Chapter 124 The demon scent.

Chapter 124: Chapter 124 The demon scent.

The shadow surrounding Noah and Lysander finally dissipated, revealing Oliver standing right on the other side of the entrance. His eyes immediately landed on the two of them.

And then he froze.

Lysander’s hair was slightly disheveled, Noah’s curls were a complete mess, and their clothes looked like they had both just survived something they definitely weren’t supposed to be doing in the middle of a corridor.

Oliver slowly narrowed his eyes.

With the way Noah’s face was flushed, there was absolutely no need to ask what had happened.

Something had obviously happened between them.

Noah, on the other hand, seemed determined to preserve whatever remained of his dignity. He straightened himself, lifted his chin, and pointed at absolutely nothing in the air as if he had suddenly remembered an important mission.

He didn’t even know what he was pointing at.

At that moment, he simply didn’t care.

"Where is Lamia? I want to see him."

Oliver stared at him for a moment before pointing toward the other end of the exit, the same direction he had been coming from.

"And by the way, Rose is awake. She and Lamia are both having a discussion."

The moment Noah heard that, he bolted.

He nearly made it outside before Oliver’s cough stopped him in his tracks.

Noah slowly turned around.

Oliver looked him up and down.

"You really don’t want to go out there looking like you just crawled out of the lost-and-found section."

Noah looked down at himself.

His shirt was crooked, his curls were tangled, and his pants were sitting slightly lower than they should have been.

Oh.

Oh, damn it.

He had completely forgotten.

Oliver shook his head and continued toward wherever he had been heading before, leaving Noah standing there with a look of pure embarrassment.

"Fucking hell," Noah muttered.

He immediately began fixing his clothes.

Lysander came toward him from behind, but Noah instantly raised a hand.

"Oh no, Lysander. I suggest you stand right there."

Lysander stopped.

He tilted his head in confusion.

Noah turned around to glare at him.

"I cannot believe I even did that."

His face grew hotter.

"Like, what the hell was I thinking? This is completely insane. I was in a corridor! A freaking corridor! And with a demon, too. How crazy am I exactly?"

Lysander’s lips twitched.

Noah pointed accusingly at him.

"Don’t laugh."

"I’m not laughing."

"You are."

"I’m smiling."

"That’s worse."

Lysander chuckled softly.

Noah groaned and ran a hand through his already messy hair.

"And you don’t even need to help me because the last time you helped me, you somehow ended up making things worse. You’d probably just get closer and seduce me again."

The thought alone made his face burn.

"Fucking horny man."

Lysander raised an eyebrow.

Noah looked away.

"Don’t look at me like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you know exactly what you’re doing."

"I usually do."

Noah nearly screamed.

He turned around completely, refusing to look at him.

"I don’t understand myself anymore. I swear I don’t. I know I should be able to resist you, but somehow I can’t. There’s something about you that makes it impossible."

Lysander’s expression softened.

He stepped forward.

Noah immediately held up his hand again.

"Stay there."

Lysander stopped.

"Did I do something?"

The innocent expression on his face made Noah’s eye twitch.

"You don’t know what you did?"

"No."

"Of course you don’t."

Noah covered his face with both hands.

"Fucking hell."

He dragged his hands down his face and stared at Lysander.

"You came right at me and touched my sensitive spot. You know that’s my weak spot! And somehow, after that, we ended up doing something I never imagined doing with you. And now you’re standing there pretending nothing happened."

Lysander sighed.

"I am not pretending nothing happened."

"Then why are you acting so calm?"

"Because I enjoyed it."

Noah’s mouth dropped open.

"You’re unbelievable."

"One of the best moments of my life," Lysander continued without the slightest shame. "And having it with the love of my life is something I wouldn’t change."

Noah’s expression faltered.

That stupid nickname.

That stupid sincerity.

It always managed to catch him off guard.

Lysander stepped closer.

"Come on, darling. Don’t be stubborn. Let me fix your clothes and hair."

Noah hesitated.

He really didn’t want to admit that he needed the help.

But looking down at himself again, he knew he couldn’t walk outside looking like this.

"Fine."

That was all the permission Lysander needed.

He approached Noah and gently began straightening his clothes. His slender fingers moved through Noah’s curls, carefully untangling them and restoring some semblance of order.

Noah stood still, though his ears were still burning.

Lysander’s touch was surprisingly gentle.

"Don’t worry about your frozen memories," Lysander said quietly.

Noah looked at him through the corner of his eyes.

"I know you can feel the connection between us. That’s why you let me get close to you. Somewhere inside, you recognized me even if your memories didn’t."

Noah’s expression became more serious.

Lysander continued fixing his hair.

"Give me a few days here in my cottage. As long as you’re with me, I’ll find a way to make you remember everything."

He paused.

"That’s a promise."

Noah swallowed.

There was something about the confidence in Lysander’s voice that made him want to believe him.

Before Noah could respond, Lysander leaned down and pressed a brief kiss against his neck.

Noah stiffened.

"Lysander."

The demon only smiled.

He continued straightening Noah’s clothes, adjusting the fabric around his waist and making sure his shirt was properly tucked. Then he lifted a hand to Noah’s face and gently cupped his chin.

His thumb brushed across Noah’s cheek.

"Now this is the face of an innocent angel."

Noah stared at him.

