suffering. That someone had warped his brain enough to have him hating me.

And he didn’t. Sam loved me. I knew that down to my bones.

He continued screaming as I lowered him to my bed. The other Seraphim filled the room, watching grimly as Sam hurled curses and epithets at us.

“It’s okay,” I said, desperately trying to reassure him. “You’re safe, Sam. I promise. No one is going to hurt you.”

“I hate you,” he screamed, his foot lashing out and catching my knee. “I hate you. Get away from me.Get away.”

I tried not to let the words touch me. He didn’t mean them. What was more, once the compulsion was lifted, he was going to hate himself for this. It was going to take me a long time to reassure him he hadn’t hurt me in any way.

“Where’s the fucking demon?” I roared. “Where’s Ferry?”

Micah glanced down at his phone. “He’s here. I’ll go lift the wards.”

Why does he need to lift the wards when he’s been here before? He shouldn’t have an issue approaching the property.

The thought left my brain as swiftly as it had entered. I didn’t care, not when Sam was in danger.

The answer became clear when a lilting and deceptively sweet voice filled the air. “Hello, oh-holier-than-thou ones. I believe my presence was requested?”

I growled at the twink who was now sashaying his way towards the bed.Harlow.A son of Lucifer and the demon responsible for my father’s demise. “We didn’t ask for you.”

“We asked for whoever was nearest,” Micah said, his voice strained. “That happened to be Harlow.”

I gnashed my teeth. I might begrudgingly admire the demon for having killed my father, but putting the life of my mate in his hands…that was something else.

“I can go,” Harlow said, raising a shapely brow and thumbing over his shoulder. “You can take your chances waiting for Ferry or one of the others, but looking at your boy there, I wouldn’t risk it.”

I glanced down to see Sam now unconscious. Harlow was right, why the fuck was I hesitating? “Do it. Save him.”

I couldn’t stop myself grabbing his arm as he sidled past me. “Fuck this up and I’ll end you, Harlow. He’s my everything. You got that?”

Sympathy flickered in Harlow’s eyes as he squeezed my hand lightly. “He’s safe with me, Ezekiel. I won’t lose your mate.”

I remembered belatedly that Harlow’s mate had died before they were bonded. That he’d gone into Hell and risked it all to bring him back to life. Harlow was right. Sam would be safe with him. Something told me he wouldn’t put anyone through what he’d experienced.

I knew I wouldn’t in his shoes.

Harlow got to work fast, kneeling on the bed beside Sam’s head. He closed his eyes, concentration lining his face as flames licked at his hands.

Sam’s first scream had people grabbing my arms, shields locking into place around the bed.

“I’m fine,” I said, not taking my eyes off of the bowed shape of Sam’s back. “I’m not going to lose it.”

No. All my fury was being saved for the one who’d hurt him. The one who’d made Sam suffer. Who’d put his life at risk.

I was ninety-nine percent certain that person was Gloria, or someone working on her behalf.

The fact that they’d tried to make him leave me was at the bottom of my list. That they’d put him in this situation…this was what they’d pay for.

Sam slumped back to the bed suddenly. My heart jumped into my throat. What was going on? Ferry had taken three times as long as this.

All of us looked to Harlow, who was sitting back on his heels.

“Are you done already?” Rami asked.

“See for yourself.” Harlow grinned up at me softly, gesturing me closer. “Here. He’ll want to see you as he comes to.”

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