Chapter 32 #3
“He’s not a possession,” Micah said, his voice suddenly silky-smooth. I had a feeling that wasn’t a good sign. Not for Neil, anyway. “You cannot force a human, or anyone else for that matter, into a marriage against their will.”
A movement to the side caught my attention. One of the mercs stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Seraphim? May I speak?”
Micah beckoned him forward. “Of course. It’s Fraser, right?”
“Yes. From the Johnson clan.” His accent was Celtic, but not Scottish. Apparently Wales was home to at least one bear shifter clan. “The Clarksons weren’t honest when they hired us. We’d like your permission to return to our own lands.”
Fraser paused, meeting Finlay’s gaze. “This isn’t a quarrel we want to step into, and we formally request your forgiveness.”
“Granted,” Finlay said. “Thank ye for seeing sense.”
“Wait,” Neil cried, grabbing Fraser’s arm. “We had a deal. You can’t just leave.”
Fraser glanced down at Neil’s hand before a slow grin curled his lips. “I think you’ll find we can do whatever we like, including breaking every bone in your hand if you don’t remove it.”
Neil squared his shoulders, trying to look intimidating. An effect that was completely ruined by how quickly he removed his hand. “We want our money back.”
Fraser’s grin grew. He lowered his face close to Neil’s. “You know where we live. Feel free to come and collect it whenever.”
Neil paled and I choked on a laugh. He wasn’t the brightest bulb in the box, but even he couldn’t miss Fraser’s thinly veiled threat.
“That’s what I thought.” Fraser chuckled, stepping back. All of his equally massive clan members fell in around him. “We’ll be going, then. Hopefully next time we meet, it’ll be under better circumstances.”
Logan smiled. “Perhaps we should meet to discuss a new treaty. We’re always looking for new…allies.”
Fraser bowed his head in agreement. “After today, I think that’s something we’d be very interested in.”
Wow. The Johnson clan really didn’t like being manipulated or lied to.
Several Clarkson members looked uncomfortable, with a few of the elders outright glaring at Neil. Sucked to be them. That was what happened when the succession passed automatically to the next alpha instead of who’d actually be best for the role.
Now it was just us, the Clarksons, and two angels in the clearing. Evan was tense under my hand, waiting to see what would happen next.
“Okay.” Micah put his hands on his hips as he frowned. “So now we have an issue to resolve.”
“Forgive me, but I don’t see how,” Finlay said slowly. “The Clarksons are violating the treaty by being here. We’ll respect your presence by not executing them, but they need to leave. Immediately, with no plans to return.”
Neil sneered. “We’re not scared of you.”
Evan growled, but the sound was lost under Logan’s laughter. “Oh, that’s precious. Should I share with your clan how you begged for mercy under my dagger? The way you wept when I cut off your pinky toe? Or maybe the part where you vomited when the pain became too much?”
“Enough,” Micah said firmly, holding a hand up to Neil, who looked like he was going to charge at Logan. “We came here to find a peaceful resolution, and we won’t be leaving until we’re certain that’s been achieved.”
“A peaceful resolution to what?” Finn was getting exasperated now. From how Evan was vibrating, he wasn’t the only one. “Reid is not leaving with them of his own free will. They can’t remove him forcibly thanks to the treaty. End of discussion.”
My heart sank at the triumphant grin Neil flashed us. “Ah, but that’s not the case. A treaty cannot be applied if it’s superseded by law.”
Evan went deathly still.
“What law?” Finlay said through gritted teeth.
“The law that states that any human born to a clan member remains property of that clan,” Neil said. “Reid belongs to us.”
The silence was almost deafening. Or maybe it was the shock affecting my hearing.
What did he mean? I didn’t belong to anyone…except Evan. That was because it was what I’d chosen. What I wanted.
“That’s not possible,” Logan said eventually. “What fucking law is this?”
“An ancient one,” Micah admitted. “One that’s not been enforced in a very long time.”
“Humans are rare in shifter clans,” Benji added. “So much so that we were unaware that such a law even existed. After much research, we discovered that it does.”
“No.” I took a trembling step backwards. Evan slid in front of me, putting himself directly between me and the Clarksons. “I’m my own person. I don’t belong to them.”
Benji and Micah exchanged an uncomfortable look before the latter responded. “No, Reid, you don’t. But technically, you are a member of their clan according to the law.”
More fur brushed against my legs. I glanced down numbly to see Calan pressed against me. There was a snapping sound, and Logan’s wolf appeared at my other side.
The only one who stayed human was Finlay. He stalked right up to Micah, jabbing a finger into his chest. “I don’t give a fuck who ye are, or who ye answer to, Reid isn’t leaving our lands.”
Neil jeered. “Shame you don’t get a say in that. The Seraphim always follow the letter of the law. It’s well known.”
Benji laughed, making Micah stare at him. The smaller angel stopped instantly and frowned. “Was I not meant to laugh at that? But it was funny. He was making a joke.”
“He wasn’t, Benji, but that’s okay.” Micah smiled at him grimly before turning back to Finn. “The old Seraphim might’ve blindly followed orders, but things are different now.”
Benji’s eyes met mine. “Yeah. Turns out finding your mates changes things. Everything, actually. Suddenly they belong to you and you realise you’ll break any rules to protect them.”
I blinked slowly, processing what he’d said.
Finding your mates changes things.
They belong to you.
Belong to you.
Belong.
Benji winked at me.
“Benji’s right, there’s no way we’re letting Reid go with the Clarksons,” Micah said slowly, carding a hand through his hair. “But I’m not sure staying here is the right decision either. It’ll lead to more violence once we leave.”
“I’m not leaving,” I repeated, my mind still racing. “I refuse.”
Micah shot me a sympathetic smile. “I get it, I do. But you’d be safer in the Seraphim compound while we work to undo this law or find a workaround. Don’t worry, you wouldn’t be the only human there. Five of the Seraphim have human mates, and all of them would welcome you.”
Huh. A mixed human and supe community. God, that must be fascinating. I’d have loved to know more.
But not enough to actually go with them.
Thankfully, Benji had handed me the out we needed. “That’s okay. We won’t need to do that.”
Micah looked puzzled. Even Finlay and the wolves were eyeing me curiously.
All except Evan, of course. Either he didn’t want to look away from Neil and the Clarksons, or he trusted me to know what I was doing.
And I did. I’d never been more certain of anything in my life. Why we hadn’t thought of this yesterday was beyond me. It was so fucking obvious.
Clearing my throat, I addressed the smaller angel. “What does the law say regarding mates and clan membership?”
Evan whipped his head around, his massive jaw swinging open.
Benji grinned. “Law sixteen, part three, section D states that a human belongs to their mate’s clan, regardless of former kinship.”
I grinned right back. “Excellent. Looks like we’ve found our solution.”