Page 138 of Guarded
The four sons and Mori’s mate circled Lucifer, while my friends came to surround me. Without saying a word, they’d put two layers of protection between myself and Lucifer.
There was an odd scratchy sensation in my throat as I blinked at my friends. Dahlia glanced back at me over her shoulder and her hand shot backwards. She squeezed my fingers, just once.
It was enough. Enough to convey that she understood. We’d all survived this place together, praying we’d never be brought back. Yet the three of them had willingly come here today. For me. Because they knew being here again would break me in ways that could never be repaired. They’d risked it all, along with Noah and all the angels on the other bank.
I had so many people in my corner, and I’d never even realised. I’d been tied to that table, ready to give everything up. Resigned to that being my ending.
But it hadn’t been. None of them would let it.
This feeling…it was something I’d only experienced with Noah. I hadn’t honestly expected it to extend to anyone else.
It was love. A platonic, familial bond.
I’d treasure it always, never taking it for granted again.
“I thought we’d made it plain that Jeremiah was under our protection,” Dagon said mildly. There was nothing mild about the withering glare he was giving his father. “Holding him hostage in Hell to torture him doesn’t seem conducive to honouring that.”
At my name, Lucifer’s head snapped around to face me. He snarled in fury, and I saw him note how many stood between us.
I saw the moment he decided it didn’t matter. This was Lucifer. He’d been wronged again. Humiliated for all of Hell to see.
It was evident who he believed was to blame.
He took a step towards me, his power rising like a tsunami. Horror filled me as I realised he didn’t care who was between us. He’d execute them all if it meant getting to me.
His power rose and rose. I couldn’t do anything other than snap my shield over those in front of me. My friends.
My family.
Across the river, there was a horrified scream, an echo of the one I’d let out a few moments ago. Noah’s realisation that he wouldn’t reach me in time.
I met his gaze across the river. I wanted my mate to be the final thing I saw.
I’m sorry,I tried to say with my eyes.We were so close.
But the wave never crested.
Instead, Lucifer froze. Not because he was shocked. No, this was some kind of magic. Nothing in Lucifer was moving. He didn’t blink. His chest didn’t rise or fall. His heart didn’t beat.
He was completely still, almost as though he was being held there.
The water mage rounded him, disgust dripping from his expression. It hit me then, what was happening.
The mage was controlling Lucifer’s blood.
Holy fucking shit. That level of power…I’d never seen anything like it.
I glanced back over at Noah. He was in the air, so close to the river that the flames were licking his feet.
Fuck. He’d been about to cross the river again. About to fall. He wouldn’t have been able to reach me, but he would’ve tried anyway.
With Lucifer now held in place by the mage’s power, he’d paused uncertainly. Micah shot into the air beside him and was frantically gesturing in our direction. If I had to guess, he was reassuring Noah that I was safe, that the mage had everything under control.
Noah didn’t advance, but he didn’t drop to the ground either. I nodded at him, promising I’d be there the second I could.
He nodded back but stayed where he was.
A twinge of affection flickered in my chest.Stubborn angel.
