Page 54 of Conflicted

“It can’t choose for you either,” he said, finally meeting my eyes. “You don’t have to love me just because we’re fated. You don’t have to like me, care for me, or worry about me. You can go about your life and fall in love with the person youwant.”

I think I might’ve listened if not for what he did next.

Touching my arm, he kissed my cheek. “It’s okay, Nox. I’m never the person who’s chosen, and I’m fine with that. Fate can’t tell you what to do any more than it can me.”

Then he walked away, leaving me alone in the woods, my skin burning where he’d touched it with his lips.

“I’m never the person who’s chosen.”

Suddenly I was seeing everything through a different filter. Hearing my words through Micah’s ears.“I don’t even want you.”

He’d been rejected by the man he loved, only to find himself fated to me, a demon. I’d told him repeatedly that I didn’t want him and then, when I’d finally admitted to a desire to explore things, I’d made it sound like it was all because of the bond. Not because of him.

I was a fucking moron.

Irritation riding me, I kicked the tree Micah had been punching earlier. It gave up, falling to the ground with an almighty crash.

I glared at it. Stupid thing. Couldn’t it have let me work out some more frustration before giving up?

Well I wasn’t giving up as easily as the tree. I had no idea what I was going to do, but one thing was fucking certain.

I wasn’t going anywhere.

One thing I knew about Micah was how difficult it was to get his attention.

Last night, before everything had happened, I’d planned on knocking on the front door of the house and making a racket until Micah came out and faced me. I didn’t know what the other members of the Seraphim knew about us, if anything, but I also hadn’t cared. I’d been planning on leaving, and if them learning about me made Micah’s life a bit difficult, then I didn’t give a fuck. Obviously that hadn’t been necessary, given how he’d fled into the woods as I arrived.

Everything had changed now. If I was a secret from the Seraphim then that was the way it was going to stay. I no longer wanted to make Micah’s life difficult.

It seemed hard enough as it was.

Going up to the house wasn’t an option. I could have asked Quill to track down his number for me, but I suspected Micah wouldn’t pick up my calls.

Instead, I’d come up with an unorthodox plan.

Parked up on a road next to the compound, I whistled in time to “Hot to Go”while I waited. The crackle of flames around me added to the soundtrack, a delicious touch of irony that I hadn’t been able to resist.

Knowing my bike wouldn’t work for this, I’d borrowed Jeremiah’s car. He’d taken the news that we weren’t leaving yet well. A littletoowell, in fact. His smug, knowing look had had me wanting to smack him in the face. I would’ve done it if I hadn’t needed a favour.

I hadn’t told Jeremiah I was planning on setting his car alight while I sat in it, but it was fine. What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Thanks to my powers, the flames weren’t actually touching anything, just dancing over the car.

It was cosy. Reminded me of being downstairs…just minus all the rage and screams.

There was a loudbangon the roof, shoe sized dents appearing to the left of my head. I smirked. Okay, so maybe there was going to besomerage and screaming.

White light lit up the car as Micah attempted to battle back my flames. Turning up the music, I fought against him as I sang, refusing to back down.Not yet, little angel.

If I let him win, he’d leave before I could speak to him.

The car creaked above me as Micah’s weight left it. He dropped down next to my window, his face thunderous. “Nox, what the fuck are you playing at?”

“Oh, hello! You took your time. Come on, get in. We’ve got somewhere to be.”

Micah gaped at me. I wasn’t sure what had thrown him the most—my choice in music, cheery tone, the fact that the car was still ablaze around me, or that I’d told him we had plans.

I let the flames dim a little, smirking at him through the glass. Thanks to our supe senses, I knew he had no issue hearing me. “What’s wrong, Micah? Scared of playing with fire? I promise I won’t let you get burned.”

His nostrils flared. “I’m not scared of you.”

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