Page 141 of Guarded
I held his chin. “He’s not worth it, Jem. I know you want to execute him, but you can’t. It’s too much of a risk.”
Jem frowned down at the mess that was once Lyle’s face before looking back at me. “Oh, I know that. I’m not going to execute him.”
I sighed in relief. All around me, archs relaxed. It didn’t escape me that none of them had tried to intervene. They’d had faith that I’d be able to calm my mate. That Jem would pull back for me.
Jem’s grin turned sinister. “Doesn’t mean I’m letting him walk free either.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you planning?”
He popped to his feet and planted a smacking kiss on my lips. It was a complete turnaround from the vengeful chaos he’d been showcasing just a few moments ago. “Nothing that’ll result in any issues for you guys, don’t worry.”
I shot a questioning look at Micah, who shrugged. Seemed like he was happy to let this play out so long as Jem didn’t execute Lyle.
“Are you waiting for a particular reason?” Ez asked as he joined us, sneering down at Lyle’s corpse. Nox, Dahlia, and Darius joined us too, landing deftly and scowling at Lyle.
“Just for him to wake up,” Jem said cheerily. “Wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing him realise his fate.”
He came to stand beside me, tugging me against his side. “I love you, Noah, and I promise to treat you better than this piece of shit.”
I patted his chest and smiled. “Sweet, but I’m afraid the bar you’re aiming for is on the floor. Just acknowledging me in public is treating me better.”
Jem’s nostrils flared, and I thought he was going to go another round, but Ez was already moving. He pulled his foot back before booting Lyle in the balls with all his might.Myself and every other male in the vicinity winced and covered ourselves with our hands.
Ez glanced up to see us all staring. “Ah, can you all do me a favour and not mention this to Sam?”
“Usually, I’d use this information to extort you,” Nate said, dropping his arm around Ez’s shoulders, “but in this case, it’s well deserved.”
“Indeed,” Theo said before drawing back his foot and kicking Lyle in the same place. “There. Now I feel better too.”
I think there were several others lining up to have a turn, but just then, Lyle came to. His hand immediately went to his balls. “What the?—”
Lyle’s gaze landed on Jem. His position beside me. Our arms wrapped around each other. His lips drew back in a sneer. “A fucking demon. That’s your mate? Just when I thought you couldn’t get more desperate, Noah, you tie yourself to the lowest of the low.”
Now my temper was the one climbing. I took a step forward with a growl, and I wasn’t the only one. Several others drew closer, determined to teach Lyle to watch his mouth for once.
But Jem stopped us by raising his hand. There was no anger radiating from him, just a smug satisfaction that was echoed in the serene smile he wore. “I’m so glad you said that, Lyle. It’s going to make this all the better.”
He turned to Nox, Dahlia, and Darius. “Fancy grabbing a limb each?”
They didn’t question Jeremiah, just stepped forward and did as he asked. Lyle kicked and blasted his power, but that was when the archs stepped in. All of us covered him in a shield, containing his magic within it.
None of us would let him hurt anyone else.
As one, the demons took to the air. I realised what they were doing a split second before Lyle did.
They were carrying him over the river Styx.
They were forcing Lyle to fall. To become a demon. Something that would put him under the control of Lucifer. Not God. Not Gloria or her council.
Whatever happened to him now…they’d have no recourse. His fate was quite literally out of their hands.
Lyle started to scream and thrash, but the demons held tight. They held him even as he lost consciousness and his wings turned black.
They dumped him from a height of several feet. As Lyle began to awaken again, the sons of Lucifer, River, and Dimitri, emerged from where the gates had once been.
Lyle sat up, a horrified keening coming from him as he stared at his now black wings.
Jem smirked down at him. Even without magic amplifying his voice, I had no trouble hearing what he said to Lyle.
