Page 56 of Guarded (Hopeless Blessed #3)

Noah

I felt Jeremiah’s intent through the bond, but I wasn’t fast enough to stop him. He pulled out of my arms and shot to the ground. He landed on top of Lyle, slamming his head into the ground with a sickening thud.

They rolled a few times over the bones, with Jem ending up on top. He growled before letting his demon loose. His fists flew, hammering into Lyle’s face repeatedly. Blood and teeth sprayed as Jem’s fury flooded the new bond between us.

I could feel how far Jem was slipping. His demon was at the forefront, and he was letting him take control.

Fuck . It wasn’t that I cared about Lyle’s well-being, especially not after he’d almost executed me. In any other scenario, I’d perch on a rock and cheer Jem on. But we couldn’t execute Lyle. It put too many others at risk.

I shot down after him. Atlas and Micah were both shouting, trying desperately to get to them. But Jem had thrown up his shield, pouring all his power into it to keep them at bay.

“Let me,” I said as I landed. The two of them stepped aside. I could see them both facing the same conflicting emotions I was. All of us were enjoying seeing Lyle get the beating he deserved…but it couldn’t go further than that.

I put my hand against Jem’s shield. “Jem.”

There was no response. I wasn’t sure he even knew I was there. “Jem, baby. Let me in.”

I released a pulse of power. Not to attack, but to interact. Jem’s shield absorbed it before expanding to wrap around me.

Huh. Seemed that was a handy bonus of being mated.

With nothing between us, I rushed to him. Lyle was dead but not executed. Despite the vigour Jem was attacking him with, he hadn’t touched his power except to stop the others approaching.

I didn’t try and grab his arms. Instead, I stepped up behind him and laid my hand between his wings, right over his heart. Touching a demon or angel there was inviting death.

I wasn’t scared. I had complete faith in Jem. He was no more capable of hurting me than he was himself.

Mating bond or no.

“Jem,” I repeated, “he’s not worth it.”

Jem snarled, his pace not slowing. Lyle’s face didn’t resemble anything human now, but still he continued.

“Leave it,” I said quietly. “He’s not worth it. It’s just you and me, Jem. There’s no room between us for anyone else.”

I wasn’t sure how the bond worked exactly, but I tried to send my emotions down it. My serenity to counter his anger. Acceptance against his determination.

It seemed to work. His hands stilled, and he turned his head and blinked up at me. “Noah?”

I held his chin. “He’s not worth it, Jem. I know you want to execute him, but you can’t. It’s too much of a risk. ”

Jem frowned down at the mess that was once Lyle’s face before looking back at me. “Oh, I know that. I’m not going to execute him.”

I sighed in relief. All around me, archs relaxed. It didn’t escape me that none of them had tried to intervene. They’d had faith that I’d be able to calm my mate. That Jem would pull back for me.

Jem’s grin turned sinister. “Doesn’t mean I’m letting him walk free either.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you planning?”

He popped to his feet and planted a smacking kiss on my lips. It was a complete turnaround from the vengeful chaos he’d been showcasing just a few moments ago. “Nothing that’ll result in any issues for you guys, don’t worry.”

I shot a questioning look at Micah, who shrugged. Seemed like he was happy to let this play out so long as Jem didn’t execute Lyle.

“Are you waiting for a particular reason?” Ez asked as he joined us, sneering down at Lyle’s corpse. Nox, Dahlia, and Darius joined us too, landing deftly and scowling at Lyle.

“Just for him to wake up,” Jem said cheerily. “Wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing him realise his fate.”

He came to stand beside me, tugging me against his side. “I love you, Noah, and I promise to treat you better than this piece of shit.”

I patted his chest and smiled. “Sweet, but I’m afraid the bar you’re aiming for is on the floor. Just acknowledging me in public is treating me better.”

Jem’s nostrils flared, and I thought he was going to go another round, but Ez was already moving. He pulled his foot back before booting Lyle in the balls with all his might. Myself and every other male in the vicinity winced and covered ourselves with our hands.

Ez glanced up to see us all staring. “Ah, can you all do me a favour and not mention this to Sam?”

“Usually, I’d use this information to extort you,” Nate said, dropping his arm around Ez’s shoulders, “but in this case, it’s well deserved.”

“Indeed,” Theo said before drawing back his foot and kicking Lyle in the same place. “There. Now I feel better too.”

I think there were several others lining up to have a turn, but just then, Lyle came to. His hand immediately went to his balls. “What the?—”

Lyle’s gaze landed on Jem. His position beside me. Our arms wrapped around each other. His lips drew back in a sneer. “A fucking demon. That’s your mate? Just when I thought you couldn’t get more desperate, Noah, you tie yourself to the lowest of the low.”

Now my temper was the one climbing. I took a step forward with a growl, and I wasn’t the only one. Several others drew closer, determined to teach Lyle to watch his mouth for once.

But Jem stopped us by raising his hand. There was no anger radiating from him, just a smug satisfaction that was echoed in the serene smile he wore. “I’m so glad you said that, Lyle. It’s going to make this all the better.”

He turned to Nox, Dahlia, and Darius. “Fancy grabbing a limb each?”

They didn’t question Jeremiah, just stepped forward and did as he asked. Lyle kicked and blasted his power, but that was when the archs stepped in. All of us covered him in a shield, containing his magic within it.

None of us would let him hurt anyone else .

As one, the demons took to the air. I realised what they were doing a split second before Lyle did.

They were carrying him over the river Styx.

