Page 123 of Conflicted

Benji crowed suddenly, drawing all eyes to him. While this conversation had been going on, he’d been searching for something in the book. “Here. Article thirty-five, paragraph one, line one: ‘The mating bond is sacred. Fate’s decision is to be respected, regardless of who the mate is.’”

He slammed the book closed triumphantly. On either side of us, the Seraphim wore matching grins, thinking they’d bested the judges. But Micah and I didn’t share in their triumph. There was no way they’d let us just walk out of here. It didn’t matter what their laws said.

They had a point to prove. A message to deliver.

Sure enough, Gloria wasn’t fazed by this latest development. “Micah’s crime can be overlooked, but sadly, the same can’t be said for Nox’s.”

My stomach flipped as the smiles were wiped from the Seraphim’s faces. Micah’s fingers twitched, light glimmering around his manacles.

When he spoke, his voice was cold enough to freeze the fires of the river Styx. “You dare accuse my mate ofa crime?”

I had to give Micah credit—he couldn’t lie to me, but with everyone else he had the best poker face I’d ever seen. He knew damn well that I’d executed Emilio, as did every other fucker in this chamber.

But looking at Micah’s face, you’d never believe he knew that.

“Come now, Micah. We all know that Nox executed Emilio. After all, that’s why you were sent after him, remember?”

Micah lifted his chin defiantly. “What proof do you have?”

“All the proof we need,” the man to the left of Gloria said gruffly. “None of us wanted to get to this stage, Micah. But you’ve forced our hand.”

My mate switched his piercing gaze to the speaker. “How, exactly, have I done that, Ozias?”

“You were supposed to execute the demon, not bond with him.”

“Let’s not pretend any longer,” Micah said. “You all knew who Nox was to me when you gave me my orders. You surely must’ve known that I’d be unable to follow through, not with my fated mate. Therefore, we must deduce that this is the outcome you were hoping for. The question is why? Haven’t I been loyal? Obeyed orders? The scars on my back would suggest so.”

“Micah’s right,” Ezekiel said, the rest of the Seraphim nodding in agreement. “He’s been the best leader you could ask for. Treating him this way is despicable.”

“Are you forgetting the recent incidents you’ve involved the Seraphim in unnecessarily?” Gloria said. “Was it loyalty to us that had you leading your unit into Hell to aid the sons of Lucifer in rescuing a human who belonged there?Were you following orders when you intervened in that disaster in London?”

Micah stayed silent, but the Seraphim were anything but. Furious whispers were passing between them, growing louder with every word Gloria spoke.

“That’s before we even consider your most significant transgression. You led not only your unit, but many others, into Hell to intervene in a battle that hadnothingto do with us.”

“If Lucifer had lost, there would’ve been nothing to stop the demons leaving Hell en masse and going topside,” Micah said through gritted teeth. The Seraphim had stopped whispering now, settling instead for glaring daggers at Gloria. “I’ve already explained the rationale behind my actions, and paid the price for them. I chose the path that ensured the safety of the human race.”

“Right there is the issue, Micah. You don’t get to choose the path. You don’t choose the orders. We do. You are not to interfere in supernatural matters unless commanded to. You are not to alter the natural course of human life. It goes against everything we believe in.”

That was it. I couldn’t stomach her bullshit any longer. “Oh, so you expect angels to just ignore suffering? To let things happen that they know will cause anguish and pain? And there I was thinking us demons were the evil ones.”

Gloria bared her teeth. “Do not speak on matters you do not understand, demon.”

“That’s the funny thing, I think you’re the one who doesn’t understand.” My gaze swept pointedly over the angels surrounding us. “I doubt anyone in this room understands suffering quite as well as I do. It is, after all, how I was raised. Interesting that the same can’t be said for you. How is it that your belief system rests on just lettinghumans fuck everything up? I mean, what exactly is the point of Heaven?”

Ozias and the angel beside him began to sputter in outrage. Micah smiled, pride humming through the bond.

“Think about it,” I continued. “Demons are there to ensure the evil are punished and to tempt humans to the path of darkness. Where’s the balance? Surely angels should be rewarding humans who are just and true? Why aren’t they spending their days granting miracles or encouraging them to follow the light through acts of kindness? Isn’tthatwhat your belief system should be based on?”

“Enough!” Gloria’s voice rang out around the room. “This topic is not up for debate.”

I fell quiet, but not because of her. Because the seed had been planted. All around the room, I could see the regents whispering, eyes wide. Even three of the archs behind the dais had lapsed into a frenzied, hissed discussion.

Good. Let them ask questions. Maybe it would lead to a brighter future for other angels.

Gloria had reached her limit. “Nox, you are sentenced to execution for the murder of Emilio. Bring him forward.”

A beat of stunned silence rippled through the room as everyone waited for what would happen next.

---