Page 93 of Guarded
I blinked away tears as I stared up at my mate. “How did you find me?”
“Nox,” he said, crouching down so our eyes werelevel. “He and Micah filled me in on some stuff. Stuffyoushould’ve told me, Noah.”
I closed my eyes and leaned my head on his shoulder. “I know. I have so many things to apologise for, but that’s at the top of the list.”
His hand rubbed the back of my neck and I almost moaned at how my muscles relaxed. “I don’t want your apologies, Noah. I want you to let me in. Now isn’t the time to talk about that though.”
“It’s not.” I opened the bottle of water and downed it in one before tearing open the protein bar. “Where’d you even get these?”
“Asked the bloke who let me in.” He chucked another of each to Atlas, who caught them gratefully. “From what Micah told me, I suspected you might need them.”
Heat burned behind my eyes at his thoughtfulness. “Thank you.”
“I told you I’d do anything for you, Noah. This right here? It’s the bare minimum.”
His lips brushed over my temple before he got to his feet. “Don’t worry, by the time I’m finished with you, you’ll know you expect and deserve so damn much more.”
From the corner of my eye, I could see Atlas’s jaw swinging open. He was probably wondering who the fuck Jem was, and how I’d found him.
Fate led him to me. He’s mine.
That was what I wanted to tell him. But now wasn’t the right time or place. Not with Lyle beginning to stir.
There was a feral gleam in Jem’s eye as he slowly turned to face my ex. “This will be fun.”
I got to my feet shakily, cursing at how weak my muscles were. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Jeremiah raised a brow. “Um, what are you doing?”
“Helping.” It took me two attempts to summon any power, but eventually my palms flickered. “You can’t hold him alone, Jem.”
“I don’t need to hold him.” Jeremiah stroked my chin and grinned. “You angels are far too nice and forgiving.”
Lyle groaned, his eyelids fluttering. Before they had the chance to open, Jeremiah slammed another wall of fire into Lyle. He instantly slumped back against the wall as death overcame him again.
“The trick is to keep them dead,” Jeremiah explained with a mischievous grin. “He can’t fight back if you don’t give him a chance to.”
Atlas and I exchanged dumbfounded glances before he asked the obvious question. “Why the fuck didn’t we think of that?”
Jeremiah chuckled, putting his arm around my shoulders and squeezing. “Like I said, you lot were raised to be nice. To respect your superiors and fight fairly. I, on the other hand, was not.”
Atlas snorted. “You’re saying you don’t respect Lucifer?”
“I don’t.” Jeremiah met his gaze levelly. “Why would I respect someone who rules through fear and manipulation? He doesn’t deserve my respect any more than Lyle deserves yours.”
Atlas’s lips parted in shock. My old friend was reeling from the truth Jem had laid down.
“Go rest,” Jem said, kissing my temple. “I’ve got this.”
I smiled at Atlas. “He’s right. We can handle it.”
“Um, not to be bossy, but I meant you too,” Jeremiah said to me. “You need to rest, Noah.”
He was right, but this wasn’t his problem. “I’m not leaving you alone with him.”
Jeremiah sighed, and Atlas smirked as he walked past us. “Good luck, demon. You’re going to need it with Noah.”
“Thanks, brother,” I muttered darkly as he vanished from the room. “Don’t listen to him. I’m a delight.”
