Page 111 of Conflicted

Dimitri.

26

Nox

One second, I’d been staring down the business end of mine and Micah’s death.

The next, I was staring at someone’s broad back. A vaguely familiar back.

Dimitri.

Not just him, either. All around the clearing, various demons and humans were landing. Dagon immediately rounded up the humans and cast a shield over them. Three of them I recognised as the ones I’d helped escape Hell: Oscar, Bailey, and of course, Lucky. There was a fourth I didn’t know, but from the possessive way he was tracking the Grim Reaper, I was guessing he was Ferry’s mate.

The demons weren’t the only supes who’d joined us. A slightly crazed looking mage leaned up against the giant red-headed demon I knew to be Mori.

The mage raised his hand and the regents in the clearing froze. The penny dropped. He wasn’t justanymage, but a water mage, capable of draining the blood from any being, or freezing them still while someone else did.

That seemed to be the plan as Cal, Harlow, and Ferrywent behind each of the regents. Before me, I could feel Dimitri’s powers rising. He’d killed Lyle, but not yet executed him.

Judging by the power he was currently drawing up, that was about to happen.

“Wait,” Micah and I yelled in unison. Everyone froze, their attention turning to us.

“Don’t hurt them,” Micah barked, pointing at the regents.

Harlow huffed. “That’s no fun.”

Micah appealed to Dimitri. “They’re innocent, Dimitri. They didn’t ask to get caught in the middle of this.”

Dimitri nodded, making the other demons lower their daggers. The mage hadn’t released them though, not doing so until Mori, another son of Lucifer and presumably the mage’s mate, elbowed him in the ribs.

“Harlow’s right, this isn’t fun,” the mage muttered.

“So bloodthirsty, River,” Mori teased. “Don’t worry, I’m sure someone who needs torturing will show up soon.”

River fluttered his eyelashes at his mate. “You say the sweetest things.”

The regents sagged forwards as River released his hold, clutching their chests as their blood resumed its normal flow.

Damon looked like he was about to start an argument with the mage, but I didn’t have time to open my mouth before someone was slamming into me.

No, not someone. Micah. My little angel.

“I thought you were going to die,” he gasped into my ear. He was holding me so tightly that a couple of my ribs cracked. I winced but didn’t stop him; they’d heal in seconds. “Fuck, Nox. Don’t scare me like that.”

“I’m sorry,” I said huskily, burying my face in his neck. “I thought it was the right moment.”

Micah made a noise that was half laugh and half sob. “No, that was the worst possible moment, but it’s okay. I still love you.”

I lifted my head and leaned back so I could see his face. “Good. I love you too, little angel.”

Someone cleared their throat. I glanced over Micah’s shoulder to see Dimitri watching us, his lips quirked in bemusement. “I get why we aren’t executing the regents, but is there a particular reason for keeping Lyle alive?”

Dagon appeared at his shoulder, sneering down at the unconscious angel. “Eurgh, Lyle is the fucking worst. If anyone needs executing, it’s him.”

“No,” I said softly, my arm going around Micah’s shoulders as I twisted to face them. “This situation is fucked up enough as it is. If another arch is executed, fuck knows what the higher-ups will do.”

“Nox is right,” Micah said heavily. “We’re in enough shit as it is. As much as I hate to say it, we need to leave him alive.”

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