Page 95 of Guarded
The brown-eyed angel frowned. “No. Why would it?”
I shrugged as Lyle died, screaming as he went. “Well, he’s your leader, after all.”
Dash gave a snort of derision, his raven-black hair flopping over his forehead. “Trust me, it’s been a few centuries since he’s behaved like arealleader. Cunt has this coming, especially given how he’s treated Noah in the past.”
I let a stream of fire burn away the gore that had been left behind. Another pile of ash joined the others already littering the floor as I considered my next question carefully. “How did he treat Noah?”
Dash’s eyes darkened. “Like a puppet on a string. Lyle would give Noah just enough affection and attention to keep him under his thumb before casting him out.”
I glared at Lyle’s corpse. If Noah weren’t in the Seraphim and under threat from Gloria, I’d take great pleasure in ending him permanently.
“I don’t think Noah realises I know,” Dash said softly. “Not all of the unit picked up on it, but I guess I’ve always been more…perceptive than the others. Noah wears his heart on his sleeve, so it was obvious every time it’d been broken…even if not everyone noticed.”
A pit of despair opened in my stomach. Noah had loved Lyle. He must’ve done. How could he have broken his heart otherwise?
Everything Noah had said to me in the early days of our relationship suddenly made sense.
“I don’t want someone to be mine just because fate says so. I want him to be with me because he loves me.”
“I always thought they’d be one and the same, but I guess I’ve been fooled once again.”
“I’ve been in a situation where I felt trapped, but the reality was that I was the one keeping myself there.”
“Because every time I fall, I break. Every. Single. Time. I don’t want that to happen with you.”
It hadn’t broken Noah though. He’d got out. He’d loved this male, but he loved himself more. Enough to remove himself from a situation he knew was toxic. It showed a strength of character that I was in awe of.
Noah is strong.
There were so many facets to the angel I was falling for. Noah was a lethal warrior, but he was also beautiful. Elegant. Not delicate—that was the wrong word.
A diamond, I realised. Impossible to break, rare, and exceptional. That was Noah.
Knowing his history with Lyle also shone a fresh light on just how deeply my actions had wounded him. Noah had loved someone who’d rejected him over and over again. He’d probably thought meeting his fated mate would be different. That I’d be the one person who wouldn’t reject him.
He’d been so wrong. No,I’dbeen wrong. Noah had had every right to those hopes and expectations. I’d been the one to fuck it up.
Suddenly, the grovelling I’d done wasn’t enough. That Noah had forgiven me so fast showed yet another side of him. One that wanted to love.
Noah sees the best in everyone.
Somehow, despite my past, he was determined to see the best in me.
Sat before the male who’d broken my mate’s heart, I vowed to never be like Lyle. To strive every day to show Noah how much I cared. That his love, if he chose to bless me with it, would be returned. That I’d protect his heart as fiercely as I’d protect him.
Noah didn’t need my physical protection, but it was becoming damn clear that he needed it emotionally and mentally. I’d been right in my summation that he was too pure to survive intact downstairs. Despite his sometimes prickly exterior, there was nothing Noah wouldn’t do for others.
Including his dickhead ex.
Noah doesn’t like to say no.
That was fine. I could say it in many languages. And for Noah? I’d happily sing it in all of them if it protected his happiness and well-being.
The door opened and I turned to see Noah entering. My grin was automatic, just knowing he was near, but when I noted the lack of bags under his eyes, the confidence in his stride, and the steady hum of power in his veins, it softened in relief.
Noah was rested. My demon retreated for the first time in weeks, but not fully—he wouldn’t do that until we’d put several countries between our mate and Lyle.
Noah greeted Dash warmly before settling onto the floor beside me. “Everything okay?”
