Page 23 of Secrets in the Shadow

“No. I here!” Ethan wiggled fiercely to get out of Stewart’s arms. “I here!”

“Cub, can you please go downstairs with your uncle? I promise I’ll come down and make you some hot chocolate with the tiny marshmallows you love so much,” Killian said in a soft and loving tone.

Which only made him realize how well the two knew Ethan and how much they truly cared about him. When Raziel had discovered he’d had a son, curiosity had been his driving factor. He’d come into their home, disrupted their lives, and put Ethan in danger all because he wanted… What did he want? He couldn’t provide any of this for his amoretto. He didn’t even have a home to take his son to. Was he really going to upend Ethan’s life and rip him away from the two men who loved him and cared for him?

I’m a selfish prick.

“He’s gone. Now show yourself and tell me what’s going on.” Killian glanced around. “One false move and I’ll rip out your entrails.”

Bashar held the honors of being the first one who’d inflicted that kind of pain on him.

Raziel dropped his invisibility shield then spread his wings.

Killian snorted. “I hope you don’t think those are supposed to impress me.”

Raziel liked him. “No. I was merely showing you what I am.”

“I know a few winged beasts,” Killian replied. “I also know for damn sure Nazaryth didn’t send you, so why are you here?” His fists clenched and unclenched, his gaze never leaving Raziel’s.

This would be the first time he would admit out loud his relationship to Ethan. Suddenly, he was nervous, an emotion he wasn’t used to feeling.

Stewart returned, his eyes rounding when he caught sight of Raziel. “Your dad, Ryker, and Nate are here,” he said to Killian but never took his eyes off of Raziel.

Quinton Everhart walked into the room, his boots striking the floor with slow, measured steps. Then he looked Raziel over. The air seemed to shift, thickening with the weight of authority he carried effortlessly.

Every sharp edge of his gaze felt like a countdown to destruction.

“You have no idea who you’re fucking with,” the father snarled, his voice like gravel grinding over stone. The tone was quiet but carried a deadly promise. “One call and I can have the entire East Coast at my back.”

That…was impressive. Raziel could call… He would get back to that. “I’m here for a reason.”

“Caught him poking around inside Ethan’s head.” Killian scowled. If his gaze held any more venom, the air itself would have turned toxic. “They were doing that thing Ethan did to Ryker when he was looking for Nate.”

Stewart gasped. “Why were you inside his head?” he demanded, his voice cracking slightly.

Raziel clenched his jaw. This wasn’t how he’d wanted to… To what? Meet them? Had he planned on ever introducing himself? Honestly, Raziel hadn’t thought that far ahead, he realized bitterly. He’d come with nothing but instinct and desperation.

“Ethan is about to have a legion of angels hunting him down,” Raziel answered, his voice tighter than he intended.

“Why?” Quinton asked, his upper lip curled. “What did you do?”

Sure, blame him right off the bat. They didn’t even know what was going on, and yet he was the bad guy in this. “I merely slept with Stewart’s sister.”

He wasn’t sure why he was being so caustic. Was it guilt? Or was it the raw weight of their judgment that hit far too close to home? They had every right to be angry and blame him. They’d found a stranger in their home, and he’d just dropped hella news on them.

“Are you…are you Ethan’s father?” Stewart furrowed his brows, studying Raziel closely. “You’re not on his birth certificate.”

“Because Carol only knew me as Raziel. She didn’t know what I was,” he explained, keeping his eyes on Killian and Quinton. As soon as Stewart asked the question, their hackles rose. He turned to look at Killian. “I am not a winged beast. I am an angel.”

Killian still didn’t seem impressed. If anything, his scowl deepened. The room felt colder under his scrutiny, as if the very air had withdrawn in disapproval. Raziel was not scoring any points with his in-laws. Not that he cared what they thought of him.

“So why, if what you say is true, does Ethan have a bunch of angels ready to hunt him down?” Killian’s voice was calm and yet sharper than any blade. “What did you do to piss them off besides sleep with a human?”

Stewart looked from Killian to Raziel.

“He is known as a Nephilim, half human, half angel,” Raziel explained. A wave of tension surged through him as he forced himself to meet their eyes, their combined judgment a crushing weight. “We’re supposed to remain pure.”

“Virgin angels.” Killian grunted. The corner of his mouth lifted in a mocking smile, as if he couldn’t believe such a thing could be real. “Just because you dipped your wings where you weren’t supposed to, that still doesn’t explain why they’re after him.”

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