Page 116 of Conflicted

The final wall wasn’t a wall at all, but spelled bars that only certain people could remove. Made of the same material as the gates to Heaven, they were utterly unbreakable. Nothing in this cell bothered me particularly, except the two things I had yet to look at. The things that threatened to undo me like nothing else.

I flexed my fingers, trying to steady the tremble.Emilio is dead. He can’t hurt you anymore.“I’m okay.”

“You know I can tell you’re lying, right? We’re literally bonded. Iknowyou’re not okay.”

My hands dropped into my lap as irritation overtook my fear. “Then why are you asking?”

Nox huffed. I pictured his scowl, the image bringing a smile to my face. “Believe it or not, I do have some manners.”

“Really?” I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall and wishing it was his shoulder instead. “I can’t imagine it. Give me an example.”

Nox’s amusement rumbled up from his chest, echoing into mine like a hug. “Okay. There was the time I wanted to rim you. I asked first. That was polite.”

My laugh didn’t echo off the walls. It was almost like the stone absorbed it, desperate for any sounds that weren’t born of terror or sorrow. “That’s true. You did.”

“And you thanked me.” Nox chuckled. “You put my manners to fucking shame.”

“Stick with me and I’m sure I’ll have you minding your Ps and Qs in no time.”

“I’m not going anywhere, little angel.”

Unless they execute us.I closed my eyes as my mood plummeted. It was like being on a rollercoaster. One second, I was riding high with Nox, the next I was falling into the dark reality of our situation.

As soon as the regents had mentioned Ezekiel and Benji, I’d known this was the only outcome. I wouldn’t risk the others. I’d spent my immortal life protecting them, existing to keep them safe.

If I was going to my eternal end, I wasn’t taking them with me.

I swallowed hard. What was going on with them all right now? Did they know what had happened? Was Ezekiel managing to keep the ship steady?

The darkness around me thickened.

“Hey.” Nox shuffled, like he was trying to get closer to the bars. Closer to me. “I’m right here, Micah. Don’t leave me now.”

I knew he didn’t mean physically. He was trying to keep me there mentally. To keep me afloat despite the relentless current trying to sweep me away.

I couldn’t find the words to answer him.

My attention had been grabbed by the heavy metal chains hanging from the ceiling, the ones I’d been so steadfastly ignoring until now. Of everything here, they were the only things that had any power over me. The ancient iron was moving slightly, taunting me almost. I had no idea where the breeze was coming from.

Maybe there was no breeze. Perhaps it was all in my mind. Playing tricks on me to torture me a little further.

At least they hadn’t hung me from them today. I shrank back against the wall, as though I might be able to feel Nox through it.

“Micah? Tell me what you need, little angel.”

I closed my eyes. “Distraction. Please.”

“Well, since you asked so nicely.” Nox’s words were light, but the current running through him was anythingbut. “Why don’t I tell you what I’d do if I was in there right now with you?”

My lips curved, relief filling me. Yes, this was what I needed. For Nox to take over. To make me forget. “Please do.”

Nox groaned. “Fuck, those manners of yours, little angel. They get me hard, and we haven’t even started yet.”

His lust had my own cock stiffening—a feat I literally never thought would happen in this room. “Are you going to get started? Or is this testing my patience going to be something I’ll have to get used to from you in future?”

Nox snorted. “I could lie, but it’s likely going to be a permanent feature in our relationship.”

I waited. “You didn’t say sorry.”

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