Chapter 96 The devil’s bargain

Chapter 96: Chapter 96 The devil’s bargain

A flood of light jammed through his eyes, making Noah squint and shield his gaze from the intense brightness. As his vision adjusted, he realized he was on a bed that felt deeply familiar—his own bed, with the deep masculine scent of Killian and the fresh vegetative aroma that always lingered around him.

Memories of the previous night flooded back. The exploration, the passion they had shared, the way it had ignited something deep inside him that he was now craving to feel again. But alongside those memories came another feeling—one directed toward Damian. For some reason, he was worried about him, could feel his fears inside his own chest. Not just fears; something was wrong with him. His heart thumped hard with anxiety for Damian, and that was when he remembered the mark on his neck.

As his attention drifted toward it, another realization struck him. He had been on the rooftop with Slyvia and had been killed. Yes, he had died. So how was he here? He immediately sat up, his sore ass protesting the movement, and looked around in panic.

Who had brought him back to his room? Was it his friends—the same people he had been desperately searching for? That thought excited him, and he began calling out their names one by one.

"Rose! Lamia! Is that you two?" he called out, still dressed in his purple pajamas. But no one came. No one responded. His excitement turned to worry.

"Rose, come on, talk to me if this is you!" he tried again, his voice growing more desperate.

As he was about to question the strange feeling settling over him, a soft voice called out from the shadows. "Must you call their names? I was the one who rescued you. So it’s supposed to be me, not them."

Noah began moving backward on the bed, his heart racing. It couldn’t be him. It shouldn’t be this madman. Why couldn’t he just leave him alone?

"I’m getting the fuck out of here," Noah declared, rushing to leave the bed. But he fell immediately as he tried, his legs too weak to support him. Cold hands caught him at his back, dragging him up from the floor.

"Take it easy," the voice purred. "Afraid of me? That’s valid. But don’t attack yourself and put yourself at risk when you’re trying to escape from me. If I wanted to do something to you, I would have done it while you were unconscious. Can’t you see that I’m harmless? I would never hurt my darling, my sweetheart—someone I have been searching for across nearly countless lifetimes would never be harmed by me."

Lysander’s face emerged from the shadows, revealing beautiful faint red eyes and long raven hair that fell to his temples. He looked like an Olympic god, dressed in pristine white and white. He carried Noah in a bridal style, placing him gently on the bed. Noah moaned in discomfort as his sore ass made contact with the mattress.

"What is that sound?" Lysander asked, his brow furrowing. "Is your ass hurting you?"

Noah felt deeply uncomfortable discussing this with someone like Lysander. "It’s my body, so I don’t think it’s your business to know," he snapped. "And it’s not that painful—it will disappear soon."

Lysander narrowed his eyes and sniffed the air. He immediately noticed the heavy scents on Noah—not natural ones, but the unmistakable marks of two moonlight alphas. His face sharpened with barely concealed fury.

"Did you sleep with the alphas?" Lysander demanded, his voice dangerously low. "The moonlight alphas? Did you do that, Noah?"

The question felt deeply offensive, and Noah glared at him with all the venom he could muster. "And if I did, what are you going to do?" he spat. "Try to kill them? Devil son or not, Lysander, you don’t control me. I don’t know you—as I’ve said and will continue saying—and never in my life would I let anyone control me. You either. So just fuck off and let me have some privacy."

Lysander Valmont’s face twisted with a pained expression as he clutched his chest. "Demon? Is that what I am to you? Because of what I am?" His voice cracked with emotion. "But I’m only trying to protect you. I only have your safety in my mind and nothing else. When I could have left you to perish, I chose to save you. That’s because I love you, Noah. I have loved you from the first time I saw you, and I will love you again and again."

For a moment, Noah was pulled in by his words. His eyes didn’t show deception—in those crimson depths was someone deeply in love. He could feel it, analyze it like a piece of himself resided within Lysander. It felt wrong, yet undeniable.

"How could you love me?" Noah asked, his voice softer now. "I thought you demons don’t love. And is this your real appearance? Aren’t you hiding your true personality? Isn’t all of this just glamour and fake?"

Lysander seemed pleased that Noah was at least intrigued. "It’s something I can’t show. You humans are just too fragile—my real appearance would make you all run away crying. So I wear this disguise."

Noah felt the words die in his throat. "I’m sorry you’re feared to the point of having to hide yourself," he said quietly. "But do you know you could take a different path? You might be the cause of this fear."

Lysander shook his head, unwilling to hear any sermon about changing. "Maybe I am," he said dismissively, "or maybe I’m not."

His eyes left Noah’s delicate lips and face, traveling down to his neck. He froze when he saw the mark. "What happened to your neck, Noah?" His voice was ice. "This isn’t supposed to happen. Who marked you?"

The whole room began to vibrate with his fury. "I said, who fucking marked you? Answer me, goddamn it!"

Noah shifted uncomfortably, his eyes widening at the reaction. Then he remembered—he had been marked. "Oh, the moonlight alphas," he whispered.

Lysander’s face contorted with rage. "They’re going to die. I’m going to kill them all. I have to kill them all."

He turned to leave, heading toward the door, ready to unleash his wrath. Noah scrambled after him, grabbing his hands and stopping him from going further. "Please don’t kill them! Please, I’m begging you. Don’t do that. I’m on my knees, please!"

Noah’s knees were shaking, but he pulled at Lysander’s arm desperately. Lysander stood rooted to the floor, torn between his rage and the pleading figure before him. His heart ached—they had marked Noah right in front of him, and now Noah was begging for their lives. He couldn’t hurt Noah, but he also couldn’t stand the thought of others laying hands on what was his.

"I have been watching you for so long," Lysander said, his voice thick with emotion. "Dreaming of getting my hands on you, of making you mine. And now look at you—limping, obviously having had sex with them. How could you, Noah? How could you?"

His eyes were glassy, but no tears came. Noah held his hands tighter, his voice breaking. "Please don’t touch them. I’m begging you."

But Lysander couldn’t agree. His body was consumed by a powerful rage. "I won’t agree. I’m not going to touch them—until you decide to leave them and become mine. Come to an agreement with me that you won’t see any other guy. That’s the only way I can relax or let them live."

The demand landed like a blow to Noah’s head. He looked around, confused, uncertain what stance to take. He blinked hard, fighting not to cry. His legs were wobbly, his ass throbbing so badly he craved a massage. As his head formed a decision, he thought of his missing friends. Lamia was still gone, and Rose was possessed by something dark. Everything was a mess.

"I have my own proposal," Noah said, his voice steadier now. "If I’m to become your partner—yours only—help me find Lamia. Drive out whatever is happening to Rose. I know you’re powerful, so I want you to help."

He didn’t know if Lysander would agree, but he had to try. To his shock, Lysander smiled. "Certainly, darling. I will do so. But I don’t need to lift a finger when my partner is the most powerful being—similar to a god. I will help you destroy the people that took your friends. Trust in me and just become mine—that’s all I need."

He slid his hands around Noah’s waist, cupping his jaw gently. "Are you ready for this partnership?"

Noah knew he should refuse. This wasn’t good for the moonlight alphas—they wouldn’t be happy. But his friends came first. They would do anything for him, and he owed them this much for not being there when they needed him. He had to challenge himself.

"I’m in," Noah said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Take me there. I want them destroyed."