“Do you normally come to meetings armed to the teeth?” the smaller angel asked mildly.
Neil sniffed, flushing slightly. “We’re just concerned about Reid’s safety.”
I snorted loudly, causing both of the angels’ attention to land on me. “Well, if that were true, I’d say there’s a first time for everything. Good thing we know it’s complete bullshit.”
Micah tilted his head as he studied me. “Are you Reid Clarkson?”
“For my sins,” I said. “Let me be very clear that I do not consider myself a member of the Clarkson Clan, and haven’t done since I ran away at eighteen. The McCarthys have been kind enough to offer me sanctuary and protection. I’m here of my own free will.”
Micah’s eyes lingered on my hand. How tightly it was gripping Evan’s fur. “Interesting. Benji, were we informed of the fact that Reid left the clan of his own free will when the Clarksons approached us to mediate?”
“We were not,” Benji said. “The opposite, in fact. If I recall correctly, and I always do, the Clarksons claimed that Reid had been kidnapped by one Evan McCarthy and was being held against his will.”
Evan growled, his hackles raising. I stroked him gently.We know the truth. I love you. I want to be here.
“Why would ye assume they were telling you the truth?” Finn demanded. “We’ve always been cooperative with the Seraphim, Micah. Why didn’t you reach out to us?”
The Seraphim.Suddenly their presence here made sense. The Seraphim were God’s most elite unit of soldiers. One of their roles was to mediate and settle disputes among rivalclans of all kinds of supes. Given their base was in London, we fell under their jurisdiction.
Micah sighed. “That’s what this…meetingwas meant to be about. Given what we were led to believe, we felt it best to not reach out in advance, on the off chance that you were holding Reid against his will.”
Evan wasn’t the only one growling now, Calan’s bass joining his. Logan stepped forwards, fury etched into every line of his face. “You truly believed us capable of that? Fuck you, Micah.”
I froze. I knew Logan was reckless, but insulting an archangel? One who was part of the Seraphim?
He was insane.
To my surprise, Micah held up his hands in a calming gesture. “We always have to give these claims the benefit of the doubt. You know that, Logan. We wouldn’t be doing our duty if we didn’t.”
Logan bristled, but a glare from Finn had him settling.
“Well, as ye can see, Reid is safe and well,” Finn said. “Everything he said is correct. He’s here under our protection after the Clarkson Clan attempted to kidnap him, injuring one of our warriors in the process.”
“Interesting,” Micah said mildly, his gaze drifting to the grip I had on Evan. “Without being indelicate, can I assume that he’s emotionally involved with a member of his clan?”
Finlay hesitated before shooting me a questioning look. Evan didn’t move closer either, just stayed completely still. I melted, just a little. Even with a cabal of danger facing them, they were giving me the choice as to what was disclosed.
I lifted my chin, answering for him. “Aye. I’m in love with Evan, here. He’s my partner and I’m not leaving him.And I’m definitely not being married off to a complete stranger. Fuck that.”
From the horror that flickered over the Clarksons’ faces, they hadn’t been aware we were privy to that information. Neil’s nostrils flared as he stared at us. Logan smiled smugly, waggling his fingers in a patronising wave.
Both the angels tensed, Micah’s expression turning thunderous as he wheeled on Neil. “Wait,that’swhy you’re demanding his return?”
Neil shrank back. “It’s our business what we do with Reid. He belongs to us.”
“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.”
