Page 12 of A Surrender Of Hope

“The guy was aiming for Razar. I had to do something,” she explains, and Jennings glowers at her.

“That asshole would have let you die, and you decided to be a fucking martyr for him?” Meyer shakes her head and glares back at him, crossing her arms over her chest, Nox’s massive shirt tenting her more petite frame, making her look adorable as fuck as she stands up to her friend.

“No, he wouldn’t,” she snaps and he scoffs.

“You don't know th?—”

“Yes, I do! He saved me from those freaky Wraiths and the Beastia that came after us while we were over the wall. He shoved me down the hill and would have died if his brother hadn’t shown up. I owed him, Jordan!” Jennings inhales sharply, his lips twisting as he struggles to understand Meyer's reasoning.

“You can’t heal the way we can. You should’ve never put yourself in danger like that,” he finally says, shoulders hunching in as a tear rolls down one cheek. If we’re being honest here, I’ve been jealous as fuck of these two Rangers. Their friendship with my girl seems so close and effortless, despite the tension from the Drakos boy listening to Elaine and not telling them about us being Demons. But I have to agree with what Jennings is saying.In my opinion, Meyer shouldn’t have left the castle during the attack. She should’ve been locked up safely in one of our rooms until we handled the threat. I know that makes me sound like a controlling bastard, but at least she would’ve been safe there.

“I thought…” He shakes his head and looks to Theo, who’s pushed himself to his feet. “We thought you died… like for real.” He tugs her into his arms and holds on tight. “I—Please don't do that again.”

“Okay,” she grumbles in agreement into his shirt, her hand awkwardly patting his shoulder, making me quirk a smile when Jennings fully relaxes into the bed.

Nox stands behind me, the tension radiating from him so thick I can feel it in waves. I know he’s struggling with another male touching her. Valen and I are getting away with it because we have a family bond, but Jennings and Drakos will be problematic for him. Clearing his throat, hands balled tightly at his side, Nox leans forward, voice low and gruff.

“I really need to help her. Her iron and blood sugar levels are low, and her head is pounding so damn hard it’s giving me double vision. I need you to get Meyer to my room while I go grab Elaine. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” I nod, moving forward just as Nox’s giant hand grabs my wrist and squeezes. Glaring at it, then him, I widen my eyes, wanting to know what else he wants. “Do not let her out of your sight,” he growls low, his magic lashing out around us as if in warning, and I purse my lips.

“If you’re having a problem with control, then you stay with her, and I’ll get Elaine,” I suggest, but he’s already shaking his head.

“No.Shewon’t listen to me.” He shoots Meyer a dirty look, and I chuckle.

“True. But isn’t that why you selected her as your mate?” I watch him carefully. I can see the frustration there, but alsosomething softer… affection? Yeah, Lennox may say he can’t stand Lemon Drop, that she drives him mad, and he wants nothing to do with her, but he’s a damn liar. The longing in his eyes is almost painful to witness as he watches Valen touch her, something we both know she won’t allow him to do so casually. Nox yanks his attention from her, looking down at me as he quickly schools his expression into one of indifference.

“I completed the mate bond to save her life; no other reason. Valen was splintering, and I could feel your pain. Even Razar was threatening to break. I couldn’t allow that to happen,” he clips out, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows hard, eyes flicking back to Meyer as if he can’t stand not looking at her for longer than a few moments. “You saw the damage Valen inflicted once she had a heartbeat again. What would he have done if I failed?”

“All right,” I agree, even though I know he’s full of shit. Sure, the thought of Valen causing even more destruction than he had is terrifying, but Nox didn’t do it just for us. I know that for a fact.

Demons are possessive by nature, to the point that it’s problematic. We covet what we believe to be ours, and when it comes to our mates… we get downright impossible to control. The fact that Nox is holding himself back, giving Meyer her space so soon after completing a mate bond, is a miracle, but one I’m grateful for. Nox and I butt heads all the time, but I can’t dispute he is the best to lead our Legion. There is no way I would be able to exercise the control he has if I were in his shoes.

“Twenty minutes, Creed. Not a moment longer,” he warns, and I nod, knowing his control will snap if I’m not in that room with her by the time he gets there. “I’ll tell Elaine that the boy is awake and to send a doctor.” Reaching down, Nox grabs the evil orange fluff ball and turns on his heel. He strides from the room, making Meyer’s eyes immediately snap toward him just as thedoor slams shut. She flinches, hand moving to her chest, rubbing her newly healed pink skin; I watch, knowing she’s feeling the distance growing between her and Nox. He needs to explain to her what’s going on before she freaks out.

“Where is he going?” she asks, making Drakos and Jennings stop arguing and turn their attention to her. Valen dips his head, whispering something I can’t make out, and she nods, relaxing a little, but her brow is still pinched.

“Elaine is bringing the doctor to check on Jennings, and I’m sure he could use some privacy. How about you come with us, and we can return when he’s cleared by the Doc? Nox mentioned a headache?” I say, knowing that will light a fire under Valen’s ass to get her back to Nox’s room as soon as possible. Drakos frowns, a concerned look marring his young face as he stares at Lemon Drop.

“Are you still in pain? I thought they could heal you,” he says, looking from her to Valen and finally at me.

“Nox can, but even he has limitations. His magic was fully drained after restarting her heart. He’s using every ounce of magic as it replenishes, and everything is healed except some muscle tissue and a few other non-life-threatening injuries. She’s still weak and needs rest since she doesn’t have the ability to heal herself,” I explain as Meyer shakes her head, moving to argue.

“You should go,” Jennings says softly, hand reaching out to grasp hers and earning a growl from Valen in response. “Regalis is right. I, uh, could use some privacy while talking to the doctor,” he lies through his teeth.

“But,” Lemon Drop whispers, looking at Jennings in surprise.

“Take Theo with you,” he adds, and I watch the Drakos boy’s shoulders tense.

“What? No, that’ll leave you alone; Theo needs to stay with you. Wait, can you come to my room? That way, we’re all together,” she suggests, and I shake my head, knowing that would only make Nox and Valen more impossible to control.

“You’re going to Nox’s room. I don’t think Jennings will be comfortable there; he still has some internal injuries he needs to heal. But I promise to bring you back here after you both rest,” I reassure her. She scowls at me, and I really hope she listens. Valen keeps shifting back and forth on his feet, and I’m worried he’ll scoop her in his arms and not allow her a choice.

“Take Theo,” Jennings says again, his voice soft and calming. Meyer frowns but nods as Drakos looks at me, anger and hurt clear as day on his face. I shake my head at him, letting him know he’s not coming with us, and I see the faint flicker of relief there. Not because he doesn’t want to go with Meyer, but because he can’t leave Jennings.

I get it. Meyer is his friend, and the trio has formed their own little family of sorts. Drakos is almost as protective of Meyer as my brothers and I are, but Jennings will always be his first priority, as he should be. Taking away the option of leaving with Lemon Drop helps relieve the guilt of not going so he can fight to stay here.

“I’m not leaving,” Drakos says, voice firm and resolute as Meyer and Jennings snap their heads in his direction. Meyer smirks when she catches Drakos’ eye and nods in agreement while Jennings looks like his head is about to explode.

“What? You need to keep an eye on her!”

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