35. Ezekiel
35
Ezekiel
T his meeting was dragging on. And I shouldn’t have been irritated by it, not when they were coming up with ideas to help protect my mate.
But, for some reason, the longer I was away from Sam, the more my skin was itching. There was an incessant tugging in my chest, begging me to go to him.
He’s safe, I reminded myself for the seventieth time. This is one of the most impenetrable buildings in the world.
The ward at my door tripped, making me tense. A few moments later, another across the back door went. Where was Sam going?
“What’s wrong with you?” Rami hissed under his breath. “You look like you’re chewing glass.”
“Sam’s gone out the back door,” I muttered.
“So? Is he not allowed in the gardens?”
I gave him a pointed look. “I’d prefer him indoors while there’s a psychotic angel who has it out for him.”
“He’s as safe on the grounds as he is indoors,” Rami said.
“You can’t keep him holed up forever, Zeke,” Noah said, startling me. I looked around to realise the whole table had been following our quiet conversation. “As tempting as it is, he’ll end up resenting you if you do that.”
“I’m not talking about forever,” I ground out. “Just until we’ve dealt with Gloria.”
Help came from an unexpected quarter as Nox spoke up. “Give him a break. It’s hard when you’ve met your mate. You’ll all be just as jumpy as Zeke is now.”
“Nox is right,” Breann added. “At least with Grace, I knew she was as immortal and badass as I am. If she’d been human, I don’t know how I would’ve coped.”
“So you’re saying we’re all going to be as whipped as Zeke?” Nate asked in disbelief. He’d been very vocal in this meeting, his guilt over what had happened showing in how adamant he was about protecting Sam. “Nah, can’t see it happening.”
“It’ll happen,” Micah said, exchanging a wry smile with Nox. “Trust me, there’s no point fighting it.”
“And there’s no point fighting this,” I said shortly, getting to my feet. “Give me all the shit you want, but I’m going to check on Sam.”
I didn’t make it as far as the door when another ward pinged. This time, I wasn’t the only one who felt it.
“Why is Sam crossing the external wards?”
I didn’t stop to consider Noah’s question. The tug in my chest was yanking at me now, hauling me in Sam’s direction.
Whatever was happening, Sam was in danger.
Pivoting for the window, I leapt straight through the glass. My wings ripped from my back, leaving my shirt in shreds on the ground beneath me.
I let my instincts guide me, heading straight for the external wards at the edge of the property. Behind me, several more sets of wings filled the air.
Whatever Sam and I were about to face, we wouldn’t be doing it alone.
Rounding the tree line, I spotted Sam just past the end of the drive. He was walking slowly along the road, seemingly alone.
The sight should’ve calmed me, but my instincts were screaming. Not right. Faster. Faster.
I dropped from the air right in front of him, grabbing his shoulders. “Sam, baby, are you okay?”
“What?” Sam looked at my hands and frowned. “Why are you touching me?”
I blinked in confusion before removing them. “Sorry, I was panicking. Are you okay?”
Two more sets of feet landed behind me. Behind Sam, Rami and Nox landed, immediately releasing shields. Above us, the twins hovered in the air along with Grace and Breann. They unleashed their own powers, scanning our surroundings for any danger.
We were protected from every direction.
Sam was still frowning at me. He didn’t question the presence of my unit, or even seem to notice them. “Of course I am. Why are you here?”
My mind was reeling, trying to catch up with whatever was happening. “I was…I’m checking on you. Where are you going?”
“Home.” He shifted on his feet, lifting his hand to his face. “I’m going home.”
My blood ran cold. Why did Sam want to leave?
Behind him, I saw Rami and Nox exchange befuddled looks. I tried to ignore them as I edged closer to Sam. “Did something happen? Why do you want to leave?”
“It’s time for me to go home.” His fingers were moving along the side of his face. “I want to go home, Zeke.”
“Okay,” I said slowly. “Let’s go get your car, and I can take you home.”
Sam reared back as though I’d slapped him. “No. I don’t want you to come.”
I swore everything fell silent. The cars on the street. My units’ wings in the air. Even my own breathing stopped. “What?”
“I don’t want you,” Sam said, edging back even further. “Leave me alone.”
My hand touched my chest as his words cleaved my heart in two. “What? But why?”
“I don’t want you!” he shouted, spittle flying as his face reddened. “What’s so hard to understand about that? I don’t want you.”
“I don’t understand,” I croaked. “Baby, what changed? What can I do to fix it?”
“Nothing.” Disgust flashed across his eyes. “I’ll never be with you. Ever.”
This wasn’t happening. It couldn’t be.
“Please,” I begged him, my voice cracking as the fissure in my heart widened. “Please, Sam. Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
“No,” he snarled. “Leave me alone, Ezekiel.”
Ezekiel.
