Page 39 of Secrets in the Shadow

Unfortunately, his hair was still curled around Cody’s finger, and he couldn’t get it uncurled fast enough. Raziel exploded to his feet with a deep, savage snarl. He reached behind him and gripped Cody’s arm in a bruising hold that made him cry out and drop his phone.

Quinton and Killian burst across the room, bearing down on Raziel. Cody froze, his stomach clenching. They weren’t charging at him, but it sure felt like they were. They were two massive predators who could crush him without breaking stride. Fear rooted him to the spot, his heart slamming against his ribs, as he stared at the unrelenting wall of fury hurtling his way.

“He’s your mate!” Quinton thundered, wrapping his beefy arm around Raziel’s neck.

“No!” Out of nowhere, Cody heard a shout and realized Zymore had returned.

At the moment, Cody was too busy trying not to let an angel kill him. The ferocious sounds Raziel made said his chances of survival were slim.

“Everyone just back away from him,” Zymore instructed. “Give him room so he doesn’t think he’s under attack.”

“Not if he’s about to hurt his mate.” Quinton bared his canines, his arm still poised, ready to take Raziel down.

“Bashar used to keep him in chains. Right now, he thinks Cody’s finger tugging on his hair is one of the chains.” Zymore had his hands held up, palms out, standing in a half-crouched position.

Stewart raced to grab Ethan when the toddler ran, but the kid was fast and clung to Raziel’s leg, refusing to let go. “No hurt!”

“Stop!” Killian’s shouted command caused his mate to freeze. “Don’t move any closer,” he said deliberately.

Stewart glared at Ethan. “Get your little butt over here right now, mister.” He pointed to the spot in front of him.

Cody remained completely still, listening to his father shouting from the phone he dropped. He hoped that by staying as immobile as Stewart, his mate would be able to snap out of whatever nightmare was gripping him. Raziel’s animalistic sounds echoed through the room, but Cody couldn’t see his face from where he was trapped behind him.

Turning his head, Cody shot Zymore a glare, partially blaming him for this situation. Chains? They hadn’t been used because the angel was a danger.

It had been a strategic move meant to inflict psychological torture.

And unfortunately, it had worked all too well.

Fury boiled inside him, mixed with a desperate need to wrap his mate in his arms. “Or maybe it’s your presence that’s causing this. Your foul, treacherous stench is keeping him trapped in this nightmare. Get the fuck out!”

Zymore’s gaze flicked between Cody and Raziel, then he slowly backed out of the room just as Ryker returned. But that still left Raziel in a panicked, wild state.

“It’s me,” he said in a soothing tone, reaching up as carefully as he could to unwind the hair without triggering his mate again. “You’re acting like Duchess now. Only one traumatized creature is allowed to live in our home at a time. You don’t expect me to coddle both of you, do you?”

That wasn’t working, so Cody thought of something else that might while remembering not to move. Raziel hadn’t completely calmed­—he was breathing heavy, and he still had a tight grip on Cody’s arm—but the attack had stopped. “You have a cute little boy. Didn’t you tell me he was three? I think you’re just jealous because he can say my name clearly.”

The pressure on his arm began to ease.

“Right now, he’s hugging your leg, trying to defend you against everyone who wants to help.” When he unwound the hair from his finger and eased his hand down, he paused midway, praying he wasn’t making a mistake.

“If you calm down, Ethan can let go.” He slid his hand over his mate’s arm. His heart was breaking at the small whimpers escaping Raziel. “It’s me, Cody. Ethan is attached to your leg. The bear family is here for you too, Raziel. You’re not alone in this. Not anymore. My mom and dad even invited us over for dinner tomorrow. My mom’s a pretty good cook, and my dad is a good guy, if you can look past his awful jokes.”

Pain lacerated Raziel’s face.

“It was just my finger tangled in your hair.” Cody slid his hand down the length of Raziel’s arm, the pads of his fingers traveling over hard muscles and thick veins. He leaned in closer, his voice barely a whisper so no one else could hear. “You just claimed me upstairs, and I want more. But I can’t have more of you if you don’t come back to me.”

He watched as the tension in Raziel’s shoulders slowly relaxed, but he wasn’t there yet. Cody was about to say more when Ethan spoke up.

“Son!”

Raziel’s shoulders slumped, and a sob caught in this throat. He turned and yanked Cody into his arm, using the other to hold Ethan to him.

“It’s okay.” Cody soothed his hair, careful not to get it tangled on his fingers. “Just need you back with me.”

He saw Killian’s jaw clench. Cody gave him a look that said he dared the bear to come any closer. He didn’t care if the guy was upset that Ethan knew the truth. It was about damn time, and right now, Raziel was more important than Killian’s anger.

“You with me?” He pulled back to gaze into Raziel’s eyes.

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