2. Rami
Rami
Breakfast in the Seraphim compound was now one of my least favourite times of day. Any time that saw all of us gathered together, really. The archangels who made up God’s most elite unit of soldiers.
And their mates.
Grace and Breann weren’t an issue. They’d been mated long enough to be way past the honeymoon stage.
The same couldn’t be said for the other couples residing in the compound.
Micah, our leader, was currently sat so close to his demonic mate that he was practically in his lap. The two were having some silent conversation with their eyes. Or maybe they were just so in love that all they needed was to stare at one another.
While caressing what I hoped were each other’s legs under the table.
I tried not to pay them too much attention, chewing and swallowing as fast as I could, but it was hard given they were sat next to me. It wasn’t my fault my superior vision kept noting how Nox’s arm was moving in caressing motions. I winced, turning slightly in my seat to avoid looking.
We had a house rule: No sex in public areas. A rule, I might add, that was broken weekly. Sometimes multiple times.
Nox and Micah weren’t the only culprits, nor were the two sat on my other side, but with Jeremiah and Noah off somewhere this morning, they were safe from my…irritation. Really, none of them deserved it. It wasn’t their fault that they were happy and I wasn’t.
“Eat, Sam,” Ez said, nudging his mate’s breakfast closer to him. “Got to regain your strength after last night. You kept us both up for hours.”
And the rest of us. I rolled my eyes internally. Judging by how long they’d been going at it, Sam needed an IV of coffee, not a bowl of porridge.
God, I was a grumpy fucker today. What the hell was wrong with me?
If I was being honest, it wasn’t just today. There’d been a relentless…itch under my skin for months now. An unsettled sensation that didn’t go away, no matter what I tried.
Didn’t help that I was still waiting for my mate. Actively looking, to be precise. Unlike Micah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. None of them had been interested in settling down, yet each of them had had their other half just drop into their lap.
Meanwhile, every bloke I so much as hit on was already committed to someone else. Not that I knew that beforehand. I wasn’t a dick. I’d never pursue a man in a relationship. It went against my moral code.
Besides, I wanted to be someone’s first choice, not his side choice.
At this rate though, I may as well sign up to be a monk for all the action I was getting. My right hand and I were growing closer every day—a thoroughly depressing notion.
Sam’s cheeks turned rosy even as he grinned up at my formerly surly friend. “That wasn’t my fault.”
“No?” Ez dropped his voice to a whisper. Sadly, it did fuck all given that everyone else in the room was a supe. “You’re the one who suggested we play naughty professor and student again.”
The relentless itch grew, making my hand tighten around my fork. It was enough to have some snark slipping free. “Some of us are trying to eat here. Can we just…cool it with the romance? Not all of us are happy, you know.”
Silence fell as every angel turned to stare at me. Demon and human eyes found me too, making sure I knew every species in the room was judging me.
“Sorry,” I muttered, rubbing a hand over my head. “Don’t know what came over me.”
“Whatever has your knickers in a twist, don’t take it out on us,” Ez warned. His arm had wrapped protectively around his mate, like he could shield him from my bad mood. “This is our home, Rami.”
My temper flared at that, rising to the easy bait Ezekiel offered. “And it’s ours too.” My arms swept out to encompass Theo, Nate, and Benji. “Do you think we like having our mateless status rubbed in our faces at every opportunity?”
“I don’t really give a shit,” Theo said, sipping on his coffee. Nate, at his side, said nothing. But the furrow between his brows deepened as he scowled down at his plate.
“Me neither,” Benji said, not looking up from his crossword. “Nothing’s changed for me. My mate will find me when it’s time.”
My lips tightened. I used to feel like that. I did.
But then this itch had started.
Now, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Him.
Whoever he was.
“It’s kind of hot,” Theo added, waggling his brows at Sam. “Like free porn.”
Benji snorted. “You do realise there’s a plethora of free porn available online?”
“Obviously. But the role-play Sam and Ez are dishing out night after night?” Theo gave a delicate shiver. “Delicious.”
My bad mood was entirely forgotten as Ez turned his deadly glare on Theo. “You want to say that again?”
“It’s fine,” Sam said quickly.