Ezekiel.
Not Zeke.
My eyes drifted to his hand. At how he tugged at his ear.
“Sam, can you hear a strange noise?”
“Yes.” He slapped both hands over his ears. “What is that? Make it stop!”
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
This was even worse than him dumping me. The fear I’d felt a second ago deepened into an abyss I wasn’t sure I’d crawl out of.
“He’s been compelled,” I said, not taking my eyes off my mate for a second. The monster roared, trying to claw to the surface. He’d have to wait for vengeance. My first priority was saving Sam. “Someone get Ferry here now.”
“On it,” Micah said from behind me. I heard him talking into his phone, low and rapid.
“No, stay away from me,” Sam whimpered. “I don’t want your help. I don’t want help from any of you.”
I swallowed, reaching for him while praying Ferry would be fast. “Sam, baby, someone has compelled you. I’m sorry, but I need to take you back into the house where you’ll be safe.”
“No.” His eyes went wide with horror as he scrambled backwards. He collided with Rami, who gripped his shoulders gently. “No, I don’t want to go back there. Don’t make me.”
His pleading was breaking my heart. It went against everything I was to deny him.
But this wasn’t Sam talking. Someone else had put those words in his head.
And I suspected I knew who the fucker was.
Rami’s eyes were full of pity as they met mine over Sam’s head. “Gotta be done, man.”
Rami was right. There was no point delaying the inevitable. I met my mate’s gaze and prayed he’d forgive me. “I’m sorry, Sam.”
Then I gathered him into my arms and shot into the sky.
It was a twenty second flight back to the compound. It was the worst twenty seconds of my life. Sam screamed and writhed for each and every one of them, hitting and clawing at whatever part of me he could reach.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered again and again. “I’m sorry, baby.”
I’d hoped my heart wouldn’t break now I’d found my mate. I hadn’t realised there were ways to shatter it that I hadn’t even considered. What was upsetting me wasn’t how he was behaving, but that he was suffering. That someone had warped his brain enough to have him hating me.
And he didn’t. Sam loved me. I knew that down to my bones.
He continued screaming as I lowered him to my bed. The other Seraphim filled the room, watching grimly as Sam hurled curses and epithets at us.
“It’s okay,” I said, desperately trying to reassure him. “You’re safe, Sam. I promise. No one is going to hurt you.”
“I hate you,” he screamed, his foot lashing out and catching my knee. “I hate you. Get away from me. Get away. ”
I tried not to let the words touch me. He didn’t mean them. What was more, once the compulsion was lifted, he was going to hate himself for this. It was going to take me a long time to reassure him he hadn’t hurt me in any way.
“Where’s the fucking demon?” I roared. “Where’s Ferry?”
Micah glanced down at his phone. “He’s here. I’ll go lift the wards.”
Why does he need to lift the wards when he’s been here before? He shouldn’t have an issue approaching the property.
The thought left my brain as swiftly as it had entered. I didn’t care, not when Sam was in danger.
The answer became clear when a lilting and deceptively sweet voice filled the air. “Hello, oh-holier-than-thou ones. I believe my presence was requested?”
I growled at the twink who was now sashaying his way towards the bed. Harlow. A son of Lucifer and the demon responsible for my father’s demise. “We didn’t ask for you.”
“We asked for whoever was nearest,” Micah said, his voice strained. “That happened to be Harlow.”
I gnashed my teeth. I might begrudgingly admire the demon for having killed my father, but putting the life of my mate in his hands…that was something else.
“I can go,” Harlow said, raising a shapely brow and thumbing over his shoulder. “You can take your chances waiting for Ferry or one of the others, but looking at your boy there, I wouldn’t risk it.”
I glanced down to see Sam now unconscious. Harlow was right, why the fuck was I hesitating? “Do it. Save him.”
I couldn’t stop myself grabbing his arm as he sidled past me. “Fuck this up and I’ll end you, Harlow. He’s my everything. You got that?”
Sympathy flickered in Harlow’s eyes as he squeezed my hand lightly. “He’s safe with me, Ezekiel. I won’t lose your mate.”
I remembered belatedly that Harlow’s mate had died before they were bonded. That he’d gone into Hell and risked it all to bring him back to life. Harlow was right. Sam would be safe with him. Something told me he wouldn’t put anyone through what he’d experienced.
I knew I wouldn’t in his shoes.
Harlow got to work fast, kneeling on the bed beside Sam’s head. He closed his eyes, concentration lining his face as flames licked at his hands.
Sam’s first scream had people grabbing my arms, shields locking into place around the bed.
“I’m fine,” I said, not taking my eyes off of the bowed shape of Sam’s back. “I’m not going to lose it.”
No. All my fury was being saved for the one who’d hurt him. The one who’d made Sam suffer. Who’d put his life at risk.
