Page 25 of Secrets in the Shadow

You really need to learn how to lie a little better.

“I am Zymore.” He held his hand against his chest. “Your question will be answered if you just let me show you.”

Oh, hell no. Cody ran around the coffee table, holding up a hand when Zymore reached for his head again. “Didn’t I just say to ask first?”

For all he knew, Zymore was trying to fry his brain. Why that thought? Cody had no clue. But if angels weren’t as angelic as they were supposed to be, he had every right to be suspicious.

Just because he’d tolerated Raziel’s rudeness didn’t mean he’d let every angel act that way toward him.

“Fine. You win.” Zymore held up his hands. “I just thought, as Raziel’s mate, you would want to know.”

Cody froze. Despite treating only a handful of shifters, he’d learned what that word meant and what it entailed. Why hadn’t Raziel mentioned something so important? The realization hit like a puzzle piece snapping into place, clear and undeniable. That ache Cody had been carrying since discovering Raziel had left, and it was the reason why he was overwhelmingly attracted to the guy.

Sure, Raziel was gorgeous, but so were half the men in Midnight Falls. Still, none of them had ever made him feel so completely out of his depth.

“I see he failed to mention that little nugget of truth.” Zymore sighed. “He’s going to slice my nuts off for telling you.”

And Cody was going to do the same to Raziel. How many times had they interacted already? Too many for the guy not to tell Cody what they were to each other. Especially after their intimate moment together. Which made him think Raziel had a reason for holding back.

“I swear it’s painless. You’ll see his entire life, from my prospective, in a single touch.”

That sounded like a good way to find out if the guy you were interested in was psycho or if he hogged all the blankets. Still…

“Won’t that overload my brain?”

“Nope.” Zymore shook his head. He moved closer, causing Cody to cringe. “At least, I don’t think so,” he said just as he made contact.

It was like watching a movie at the speed of light, yet somehow, he was able to see and understand it.

Images blurred and sharpened in quick succession. The sheer weight of Raziel’s suffering crushed against Cody, stealing his breath.

Witnessing what was done to the angel, and being powerless to stop it, felt like drowning in someone else’s nightmare. Tears sprang to his eyes as he absorbed the sheer helplessness Raziel must have felt. Each blow, each scream reverberated in Cody’s chest like an echo, refusing to fade. He felt gut-wrenching agony as Raziel was endlessly beaten with weapons designed to inflict maximum pain.

Every time it was over and Raziel was left alone, he lay huddled on the floor, staring blankly ahead, his body shredded and bleeding. Despite the fact they were memories, and had already taken place, it killed Cody that he couldn’t hold the angel and try his damnedest to comfort him.

The worst torture method Bashar had inflicted was severing Raziel’s wings, with a promise to cut off his head the next time if he didn’t give Bashar what he wanted.

Somehow he knew the tormentor’s name.

Pure, unfiltered rage sliced through Cody. And all of this was through Zymore’s eyes because he had been there. He was Bashar’s head guard and had attended every last one of Raziel’s interrogation sessions.

When the memories stopped and his mind was released, Cody stumbled back with a gasp, trying desperately to catch his breath.

Now he knew why there had been so much pain in Raziel’s eyes.

“You did nothing to stop what was being done to him, and now what, you want me to help you find him so you can drag him back?” Cody shouted, his voice shaking as nausea churned violently in his stomach. His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms.

It was a straight-up miracle Raziel had a softer side after what he had endured. The angel should have been a broken man by now, filled with madness and snarling at anyone who’d dared to get close.

Cody curled his arms around his stomach. No one should ever feel that level of despair and pain.

“So, you have no idea where he is?”

“Answer my question first.” Animosity boiled inside Cody.

“Humans might have been given free will, but my pantheon is expected to follow without question,” Zymore ground out, his tone filled with bitterness. “Had I tried to stop Bashar, I would have suffered the same fate. Raziel’s escape offered the opportunity for me to help, to try and make amends for doing nothing.”

Zymore’s head suddenly shot up. He stared toward the ceiling as his wings unfurled and his arms spread wide.

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