Page 77 of Guarded
“Fuck,” I exhaled sharply. “Why haven’t the council intervened?”
“Because they don’t know what happened. They have no idea that Lyle lost control and stepped over the line.”
“How is that possible?”
“Because Lyle was the one in Gloria’s pocket. Why would she believe Micah and Nox over him?”
I scowled. “It wasn’t just them though. There were regents there too.”
He snorted in disgust. “Oh, you mean the regents who defied Gloria and had to seek sanctuary with the Seraphim as a result?”
Shit. Yeah, I could see his point. Gloria and the rest ofthe council wouldn’t put stock in any of their words over Lyle’s.
“It can’t go on forever,” I said eventually. “The council will strip him of his position when it becomes evident that he’s not fit to lead. Fuck it, it could happen at this very conference if he carries on the way he was earlier.”
“I wish it were that simple,” Atlas said bitterly, a muscle jumping in his jaw. “If I could guarantee the safety of the rest of the unit then I’d sit back and watch it happen.”
Fear crept from the darkness to wrap its claws around my throat. “What aren’t you telling me, Atlas?”
“Lyle put everything on the line when he heard about the Micah and Nox situation,” Atlas said. “The council wanted to send the regents in initially, but Lyle fought for the honour instead. For him, Rowan, and me to do it.”
“Why not the whole unit?” I hadn’t understood it at the time, and I didn’t now. Lyle had to have known they were outmatched. Micah wasn’t just the leader because of his diplomatic and military prowess, but because his well of power was rivalled by very few others.
I was one of those few, but leadership had never been something I coveted.
“Ego,” Atlas grunted. “He hates that Micah and the Seraphim are more powerful. I think he believed that if we could take him in, it would prove that Juniper should have the higher ranking.”
“He’s such a fool.” I shook my head. “I’ll never understand how he was chosen as leader.”
“Obviously it didn’t work out that way. Partially because of your involvement, and because Rowan and I chose not to fight.”
That was right. Once I’d arrived and laid several hometruths at Lyle’s feet, I’d engaged him in battle to give Micah and Nox time to escape.
Neither Atlas nor Rowan had defended Lyle. Nor had they chased the fleeing arch and his mate through the skies.
“Thank you for that,” I said. “I appreciate you not stepping in.”
“We’re angels. That should mean we fight for what’s right, not what we’re ordered to do,” Atlas said bitterly, shaking his head. “Somewhere through the millennia, that message has got lost. There was no way either of us were going to attack Micah just for protecting his fated mate.”
His serious gaze locked on mine. “And we’d never attack you either. I don’t give a shit what unit you fight in, or what side of the line you’re on, you’re family. We’ll have your back any day of the week.”
Welp, there went my tear ducts again.
“Thank you,” I rasped. “Same goes, by the way.”
“I know, which is why I’m asking you this.” He sighed. “I don’t do so lightly, Noah. I watched what you went through with Lyle. I saw him break your heart over and over again. You walked away from everything you knew because it was the only way to save yourself.”
His voice broke on the final word, and he paused to take a steadying breath. “Asking for your help with this…it goes against everything in my heart and soul. It truly does. But I’m desperate.”
I twisted my hair around my fingers to try and alleviate the building anxiety. Once more, I thought of Jem, and how I wished it was his hand playing with it. If he were here, I was certain this wouldn’t be as hard.
You can’t rely on Jeremiah for everything. You’re strong without him.
I was. I wasn’t denying that.
But with him at my side, that strength was easier to find.
“Lyle told the council we refused to fight,” Atlas continued, his fingers gripping the stone so hard his knuckles were white. “He blamed us for Micah and Nox getting away and needing the regents to intervene.”
