Page 43 of Secrets in the Shadow

Raziel’s body moved instinctively, his wings spreading slightly as he stepped in front of Cody. “Let him go, you rotten bastard.”

“All in good time,” Bashar said. The air seemed to thicken, every breath heavier than the last. Raziel’s eyes darted to Ethan, who looked frightened and pissed off as they locked eyes.

Stay calm, amoretto. I’ll get you out of this.

Ethan gave a subtle nod.

Bashar’s gaze swept over the room, his smirk deepening. “It’s funny, isn’t it? How humans will believe anything you tell them. Carol, for instance. She trusted me completely when I visited her after Ethan’s birth. She didn’t even question why an angel would take such an interest in her child.”

“She was my sister, you piece of garbage!” Stewart shouted.

“She was so eager to see the good in me,” Bashar continued, ignoring Stewart. “So eager to believe that her son had a higher purpose. The Sollis—such a simple thing to place, really. And now it thrives in so many.”

“She told me to keep Ethan’s secret,” Stewart whispered. “Carol was trying to warn me.”

“And she had no idea what she’d been pulled into,” Raziel growled, his gaze burning into Bashar. “You used her faith against her. Twisted her trust into a weapon.”

Bashar’s smirk deepened. “She made it so easy. Humans always do.”

“You’re nothing but a coward.” Raziel’s wings flared slightly. “Hiding behind a child, using him as a shield. You’ve fallen lower than I thought possible.”

Bashar chuckled. “Coward? No, Raziel. This is strategy. You see, I have no desire to kill Nephilim. They’re far more useful as tools. An army of them, strong enough to destroy angels who refuse to follow me.”

“You’re an idiot,” Raziel said, his voice steady despite the storm of fury brewing inside him. “You’re going to fail.”

“We’ll see.” Bashar smirked.

From the corner of his eye, Raziel saw Zymore cross the room, heading toward the front door.

“Zymore,” Raziel said, his voice sharp. “What are you doing?”

The angel didn’t answer. He simply smirked at Raziel, and then opened the door, stepping aside to let three figures enter. The angels moved with an air of predatory calm, their presence suffocating as they stepped inside the house.

Zymore turned to Raziel, his smile turning cruel. “Teaching your mate not to trust so easily might’ve saved you a lot of trouble.”

“You slow-talking jerk!” Cody shouted seconds before the room exploded into chaos.

“Killian! Quinton!” Raziel barked, shocked when the shifters moved instantly. Papa Everhart collided with one of the zealots, their clash sending shockwaves through the floor. Killian took on another, driving his beefy fist into the angel’s face with a loud crack.

The third angel turned toward Nate, who stood with his hands raised, the air around him crackling with energy. Raziel frowned as a sudden gust of wind swept through the room, followed by a flurry of snow that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.

Nice. Maybe Raziel had judged him too quickly.

“Back off,” Ryker growled at the zealot, stepping protectively in front of Nate. His voice was low, menacing, and the angel hesitated for a moment before charging. Ryker roared and met him head-on, their impact reverberating through the walls.

Raziel’s focus remained locked on Bashar, who had stepped farther into the room, watching the chaos unfold with a smug grin.

Raziel’s blade sang as he drew it from its sheath, the sound slicing through the tense air like a scream. Bashar stepped closer, his movements deliberate, his own blade glinting with a menacing light. The house seemed to groan under the weight of their presence, the room crackling with energy as their angelic powers collided, invisible but oppressive.

“You were a fool when you followed Hadad,” Raziel snarled, his wings flaring behind him like a storm cloud about to break. “And now you’re a puppet with no strings left to pull.”

Bashar’s lips curled into a predatory grin, his wings snapping wide, the edges razor-sharp and menacing. “Funny, coming from someone who’s string I’ve pulled with such joy.” He lunged, his blade cutting the air with a deadly hiss.

Raziel pivoted sharply, parrying the strike with a resounding clash of steel. Sparks erupted between their weapons, cascading to the floor like dying stars. Bashar’s strength pushed against him, but Raziel braced himself, teeth bared as their locked blades screeched in protest.

“Is that all you have?” Raziel growled, shoving Bashar back with a surge of power. The corrupt angel staggered but recovered quickly, his grin returning with an unholy gleam in his eyes.

“Not even close.” Bashar’s wings beat the air, propelling him forward in a blur. He struck again and again, each blow calculated and brutal. Raziel met him head-on, their movements a blur of speed and precision. The room shook with every clash, furniture splintering and walls cracking as their fight tore through the confined space.

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