Page 41 of Secrets in the Shadow

“No one really knows how it enters the mind, but it’s an unnatural, parasitic entity that is not inherently part of an angel or Nephilim but can grow within them under certain conditions, slowly eating away at their mind.”

“But he’s just a toddler!” Killian argued, rage and fear clear in his voice. “He’s not evil!”

“No, he’s not.” Raziel shook his head, glanced at Ryker, then down at Ethan. “This usually happens in adults, angels who’ve fallen from grace. I have no idea how one grew inside a child’s mind, which makes me believe it was put there intentionally, and only now do I understand its purpose.”

“How?” Stewart squatted, curling his arm around his nephew then started to rub his back. “How did it get there? Who put it there?”

Lowering to his knees again, Raziel turned Ethan to face him, causing Stewart’s arm to fall away. “Son, do you mind if I look inside your very handsome head?”

“I thought vanity was a sin,” Killian interjected.

Raziel stared daggers at him.

The bear shifter held up his hands, palms out. “I’m not trying to pick a fight. I genuinely want to know.”

In that moment, Cody saw a little kid peeking out of Killian, like he’d had a silly side to him before he’d taken on the responsibility of being an uncle.

“He is handsome,” Raziel huffed then gave his son his attention. “Can I take a look to see if we can find out?”

“Why haven’t you done it already?” Ryker asked. “I was told you’ve been creeping around their house.”

Raziel clenched his jaw, as if to stop himself from saying something.

“Can the bullshit.” Cody scowled, tired of them taking shots at his mate. “I think we have more important things to worry about.”

“Can boo-sip.” Ethan growled at Ryker.

Oh crap. Cody glanced wide-eyed at Stewart. “I’m so sorry. I have a huge potty mouth.” Jesus fucking Christ. Cody was corrupting a child. His mother would be so proud. His eyes grew wider. He really did need to clean up his mouth.

“Welcome to the club.” Stewart smiled. “Just don’t teach him anything else, okay? I’m still trying to get him to stop saying the choice words Killian taught him.”

Killian simply grinned, as if proud of the fact. Until Stewart gently elbowed him with a hard glare, causing his mate’s smile to vanish.

“Okay, quiet everyone. I need to concentrate,” Raziel said to them, staring Ethan in his eyes. “It’s not polite to hover, Nate. You can come in.”

Nate slipped into the room and right into Ryker’s arms. “I don’t get out much, so anything going on, I’m curious.”

“That wasn’t the quiet I was asking for.”

Nate curled in his lips as Ryker looked at Raziel as if he wanted to slug him. There was a high level of testosterone in the room. It was giving Cody a solid headache.

Raziel cupped Ethan’s face and closed his eyes. Then he opened them. “I forgot an important step.”

“What?” Cody asked.

Raziel winked at Ethan, who tried his best to wink back but only managed to smash his eyes closed.

“We’ll work on it, buddy.”

It was the cutest darn thing.

He watched as Raziel closed his eyes and grew still. Then his fingers began to glow, just like his chest had glowed when he’d claimed Cody. The light didn’t hurt Ethan. In fact, the toddler touched Raziel’s fingers, clearly fascinated by it.

Slowly, Raziel lifted his hand and touched his glowing fingers to Ethan’s head, his eyes flickering rapidly under closed lids. As he probed the toddler’s mind, Ethan touched his father’s handsome face and then playfully ran his tiny fingers through his long hair. With a giggle, he tugged at the short beard framing his face.

A soft smile curved Raziel’s lips. “Hold still, amoretto.”

The angel had been wrong. Watching Raziel now, Cody saw the truth. It wasn’t that Raziel didn’t know how to love—it was that he didn’t realize he already did. The tenderness in his touch, the soft smile gracing his lips as Ethan giggled and played with his hair, spoke louder than any words ever could. Raziel had love in abundance, more than enough to give Ethan everything he deserved—and so much more.

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