Page 34 of Secrets in the Shadow

But Raziel had been fucked every which way imaginable, and he wasn’t going to pay back the family who was taking care of his son in such a foul way.

“No.” It was a short answer with no emotion behind it. It held that numbness trying to sink over him. He felt like he had just denied his son, like that single word had severed his bond with Ethan.

“How do we know you’re telling the truth?” Quinton looked Raziel in the eye, one man asking another if he had enough honor to stand by his word.

Raziel gave a derisive laugh. “I’m being hunted. I have nothing to offer him, not even a home. The only thing I had to give him was some of my powers, which I placed inside his bear to keep him protected.”

“That’s why he has a meltdown if he doesn’t have it with him!” Stewart looked both relieved for an explanation to Ethan’s sudden attachment to the toy and pissed that Raziel had unleashed the toddler’s tantrums.

“I’m not going to apologize for protecting him.” Raziel’s gaze flicked between Quinton, Killian, and Ryker, who had just joined them. “No offense, but the tiny bit of power inside that stuffed animal is more potent than the combined brawn of three bear shifters.”

“Seriously?” Ryker curled his lip and stepped forward, but Quinton held out a hand to stop him.

“As much as it pisses you off, the truth is the truth, son.” Quinton gazed at Raziel the entire time. “But the delivery needs improvement.”

Raziel wasn’t fooled by Quinton’s calm demeanor. Barely contained rage simmered just under the surface, waiting for an excuse to be unleashed. One wrong move, one toe out of line, and Papa Everhart was ready to sacrifice his life to keep Ethan safe, ending whoever threatened the “cub.”

If the bears weren’t radiating such hostility, like they were raring for a fight, Raziel probably wouldn’t come off as such a prick. He actually liked this family. Just not at the moment.

He could also sense Cody’s unease in the storm brewing in front of them. From the way Stewart edged closer to Killian, the human mate wasn’t comfortable with it either.

Someone had to stand down or the four of them would remain this way. And how was that going to help anyone?

I can’t believe I’m doing this. But for Ethan, Cody, and even Stewart, Raziel would go against his instincts and be the first to offer an olive branch.

“I’m not here to take him from anyone.” Raziel placed his hands on his hips, glancing at the rug Ethan so often played on. “To tell the truth, I wouldn’t know how to give him half the love your family shows him, and I couldn’t give him nearly as much as he deserves.”

Cody’s hand touched his back, and for the first time, Raziel had someone in his corner. His mate had no idea how precious a gift that was to him. He might as well have placed the universe at Raziel’s feet.

“But you want to be a part of his life,” Quinton stated.

Why was this so fucking hard? It was easier when they were snarling at each other. Raziel didn’t know how to be humble, how to be civil when faced with such a difficult situation. He was used to lashing out like an animal, like he’d tried to do upstairs.

In his mind, making Cody hate him was better than hoping his mate loved him. One was easy. The other involved trust and vulnerability, two things he never had the luxury of giving.

“If you’ll let me”—Raziel cleared his throat—“I could teach him how to control his powers and how to conceal them.”

Cody curled his fingers into the back waistband of Raziel’s pants, stepping closer. Did his kitten think he didn’t want him there?

Well, jackass, in under twenty seconds, you had him convinced you didn’t want him as your mate.

If there was one thing he was good at, it was pushing people away. He slid his arm around Cody’s waist, a little embarrassed at the public show of affection.

“Looks to me like you’re learning how to show love.” The side of Quinton’s mouth curled upward.

The side of Killian’s curled downward.

“I’ll have to talk with my mate about the lessons.” Killian scowled. Was he really that hostile over this? And the bear had seemed so nice when Raziel had spied on him.

“And the next time you throw me out of my own bedroom, it’s you and me. I was just trying to figure out why things were going crazy.” Killian glanced at Cody before quickly looking away. “I’ll keep my other threat to myself.”

The threat about using his bed for sex. “You’re the one who offered us the room,” Raziel reminded him, unable to pass up poking the bear.

“To talk. Not to bang your—” Killian scowled.

Cody stiffened, his gaze darting away. Heat and color infused his face and he looked at the door as if wondering how fast he could get out of it.

Oh, hell no. Raziel’s wings shot out, careful not to strike Cody. “Embarrass my mate again and it really will be you and me, bear.” His eyes swirled and his fangs lengthened, the need to smite causing his hand to itch.

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