“It’s not fine,” Ez said through gritted teeth. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“If you start down that avenue, we’ll be here all day,” Nate drawled.
Micah’s chair scraped noisily over the kitchen floor. “Ezekiel, back down. Theodore, apologise. Now.”
“For what?” Theo’s eyes widened comically. “I’m giving them a compliment.”
Ez got to his feet slowly. Very, very slowly.
Feeling much more chipper, I tore a croissant in two and slathered it in jam. “How, exactly, is any of this complimentary?”
“I don’t just jack off over anything, you know. I have quite refined tastes.” Theo sniffed.
Nate barked a laugh. “I think you mean perverted.”
Ez’s chest puffed up. “You better not be telling me you’re getting off to the sounds of my mate.”
Sam sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. I reached over and patted his shoulder, subtly extending my shield over him, just in case.
“If I’m perverted, I hope my mate is too,” Theo said dreamily, resting his chin on his hand. “Role-play is so much fun. Bet it’s even better with a bond.”
Sam tugged on Ez’s hand until he dropped back into his seat. “Does that mean you’re finally going to track him down?”
Like everyone else, my eyes snapped to Nate. To how he stiffened, his shoulders bowing inwards.
“No,” Theo said, his voice strained as he too glanced at his twin. “Not planning on it just yet.”
‘Yet,’ because there was only so much Theo could do to resist the pull to his fated mate.
I’d been as shocked as the others when he’d confessed that he knew they were close by.
But not as shocked as I’d been when he’d said he wasn’t going to seek them out.
Because, while he could sense his mate, Nate couldn’t.
The two of them had gone through life doing everything together.
They’d thought that would extend to sharing a mate. Hell, we’d all thought that.
But fate had different plans.
“Don’t let me stop you,” Nate said belatedly, clearing his throat. “I’m not asking you to wait.”
Theo didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. There was no one on any plane who he loved more than his brother. He’d sacrifice anything to make him happy.
But…if he found his mate, Nate’s place in his life would be supplanted. That was the natural order of things. Didn’t mean either of them wanted that though.
Privately, I thought Theo was crazy. If I knew where my mate was, I’d be kicking down his door and wooing him with every century of experience I had. I wasn’t selfless enough to do what Theo was doing. There was no way.
But from how uncomfortably he was shifting in his seat, I suspected he wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer.
I just hoped we’d all be able to weather the fallout.
“I fancy a walk,” Sam suddenly announced. “Rami, will you join me?”
I pouted. “Why am I being punished when Theo is the one jacking off over you?”
It hadn’t taken Sam long to get the lay of the land upon moving in. He’d quickly established that, despite our incredible powers and responsibilities, we bickered and fought like children. He punished us as such, making us take laps around the garden until we saw the error of our ways.
Honestly, it was kind of funny. We were a household of terrifying angelic soldiers, but Ez’s human ran roughshod over us all.
Theo laughed, but Sam’s glare silenced him. Or maybe it was the lightning crackling around Ez’s hands. “It’s not a punishment. Come on. Take a lap with me.”
Grumbling under my breath, I got to my feet. Maybe a walk would help with my…restlessness.
The balmy summer sun warmed my cheeks as we stepped out into the garden. “God, I’m glad winter is over.”
Sam chuckled as we fell into step. “Me too. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be complaining about the heat soon, but it’s nice for now.”
I grinned. “’Tis the British way.”
We lapsed into silence as we followed the familiar path. Thanks to my less than stellar behaviour, I accompanied Sam on these strolls frequently. Truly, I didn’t mind it. Sam was excellent company, and he was right; something about the fresh air and exercise generally improved my mood.
Today it didn’t seem to be having that effect. I frowned as the pull in my chest increased with every step. The itching sensation was growing too.
What the fuck was going on? I touched my chest, pushing against it like it might alleviate the pressure. It did nothing.
“Okay,” Sam said suddenly. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
I dropped my hand to my side. “Nothing.”
He hummed. “Try again.”
I huffed a breath. “It’s a good thing you’re so cute.”
“Don’t let Ez hear you say that.” He blushed, ducking his head. “Actually, maybe you should. I like it when he gets all possessive.”
Yeah, he did. I’d overheard the aftermath too many times to count. “I’m fine. Just…itchy.”
