# Read the first page of Clipped by KQ Watson

Read the opening of Clipped by KQ Watson free, no signup. A condemned angel loses his wings rather than forget his dead son.

- Page: https://uncovered.ink/read/clipped-kq-watson
- Genre: Science fiction
- Year: 2025
- ISBN: 9781069435606
- Read it blind (cover and title hidden): https://uncovered.ink/?b=9990000000045&s=read-page
- Buy: https://bookshop.org/a/125786/9781069435606
- Borrow: https://search.worldcat.org/search?q=9781069435606

## The opening

“It’s not too late to repent. You know that, don’t you?”

Zachary didn’t lift his head to look at his wife. He just counted the links that connected his wrist shackles to the chain around his waist. He had tested them over and over again, trying to find any weaknesses. Even in the Heavens, chains didn’t break.

“There’s nothing to repent.”

He gave the chains another tug. I haven't done anything wrong." "Please, I'm begging you, you don't have to go through with this." Gabrielle reached out and touched his hands. He wasn't a violent offender, and that meant there wasn't any sort of barricade between them. Just a pure white cell with soft walls, a round table, and two stools to sit on. Him. Her. A single door flanked by a pair of guards holding spears. Her hands were soft and warm, her fingers long. Her pale skin a pleasant contrast to his natural sun-kissed tan. The tension in his wings melted at the familiar way she ran her thumb over his knuckles. "We could try again—" Zachary ripped away from the comfort with a rattle of chains. The sudden movement put the two guards on edge. The glow of their white

wings intensified in warning. Zachary acknowledged them with a glance, then said to his wife, "I'm not having this discussion." Though it had been months since he had fallen out of love with her, he still had a single regret. He had to make amends for one thing remaining. "I'm sorry for saying you didn't care. Of course you did. You carried him for nine months. That was cruel of me to say. It's not who I am." Gabrielle lowered her green eyes to her empty hands folded neatly in her lap. "Thank you for apologising. I accept it." "I just could never understand why you didn't fight for him," Zachary said. "Because I was terrified," Gabrielle answered, the shine of tears in her eyes. "We were happy together. But, giving up my life? Falling?" "It's the right thing to do," he insisted. "And if it were Samuel's son?" Gabrielle asked. "Or our neighbour's child? Would you still be sitting here?" Zachary stood, and again the guards gave warning. "How could you even ask me such a thing?" The door to his holding cell opened and another guard entered. "It is time." Zachary looked upon Gabrielle, his wife, the mother of his child. "I-" "I'm sorry for your loss." She squeezed her hands together. "My thoughts and prayers are with you." Before the guards could escort her, Gabrielle made her own way out of the cell without looking back.

Zachary was staring into the face of God.

It was so brilliant he could see only pure white. He squeezed his eyes shut but still the brightness shone through. It was omnipresent. The face of God would not be denied. Tears slipped down his cheeks, but not because of awe or blessedness or filth. Not for mourning his once happy marriage or the position in which he now found himself. He mourned the truth. He was right. He knew in his heart and soul that he was right, and he was about to lose everything. He knew what was about to happen. He gritted his teeth and prepared himself. "Zachary, son of Ezekiel." The booming voice filled the ceremonial chamber. Zachary recoiled, certain the voice would cause his ears to burst. "You have been found guilty of blasphemy, of speaking against God. Such a grievous crime cannot go unpunished. But we are a fair and just society.

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