I was ninety-nine percent certain that person was Gloria, or someone working on her behalf.
The fact that they’d tried to make him leave me was at the bottom of my list. That they’d put him in this situation…this was what they’d pay for.
Sam slumped back to the bed suddenly. My heart jumped into my throat. What was going on? Ferry had taken three times as long as this.
All of us looked to Harlow, who was sitting back on his heels.
“Are you done already?” Rami asked.
“See for yourself.” Harlow grinned up at me softly, gesturing me closer. “Here. He’ll want to see you as he comes to.”
I rushed in to take Harlow’s place just as Sam’s eyes flickered open properly. “Zeke?”
Relief bubbled up my throat, so thick I thought I might choke on it. “I’m here, baby. You’re okay.”
“What happened?” he said groggily, rubbing his eyes and wincing. “Why do I feel like I’ve been run over?”
“You were compelled again,” I said grimly. “I’m sorry, I should’ve asked you to stay in the room.”
“Not your fault,” he said drowsily. “Who knew there’d be a psychotic bitch with a scary smile hiding in the woods?”
Sam’s words set off a small explosion of noise. All around us, angels were cursing up a storm as my mate confirmed our fears.
Gloria had stepped over the line. Over our wards, in fact, and none of us had had any idea.
Benji hissed in frustration. “I don’t understand how the fuck she got past our wards. Or how we didn’t feel her cross them.”
“I can take a look if you like,” Harlow drawled, examining his nails. “Thanks to Daddy dearest, I’ve got some experience in wards being broken or overridden.”
Sam’s head snapped around. “You’re new.”
“Only to you, hun.” Harlow waggled his red nails at Sam. “Harlow at your service.”
“I like your nail polish,” Sam said eventually, like he wasn’t too sure what else to comment on. I got it—Harlow was a lot to take in, especially if you’d only just regained consciousness after having your brain fucked with for the second time in as many days.
“Thanks.” Harlow beamed at the compliment. “I chose red for the blood of my enemies and glitter to make them festive.”
“How lovely,” Sam said faintly.
“Harlow removed the compulsion,” I told Sam.
“And, judging by your reactions, far more efficiently than Ferry,” Harlow said nonchalantly, hopping up on the desk and swinging his legs. “Makes sense though. I’m better at almost everything.”
“So humble too,” Rami said with an eye-roll.
“Well I’ve been away from my mate for a few days.” He glanced back at Sam, directing his words towards him. “He keeps me grounded and sane. Really great quality if you have an unhinged supe mate.”
Sam stiffened, his gaze darting to me. “Unhinged?”
I nodded, answering his silent question. “Yes, Harlow’s reputation exceeds even my own.”
Sam reached for my hand, lacing his fingers through mine in quiet support. He knew who Harlow was to me. What he’d done.
Even if Harlow himself didn’t realise it.
I inhaled deeply before addressing the demon, my voice raw and honest. “Thank you, Harlow. I appreciate what you did for Sam.”
And what you did for me. The peace you gave me, without even knowing it.
“Anytime,” Harlow said breezily, hopping off the desk. “Bailey would’ve had my balls if I didn’t help. Speaking of my mate, I’d really like to get back to him this evening, so if you’d like me to help with the wards…”
“Absolutely.” Micah inclined his head. “We’d be very grateful. Benji, go with him and see what you can figure out between you. Nate and Theo, you go too. I want every ward stripped away and replaced. Key them specifically to Gloria. Nox, you add yours as well.”
Everyone nodded, filtering from the room as Micah continued to issue orders. “Grace, Rami, and Breann, set up a mile-wide perimeter. The last thing we need is a supe taking advantage of our wards being down, even if only temporarily.”
That left just myself, Sam, Noah, and Micah. The latter smiled at Sam sadly. “I’m sorry we’ve failed you, Sam.”
Sam’s brow crinkled. “You haven’t failed me.”
“We have,” Micah said. “You were hurt on our watch, and that’s unacceptable. Don’t worry though, we won’t let it happen again.” He nodded at Noah. “The two of us are going to stand guard at the outer door until the wards are in place. Sam, when you feel ready, if you could tell Ez anything you can remember, it might really help us out.”
Thank you , I mouthed at Micah, who winked at me as they left. He’d not only given us privacy and space for Sam to recover, but he’d made sure we both knew how they’d be protecting Sam. That all of them were on guard, taking precautions to look after him.
My mate.
Sam patted the bed beside him. “Come join me?”
I slid down until we were face-to-face, both lying on our sides. “Do you remember anything?”
“I think so,” he said slowly. “But before we get to that, can you do something for me first?”
“Yes, of course. Anything. What do you need?”
He took a deep breath, setting his jaw as he met my gaze. “I need you to make me your mate. Right now.”