“Itchy? Like, literally?”
“No.” I chuckled. “Healer, remember? I can’t get itchy or anything else.”
I was one of the rare archangels born with additional powers. I was able to heal any injury, cure any physical illness. Someone could be approaching the banks of the river Styx or pearly gates, and a touch of my hand would be enough to bring them back to this plane.
“Can any of you?” Sam asked curiously.
I shrugged. “You’d have to ask Ez. I’d imagine something might bother them for a minute or two before their own powers took care of it.”
“Huh.” He shook his head ruefully. “You distracted me again. How are you so good at it?”
I winked. “Angel of many talents.”
“One of which is opening up to me.” Sam gave me a pointed look. “Which is what you’re going to do. Right now.”
“Fine.” I shoved my hands into my pockets. My wings twitched and stretched behind me, making me frown. I wasn’t doing that. Why were they behaving like I was about to be airborne when I was just walking? “I think my mate might be close by.”
“What?” Sam came to an abrupt stop. He blinked, his stunned expression transforming into a smile. “Rami, that’s brilliant.”
“It would be if I could find him,” I muttered, kicking a rock.
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t track him down,” I blurted out, confessing the secret I’d kept hidden for weeks. “I keep feeling this pull leading me in one direction or another, but whenever I get close I hit a dead end. The trail just…vanishes.”
“That’s odd.” Sam frowned. “But it might not mean anything, right? Ez said he didn’t feel a pull to me until he saw me on the street.”
“That’s not technically true. He felt the pull when he was talking to you online. That, and your stunning personality, are why he couldn’t stop.”
Sam laughed merrily. “You charming sod. Your mate isn’t going to know what hit him.”
“If I ever find him.”
“You will.” Sam’s smile faded. “It does seem strange that you can sense him but can’t track him. I wonder why.”
“Probably fate fucking around with me,” I said gloomily. “Same way it does whenever I hit on a bloke and he’s already attached.”
“That won’t happen with your mate. They’re who you’re meant to be with, right? It’ll be easy. Simple.”
I snorted. “Yeah, because that’s how it’s gone with the Seraphim so far.”
Sam thought about that for a second before chuckling. “I was going to disagree, but then I remembered how I found out about you all being immortal. That wasn’t easy or simple.”
My mind flashed back to the day Ez had stepped in to separate the twins during one of their frequent fights. As sometimes happened, he’d been caught in the crossfire and temporarily killed.
Unfortunately, Sam hadn’t known about the ‘temporary’ part.
Oh, and he’d witnessed the whole thing.
“Technically, us dying is both of those things,” I said, “but given you didn’t know that at the time, I can see how it’d be traumatic.”
“Traumatic indeed.” He shivered. “Still have nightmares about it.”
I glared back at the house. “Maybe I’ll work off some of my bad mood with the twins in the ring.”
“You’re very sweet.” Sam patted my arm. “Is this what’s causing your bad mood, then? That you can feel your mate but can’t find them? Or is it the PDA that’s pissing you off?”
I grunted. “It’s a combination, I think.”
I didn’t begrudge them their happiness. Any of them. I was jealous.
Plain and simple.
Then, something very odd happened.
Sam was still talking. At least, I thought he was. His mouth was moving, his hands moving expressively.
But I couldn’t hear a sound. Not over the sudden roar in my ears. The pull, I realised. My wings flew open of their own accord as my mind screamed at me. Go. Go. Go.
Sam’s eyes widened at the sight of my wide white wings. His face paled as he gestured. I couldn’t hear the word, could only see its formation.
Go.
I didn’t hesitate.
I launched myself into the air. Like before, the thread was easy enough to follow. My wings clapped like thunder as I careened through the sky.
Faster. Not fast enough.
I sucked in a breath. I could use my lightning. We weren’t meant to use it unless it was an emergency, and even then we needed permission from Micah.
But this was an emergency; I could feel it in my bones. And I was one hundred percent sure Micah wouldn’t punish me for it.
Following my instincts, I curled my wings inwards and transported. I had no idea where I’d be when I arrived, only that it was where I needed to be.
My wings spread wide automatically as the blinding light ebbed away. My supe eyes needed no time to adjust. They immediately found my mate.
Seconds from death on the road below.