Page 2 of Guarded (Hopeless Blessed #3)

Saving Ezekiel’s mate did.

Watching Sam’s face as closely as I was, I saw the moment realisation dawned. When a plan clicked into place. “Zeke, stop.”

“What’s the holdup?”Was it just me, or did Gloria have the most fucking annoying voice ever? I understood why we couldn’t kill her yet, but fuck, I wanted to. “Ten seconds and counting.”

I gave a low growl, letting my power rise. If I unleashed it at the right moment, I could execute the soldiers before they even saw it coming.

But I wasn’t the only one with a plan. Sam turned to the twins, a cunning gleam in his eyes. “Nate, Theo, she didn’t say anything about you coming, right?”

They answered by pulling out their swords, matching evil grins on their faces.

Sam spun to Ezekiel, who was still trembling, his hold on his power tenuous.

The plucky human grabbed his mate’s face in his hands.

Most people wouldn’t dare approach Ezekiel with how close he was to losing it.

But not Sam. The trust he had in Zeke was absolute.

What must that be like, to have complete faith in the one you loved?

“Zeke, take a lap. You hear me? Take. A. Lap.”

Take a lap. That was what Sam had been making Ezekiel do every time he lost his temper. He’d forced him out into the grounds, to walk laps around them until he’d calmed down. If we got through today, it was a strategy I could see him using on some of the others.

The others being the twins. Maybe Rami. They were the ones most prone to fits of temper.

With those words, Sam stalked towards the boundary of the wards, the twins hot on his heels.

Sam’s instructions seemed to have worked. Ezekiel’s power spooled in tight, leashed once again. He assured Micah he was in control before turning his attention to the rest of us.

“Up to the boundary,” he barked, unsheathing his sword and letting his power crackle from his other hand. Now, it was clear who was in control of it…and it wasn’t Gloria. “She said I can’t cross, but like Sam said, she didn’t say anything about the rest of you.”

Game on .

The twins and Ezekiel already had shields over Sam, and the rest of us added ours in quick succession. I drew up behind them, falling into formation with the rest of the Seraphim.

I didn’t pay much attention to what happened next. I left the diplomacy and threats to the others, silently waiting for the moment when I’d be needed. My power was coiled tight. Once it was unleashed, there’d be no stopping it crashing through my targets.

When it became obvious that Gloria wasn’t walking away without a fight, Ezekiel joined us, pulling his mate into his chest. The sight caused both joy and jealousy. This was a man prepared to lose it all for the one he loved.

I’d never had that.

I mean, sure, that was technically what we were all doing. But we were being driven by loyalty. Love too, but not the kind Sam and Ezekiel shared.

Unless my fated mate made their appearance, it wasn’t something I ever expected to experience.

Ezekiel growled at Gloria. “You won’t walk away from this, Gloria.”

“I always walk away, Ezekiel. How do you think I got here when so many others failed?”

Yep, this was happening. Those closest to Sam and Ezekiel raised their weapons, while the rest of us dropped into defensive positions.

I readied my power, preparing to unleash it. I could end this before she even spoke another word. Before I could do so though, there was something tugging at me, stopping me. The hair on the back of my neck rose, my skin tingling.

Wait, my instincts were whispering. Wait.

Like all other supes, I’d been trained to never ignore my instincts. Gritting my teeth, I held my power tight and waited.

Four figures appeared from the shadows, swaggering forwards without a care in the world. A woman led the charge, approaching Gloria.

I didn’t hear what she said. I barely saw her, or the two others.

All I could see was him .

Bringing up the rear was a blond demon. His hair was cut close to his head, the sharp lines of his features making him appear as ruthless as he likely was. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, his jaw tight.

But it was his eyes that stopped me looking away. They weren’t on me. They weren’t so much as glancing in our direction.Like he didn’t want to see us.

He didn’t want to see me .

The knowledge slammed into me, sending me stumbling back. Blood drained from my face as the truth settled into my bones.

Jeremiah was my mate.

I was the one he was running from.

He didn’t want me any more than Lyle did.

“Fuck,” I whispered. “ Fuck. ”

All around me, I knew the Seraphim were shooting me looks. Looks of pity. Empathy. Shock. Horror.

They knew just as well as I did what this meant. I wasn’t getting a happily ever after like Micah or Ezekiel. I was destined to walk a different path.

Nothing would be different. I wasn’t being chosen or chased.

I was being ignored.

Still, I couldn’t look away from Jeremiah. My mate. From the delicate bloom of colour that dusted his cheekbones at my words. From how he stiffened, like he was stopping himself from running again.