"Innocent?"

"Very."

"You are such a liar."

Lysander smiled.

"I’m done. You can go meet your friends."

Noah rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile threatening to appear.

He turned away before Lysander could see it.

His sword was still lying near the corner where he had dropped it earlier. He quickly picked it up and secured it before heading toward the exit.

This time, at least, he looked somewhat presentable.

The moment Noah stepped outside the cottage, sunlight immediately hit his eyes.

He squinted, raising one hand to shield his face while his eyes adjusted.

The peaceful scenery around Lysander’s cottage looked almost unreal after everything they had just experienced.

Then his gaze landed on them.

Rose.

Lamia.

The moment he saw Rose standing there, something strange crashed through his chest.

Relief.

Fear.

Happiness.

And an overwhelming emotion he couldn’t quite put into words.

Before he could even think about it, Noah ran toward her.

"Rose!"

Rose barely had time to react before Noah threw his arms around her.

"Oh, girl! You’re back!"

Noah pulled away slightly, immediately examining her face.

"How are you feeling now? Are you actually okay?"

Rose looked pale.

Her eyes were distant, almost as though she was still lost inside her thoughts.

Noah didn’t notice at first.

He was too relieved to see her standing.

Lamia, who had been sitting nearby, slowly rose to his feet.

He watched the reunion between them.

They looked almost like lovers who had been separated for years rather than two people who had only recently survived a disaster together.

Yet Lamia could tell Rose wasn’t entirely present.

Their earlier conversation had clearly left a heavy weight on her mind.

Noah, completely unaware of the storm brewing inside Rose, smiled.

"You look so thin."

He frowned.

"Come on. Let’s get something for everyone to eat. I have so much I want to say right now, but you need to take care of yourself first."

Noah was about to help her up when Rose suddenly caught his arm.

He paused.

Rose’s expression changed.

She leaned closer.

Then she frowned.

"You smell like lemon."

Noah froze.

Rose stared at him.

"And I know someone with that scent."

Noah’s eyes widened.

"Don’t tell me..."

She stopped herself and studied his expression.

Noah suddenly looked stunned.

For a moment, he had completely forgotten about Lysander.

Then the memories came rushing back.

The tangled clothes.

The corridor.

The way Lysander had touched him.

The things that had happened between them.

Heat rushed to his face.

He quickly shook his head as if physically trying to throw the thoughts out.

"It’s not what you think."

His voice came out far less convincing than he intended.

"I just... It’s my natural scent."

Rose’s jaw dropped.

"You smell like him."

Noah’s heart sank.

Rose grabbed his arm tighter.

"He’s a fucking demon, Noah!"

Noah blinked.

"Gosh, don’t do this."

"He’s not just any demon. He’s Lucifer’s son!"

Rose’s voice cracked with worry.

"And you’re an omega. Do you understand what that could mean? If something happens between you two and you end up carrying his child, do you understand the kind of chaos that could cause?"

Noah’s expression slowly changed.

Rose continued, becoming more frantic.

"You are a son of light and he’s the son of Lucifer. Do you know what kind of war something like that could start? Between the races? Between darkness and light? This isn’t some little joke, Noah. It could become disastrous."

Noah simply stared at her.

For several seconds, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Then disappointment settled over his face.

"Are you fucking with me right now, Rose?"

Rose went silent.

"Is this really what you have to say to me?"

Noah’s voice trembled.

"I was worried about you. I came here because I wanted to see if you were okay. I was scared something had happened to you."

He shook his head.

"And this is what you give me?"

Rose’s expression faltered.

"Noah, I—"

"No."

He stepped back.

"I don’t want to hear it."

He turned around.

Lamia immediately noticed where this was going.

"This just won’t do."

He stood between them before the situation could become even worse.

"We’re going to get food, just like Noah suggested. Then we’ll sit down and have a proper conversation."

He looked at both of them.

"Like the adults we are."

The statement would have sounded far more convincing if they weren’t all young enough to still be figuring out how to survive the mess they had created.

Noah scoffed.

He didn’t wait.

"That’s a bummer."

He walked away.

"I feel like I’m not needed here anyway. Maybe you can call me when you actually want my presence."

It was dramatic.

He knew it was dramatic.

But at that moment, it was exactly how he felt.

He didn’t wait for either of them to answer.

Noah walked away from the cottage, sword at his side and disappointment weighing heavily on his chest.

Rose’s eyes immediately became glassy.

She watched him disappear.

"I didn’t mean to, Lamia."

Her voice broke.

"I was just worried about his safety. Does that make me a bad person?"

Lamia turned toward her.

Rose wiped at her eyes.

"And after everything you told me, I just became more terrified. I don’t want something to happen to him."

Lamia sighed softly and pulled her into his arms.

"No. You’re not a bad person."

Rose leaned against him.

"You were scared."

"I hurt him."

"Then we’ll give him time to cool down."

Lamia gently patted her back.

"He’ll understand eventually."

Rose sniffed.

"I hope so."

Lamia looked toward the direction Noah had disappeared.

For a brief moment, his expression became thoughtful.

There was clearly much more happening beneath the surface than any of them understood.

And judging by the way Noah had reacted, this conversation was far from over.

Without saying anything else, Lamia guided Rose back toward the interior of the cottage.

The door closed behind them.