Page 37 of Secrets in the Shadow

Raziel shrugged. “Swear it didn’t come from me.”

Ethan touched Cody’s cheek with his small hand. “Cody.”

Stewart playfully frowned. “You can say his name flawlessly, but all of us were renamed, tater tot?”

He hadn’t just said it flawlessly. Ethan had said it clearly. Raziel quickly yanked his mate away, causing Cody to fall on his ass.

Pull me in now, Ethan!

Raziel was yanked inside Ethan’s head. His wings immediately shot out, his swords manifesting. His son lay huddled, his hands over his head.

“Back away now!” he snarled at the Sollis, which was bloated and writhing. The damn thing was too active, which led Raziel to believe that Ryker’s past use of Ethan’s mind as a passageway for his own purposes weakened the natural barriers that might have otherwise kept the Sollis dormant. This act unintentionally awakened and fed the entity.

Damn fool should have never used a child’s mind to begin with.

“What’s going on?” Stewart sounded alarmed. “You said you weren’t going to take him! What are you doing in there!”

“Once you’re out, I’m killing you,” Killian snarled close to Raziel’s ear.

“He wouldn’t harm his son!” Cody shouted. “There has to be a reason, so step back, everyone!”

For the second time in less than five minutes, Raziel felt pride swell, fierce and overwhelming. He was stuck in Ethan’s mind, unable to divert his attention to tell them anything, and Cody had furiously protected his vulnerable back.

At this rate, Raziel just might grow a heart.

The Sollis pulsed forward, as if testing him.

“You will not win,” he snarled, brandishing his swords, the steel echoing as the metal clashed together.

The Sollis jerked forward slightly then retracted, as though it was taunting Raziel, telling him that he couldn’t kill it so long as it dwelled in Ethan’s mind.

And it would be right.

But it backed down, rippling, and then a thrum sounded before it stilled.

Raziel spun and pulled Ethan to his feet, breathing heavily as he searched the toddler’s face. “Did you go near it, son?”

Ethan shook his head. “Bad men poke. Bad men say Coby name.”

Fuck. He yanked Ethan into his arms, holding on to him as he gazed at the quiet darkness. That explained why Bashar hadn’t attacked them yet. He wasn’t going to do it from the outside but from within.

Chapter Nine

That…had been one scary situation. Cody never wanted to experience anything like that again. He had basically screamed at a living, breathing mountain. A giant who could have crushed him. He was still trembling, but Killian had backed off, glaring at Raziel but keeping his expression neutral with Cody.

Honestly, he had no clue why Raziel had thrown him to the floor then froze, staring Ethan directly in his eyes.

And he was still currently squatting there, reminding Cody of a life-like statue. It was eerie as hell, and he had an urge to poke his mate.

Stewart paced, wringing his hands. Killian looked volatile, and Quinton appeared to be on guard, like he knew something wasn’t right.

Cody wasn’t sure where everyone else had gone.

All he knew was no one was getting anywhere near Raziel. Even if he had to take on bear shifters.

He really, really prayed it didn’t come to that. I’m too young to get pulverized.

When his phone in his back pocket rang, Cody nearly jumped out of his skin. The ringing echoed in the silence of the room, making it sound more ominous than the catchy tune assigned to his dad’s name.

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