They were forcing Lyle to fall. To become a demon. Something that would put him under the control of Lucifer. Not God. Not Gloria or her council.

Whatever happened to him now…they’d have no recourse. His fate was quite literally out of their hands.

Lyle started to scream and thrash, but the demons held tight. They held him even as he lost consciousness and his wings turned black.

They dumped him from a height of several feet. As Lyle began to awaken again, the sons of Lucifer, River, and Dimitri, emerged from where the gates had once been.

Lyle sat up, a horrified keening coming from him as he stared at his now black wings.

Jem smirked down at him. Even without magic amplifying his voice, I had no trouble hearing what he said to Lyle.

“Enjoy your new home, my friend. I’m sure Lucifer’s going to love having an arch to play with.”

Jem leaned forwards, grinning widely. “That’s assuming his sons leave you with your immortality long enough for you to get a proper introduction.”

Harlow stepped forwards with a grin as Jeremiah winked at him. “He’s all yours, boys.”

Dagon met Micah’s gaze across the river. “We flew him over the river. Just myself and my brothers, got it?”

Understanding and gratitude flashed over Micah’s face as he nodded. He touched his chest in thanks as appreciation filled me.

Dagon’s meaning was clear. They would deal with any fallout. Not Jem. Not the Seraphim or Juniper. Them .

We all knew Gloria was foolish, but she wasn’t foolish enough to go to war with Hell.

Jem embraced each of them in a tight hug, giving his thanks. Then he was launching himself into the air and over the river.

Back into my waiting arms.

W e didn’t hang around to see what the demons decided to do with Lyle. As far as we were both concerned, he was dead to us. Locked firmly in the past, where he belonged. Neither of us wanted to think about him now or ever again.

We just wanted to focus on the future. On each other.

I couldn’t justify using the lightning to get us home.

We’d risked enough by coming into Hell; there was no point tempting fate any more than we already had.

If we weren’t hauled in front of Gloria and the council and asked to explain ourselves then I’d eat my hat. That was a worry for tomorrow though.

Once everyone assured us they could wrap things up without our help, we travelled back through the portal and took to the sky. We flew close, our wings brushing as our glances became increasingly heated.

We needed to be alone. To reconnect.

We landed on the lawn outside the house, and without saying a word, Jem swept me into his arms and marched for the front door.

A giddy laugh escaped me as I clung to his neck. “Um, what are you doing? ”

All my humour faded away as Jem’s hungry eyes swept over me. “Claiming what’s mine.”

My heart skipped a beat. I wasn’t going to argue with that.

He didn’t look away from me as he took the stairs two at a time. Not as he unlocked my door with a flick of power. Not as he laid me down on the bed. As he stripped me down, one piece of clothing at a time.

He’d never looked at me like this before. It was a combination of desperation, reverence, and awe. Each emotion echoed along the bond—unquestionable proof that he loved me as much as I loved him.

I’d never doubt him. Even without the bond, I wouldn’t have. How could I, when he looked at me like I was the most beautiful sunrise he’d ever seen?

We didn’t speak as he stripped off or as he prepped me. There wasn’t a single word exchanged as he slid inside me in one sure movement.

But there were a lot of kisses.

Our mouths didn’t part as Jem began to thrust. My hands ran up and down his spine, grabbed at his buttocks, stroked through his hair. My feet weren’t idle either, rubbing along his strong calves, my legs wrapping around his hips.

I couldn’t get enough of touching him. Was it because of how close we’d come to losing one another? Or was it a result of the mating bond?

Whatever it was, I hoped it never wore off. I hoped we loved each other this desperately for many millennia to come.

I’d always believed that I had a lot of love to give. For so long, I’d given it to the most undeserving person. I’d given up on anyone loving me back, especially not the way that I loved.

I’d never been happier to be proven wrong. Jem was worth all the love in the world. And how he loved me? It made it difficult for me to breathe if I thought about it too much.

I hoped I never got used to that either.

Jem groaned against my lips. “My Noah.”

I cupped his face, grinning softly. “My Jem.”

There was no rush to the finish. Time seemed to bend and flow as Jem moved inside me. Everything distilled down to how he was filling me. His muscled shoulders beneath my fingers. The distant sound of the bed hitting the wall. Our moans mingling as we slowly built towards release.

It was a beautifully sweet harmony, the bond an echo chamber of love and lust, want and need, desperation and relief.

We’d come so close to being parted, but never again. If one of us was taken from this world, the other would follow immediately. It gave me a level of comfort I’d never felt before. Jem was mine. He would always be mine.

Just as I’d always be his.

I came with his lips against mine, and Jem gasped, his hips stuttering.

I was completely unprepared for what happened next.

Jem’s pleasure flooded the bond, making me cry out again. My spent cock jumped as another mini orgasm washed through me.

“Wow,” Jem said, collapsing on top of me. “Just wow.”

I wound my arms and legs around him, clinging like a koala bear. “You can say that again.”

“Wow. ”

I laughed, planting a kiss on his neck. “I love how much fun I have with you. Not the near-death stuff, obviously, but the rest of it? I think our life together is going to be pretty awesome.”

He leaned his chin on my chest, grinning softly at me. “And if we ever think things are getting boring, we can always rob another museum.”

“Or attend a terrible poetry slam.”

“What about sitting on top of more monuments?”

“For sure.” I smiled down at him. “I can’t wait to do all of that and more.”

“All the rest of our firsts,” he said huskily. “We can figure them out and experience them together.”

I kissed his forehead. “I can’t think of a better way to spend eternity.”