Page 35 of The Guardian (Dark-Hunter 20)
"Why are you being sent?" Jaden asked.
He gave Jaden a droll stare. "Since when does Noir answer to me?"
Jaden shook his head. "Who's going to stand at your back?"
Seth scowled at the question as if it baffled him. As if he thought Jaden was stupid for even asking it. "The same as always. No one." Finally, he looked at her and his features softened ever so slightly, as if he took comfort from seeing her there.
Then he returned his glare to Jaden. "Will you watch over her until I return?"
Jaden nodded. "I will."
He inclined his head in gratitude before he withdrew and locked the door again.
She turned back to Jaden as she tried to understand what was going on. "What's the Nether Wall?"
"It's the boundary between our realm and Thorn's."
"And why is that bad?"
Jaden snorted. "It's not if you don't have a soul. But if you do ... Thorn's vultures flay you for it. Mentally and physically. Guarding that wall, especially alone, is one of the cruelest things to do to someone. It's like hanging out a single piece of steak at a rabid dog festival."
While she had no doubt that he wasn't exaggerating, she had a hard time believing it would be hard for Seth after everything else he'd been through. "Crueler than having your mouth bolted shut?"
Jaden's freaky gaze burned her with its sincere heat. "Yes. Physical pain eventually stops hurting. It's the scars on the soul that never heal and never back off-those ride you with spurs. May the gods help him."
She knew the truth of that, which made her determined to help Seth any way she could. "Can you get me there?"
"Ah, hell no. Are you out of your mind?"
Maybe. Probably. It definitely wouldn't be the first time she had a moronic thought, and unfortunately, it wouldn't be the last. It was that kind of lunacy that had her here right now.
But it didn't change her conviction. "I can help him fight. Watch his back. You said it yourself, he doesn't need to be out there alone."
Jaden shook his head in disbelief. "And you will get him punished beyond belief if anyone sees you. Don't you understand, Lydia? By having you here without Noir's knowledge, he has all but declared war on Noir. If Noir finds out what Seth has done..."
"Why did he capture me, then?" Why put himself into more conflict with the god who hated him so?
"That is his job. He's supposed to capture anyone who comes here without an invitation. Then they are to be taken to Noir, who decides what to do with them."
She could just imagine what that demon did to anyone dumb enough to venture here.
By keeping her safe and hidden, Seth risked his own neck.
"Why would he take such a chance?"
"I have no idea. Honestly, I wouldn't have done it for anything. If I didn't owe him so much, I'd be handing you over right now." By the tone of his voice, she had no doubt he meant every word of it.
Thank the gods, he wasn't the one who'd found her, trying to help Solin escape.
Now, Lydia tried to understand what had motivated Seth to such stupidity. Yet for her life, she couldn't imagine why he'd risked his flesh for her-a nobody, an enemy-after all Noir had done to him.
It made no sense.
* * *
Seth took his post at the gate and widened his stance into his fiercest Guardian's pose. He dug the tip of his sword into the ground and rested his hands on the hilt. With any luck, the night predators would think twice about taking him on.
Though if the past was any indicator, they wouldn't give a shit. They would attack Noir himself. Anything for a drop of blood.
Here, demon, demons. Fresh meat. Come get some.
And all too soon, they would.
From here, he could see the tiniest bit of outline from Thorn's manor. It looked so harmless from a distance. But his one trip to it had tutored him well on Thorn's brutality. The ancient demon lord wasn't a bit kinder than Noir.
Bloody effing bastard. It hadn't been much of a fight, but Seth had done his best. Too young, too new to his powers, and drained from Noir's cruelty, he'd run there, hoping to find a haven.
What he'd found was a one-way trip back to Noir's lap ... and his fist. Apparently the two demon lords had made a pact that they wouldn't keep runaways.
Look on the bright side ... At least Azura wouldn't summon him while he was here, any more than Noir would. Given that lovely benefit, unlike Jaden, he didn't mind this duty as much as some of the others he'd been forced to do.
Yeah, it was emotionally grueling, but then so was life.
Even now he could hear Noir in his head. "You pathetic wretch. You're worthless. Stupid beyond stupid. Go stand at the Wall for a couple of nights. Maybe then you'll learn how to fight."
All in all, he thought he'd done pretty well, given the fact they were outnumbered twenty to one, and he was still drained by Noir and Azura's last feeding. Not to mention their latest round of Beat the Holy Shit Out of Him.
But what did he know?
And come tomorrow, he was sure Noir would beat him again for not having more information about the key he was supposed to find while protecting the Wall and doing everything else they wanted.
Yeah ...
They're not what you want to think about anyway.
No, he wanted to think about glowing topaz eyes that danced with humor and sparkled with fiery spirit. Of soft, long black hair. Of moist lips that begged him for a kiss.
Closing his eyes, he conjured an image of Lydia in his bed. Yeah, that was what he wanted to focus on. Much better than all the other crap he had to deal with. He could almost smell the warm scent of her skin. It actually banished the chill from the cold winds that blew against his armor, freezing him to the marrow of his bones.
"Seth?"
He opened his eyes as he heard the sound of her voice. Glancing around, he saw no trace of her.
It's not her. She didn't know his name. Must be one of the predators screwing with him.
"Can you hear me?"
He realized it was inside his head. "Lydia?"
"Yes. Jaden explained to me what you would be facing. I wanted to come and help, but I understand why I can't. I don't want to get you into trouble."
Those words touched him so deeply that it left him temporarily immobile. She doesn't care for you. How could she?
It was most likely true.
It's definitely true, you imbecile. Noir's right. You are the dumbest idiot ever born.
Only a rank moron would think for even a second that his captive cared for him.
Even so, he wanted to hear her voice. Feel her next to him while he waited for attack. "How are you able to talk to me?"
"Don't be mad, okay? Jaden restored enough of my powers that I could sit with you while you stand post."
He should be furious over that. Yet he wasn't. He felt strangely grateful. "Are you really that bored?"
"No. I just needed to make sure you were all right. I don't want to see you hurt."