The bottom of my stomach fell out. He knew, just as I did. He was feeling this pull. He knew I was his mate.

And he wouldn’t even acknowledge me.

Look at me, I wanted to scream. To demand. Fucking look at me, you coward!

Conversation was flowing, but I didn’t hear a word.

Not until Jeremiah cleared his throat. His gaze flicked up, seeking mine out almost instinctively.

His amber eyes held mine for barely a second before they darted away.

It wasn’t long, but it was enough. Enough for me to know he was meant to be mine.

But that he didn’t want it.

Fuck, how I hated him for that.

Then he spoke. “The two are bonded. This is just a fucked-up power play that’s wasting everyone’s time.”

I didn’t understand what he said—I’d been too busy spiralling to keep up. But his voice… His voice. It pulled at me, a physical tug in my chest. I was lurching before I could stop myself,a whimper falling from my lips.

He doesn’t want you. I forced myself to still. I was making a fucking fool of myself.

A fact that was compounded by Jeremiah’s complete lack of response to my reaction. He didn’t so much as glance in my direction again.

I didn’t exist to him.

I was barely present as the Seraphim finished up with Gloria. I didn’t even know how it happened, just that she was leaving, the soldiers with her.

It was a good thing no blood had been spilled, because I’m not sure how useful I would’ve been. All my energy was focused onhim . My mate .

The demon who wouldn’t so much as look at me.

I wasn’t scared. I’d look at him, alright. I’d memorise every line of him. How the sun caught on the gold in his hair. The shadows under his eyes. The tattoo poking out from under his right sleeve. How his right arm drifted over the wicked blade at his side.

I gobbled up every detail, trying to figure out why this man was meant to be mine. He was nothing like Lyle.

Well, I guessed they had one thing in common. Neither of them wanted me.

I memorised everything about him, knowing this was likely the only opportunity I’d have to do so. It was as clear as fucking day that he was going to take off as soon as we were done. That he was going to run far away, just so he didn’t have to face this.

Face me .

I fucking hated him. I did. He knew nothing about me. Nothing. Yet, somehow, he’d decided he knew better than fate.

If that was how he felt, then fine. Fuck him. I didn’t need that attitude in my life. Been there, done that, got the broken heart to show for it.

It was only when they crossed our wards that I dragged my gaze from him. I’d seen enough now.

Jeremiah was nothing more than an idea of what might’ve been. A concept to live in my memories. Nowhere else. I wouldn’t let this knowledge taunt me. I wouldn’t let it keep me up at night.

He wasn’t worth it. If he thought so little of being my mate that he didn’t even want to introduce himself, he wasn’t worthy of me. Of my energy. Certainly not my heart.

Still, as I broke away from a conversation with Benji, he was the first thing I saw. My eyes sought him out before I could stop myself.

I froze mid-step as we stared at each other. As I memorised the shock in his eyes. How his throat bobbed as he swallowed. The tremble in his hands.

I couldn’t help it. The pull in my chest was too strong. Every instinct was pleading with me, begging me to go to him.

I took a step. A single step.

Jeremiah took one too. But not towards me.

Away from me.

I froze once again, everything playing out in slow motion. The shake of Jeremiah’s head. The pain in his eyes as he silently mouthed one word.

Sorry.

I didn’t even know him, but that didn’t stop a crack forming in my heart as he took to the skies. Didn’t stop me tracking him until he was out of sight.

He didn’t look back. Not once.

I bunched my hands at my sides, willing myself not to break. I’d been through this hell before and walked out the other side. I could do it again.

Massive arms encircled me, pulling me into a tight hug. Rami. I leaned into his warmth. At least this time, I wouldn’t be going through it alone.

More people joined us, including Nox and the other demons. But it was Ezekiel who spoke first. “I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologising?” I tried to stop my voice from shaking as I pulled out of Rami’s arms and faced them. I failed. “You’re not the one who looked at me and thought nah .”

“It’s not like that,” Nox said quickly. “It’s not personal, anyway. Jeremiah…he’s fucked up. Just like the rest of us. If you give him a chance?—”

The crack in my heart iced over. Give him a chance? With the greatest respect, Nox could jog on.

“No.” I cut him off coldly. “I spent far too long chasing after one man who didn’t want me. There’s no fucking way I’m doing it again.”

With that, I stalked back towards the house.

Hell would freeze over before I gave Jeremiah a chance. Never again would I chase after someone who was running from me. Never again would I debase myself to win someone over. Never again would I open my heart to someone who didn’t deserve it.

Jeremiah had made his choice.

I was dead to him, so he was dead to me.

And that was how it was going to stay.