Jegudiel (Deadly Virtues 2)

Gabriel felt sick to his stomach. He had hurt Diel. He had done nothing but add to his pain.

Diel wore no shirt, allowing Gabriel to see every move his brother made, every twitch of his body. Diel’s muscles jerked as his eyes darted around the gym, over the people who hovered behind Gabriel. Then Diel’s gaze landed on Gabriel, and his head tipped from left to right as he studied him. Gabriel held his breath, unsure what an uncollared Diel would do to his own brothers … to him.

Diel’s eyes appeared different. Where the Diel he knew owned eyes that were always lost, lowered, averted from people’s attentions, with this Diel, those uncensored blue eyes were alert and searching, holding an air of confidence Gabriel had never once seen his brother exhibit. The muscles on Diel’s torso were taut and flexing as his lips tightened then widened into a dark grin.

Diel suddenly moved, a viper striking its prey, and Gabriel steeled himself, feeling his brothers and the Coven beside him ready for a fight also. But Noa swung around to face Diel just as he began to charge, releasing his hand and bringing her palms to his face. “Stop,” she said, and Diel stopped dead in his tracks.

Gabriel blinked. He couldn’t believe his eyes. In an instant, all Diel’s focus fell onto Noa. He threaded his hands around her back and pulled her close.

She had stopped him. Gabriel couldn’t process what he was seeing; shock rendered him motionless.

With his collar off, Noa had stopped Diel.

“Breathe,” Noa said, her soft voice cutting through the heavy silence in the gym. “Remember, you control the darkness.” She didn’t look back at them all but said, “These are your brothers. My sisters. They are not our enemy. You are in control. These are not people to kill.”

Diel’s head ticked as if he were fighting some inner conflict, but Gabriel could see by the concentration on Diel’s face that he was listening to her, as though whatever she was saying was the final word of God and he a chosen prophet.

Gabriel reared back in shock. She was reasoning with him. Without his collar to center him. Diel took a steady breath as Noa spoke. Then he used his purchase on her back to crush her to his body and brought his mouth to hers.

Gabriel’s eyes widened at the sight of their passionate kiss. Not soft or tender, but wild and without restraint.

Gabriel didn’t know this man before them. Diel’s hand moved to the back of Noa’s head, keeping her tightly pressed against him, unable to tear her mouth from his. Noa moaned, and Gabriel averted his eyes.

Diel had never wanted a lover. As far as Gabriel was aware, Diel had never made love to anyone. He had never craved sex or romantic companionship. But the Diel before him right now … it was like he was in a desert and Noa was a sparkling oasis offering him salvation.

“Someone’s got a girlfriend …” Bara sang behind Gabriel, and Uriel and Raphael laughed under their breaths.

Gabriel looked at Dinah. She was facing her sisters, but then turned back to Noa and Diel, who were finally breaking apart. Dinah sighed, and the glance she sent Gabriel showed him the concern she felt for her sister too.

Noa moved back beside Diel and rested her elbow on his shoulder. Her lips were red and swollen from Diel’s ravaging of her mouth. She smiled, lapping her tongue around her lips as Diel’s gaze became as hard as sapphire on the crowd watching him. He folded his arms over his wide, muscled chest but kept his bicep pressed to Noa, as if they couldn’t be severed apart.

“Surprise!” Noa sang sarcastically, that cold smirk morphing into a wide, provocative grin. Noa looked up at Diel. “Looks like they’ve been waiting for us.”

Diel cocked his head. Then a matching smirk to Noa’s formed on his mouth. Gabriel was frozen, paralyzed. He knew how to deal with all his brothers. He knew how to take on Diel—both sides of his torn personality. But he didn’t know what to do with this Diel. The one brimming with self-worth. The one with darkness practically a visible cloak around him, protecting every part of him.

But even in Gabriel’s motionless state, a glimmer of pride shimmered in his heart. This Diel looked strong. This Diel looked calm. This Diel looked like he had finally found peace with himself.

“Diel?” Sela broke from Gabriel’s side and walked a few steps toward his best friend. Diel watched him the entire way, a neutral expression on his face.

It was strange. Gabriel could still see the old Diel in the man before him. He could still sense the demon that had always lurked under his skin, but … Gabriel released a quick exhale in realization. With no collar … this was Diel and the demon. Consolidated. As one. Gabriel’s legs threatened to buckle when he realized why Diel’s eyes looked so different—there was no more torment in their depths. No more fear.