Page 5 of Conflicted

I’d known for a long time that Dimitri would never be mine, but this was the first time I’d realised how high the odds had been stacked against us. Fate had never intended for him to be mine, yet it had allowed me to fall in love with him all the same.

Fate and I were due a conversation. Until then, I’d satisfy myself with violence.

With the angels involved, it didn’t take long for the tide of the battle to turn. Before I knew it, there was no one left for me to fight. No outlet for me to feed the chaotic emotions into.

The fighting might’ve been done, but the battle wasn’t over, not while Lucifer held the human mates of his sons hostage.

Dimitri landed beside me, whispering the plan in myear. I focused on the words, rather than the feel of his breath on my ear, the scent of leather and patchouli that seemed to accompany him everywhere.

Fortunately, it didn’t take him long to explain the plan and step away. I sucked in a lungful of sulphuric air, letting it erase the scent of him.

Like anything could do that.

I indicated subtly to the Seraphim, and we all fell into position. We created a barrier around the sons of Lucifer, stopping the other residents of Hell from going to his aid. His control would end today. After this, a new era of peace would dawn.

Even if that hadn’t been the reason I’d come down here, you could fucking bet it would be the excuse I’d give when questioned.

Naturally, Lucifer didn’t go down without a fight, but his strength was nothing compared to the united force we presented. Our shields combined had him backing down as he realised he had nowhere to go.

We were silent witnesses as Lucifer was manipulated into a deal by his sons. It was a relief to know they would now have control over him—another card in my hand when I had to justify our presence here to the higher-ups. All of them would prefer one of his sons in charge to Lucifer. This wasn’t quite that, but it was close enough.

A small commotion erupted by the gates of Hell. A group of higher demons had emerged, their shields held over three humans huddled in the centre.

The mates.

I turned away. This was one reunion I was happy to miss.

Ezekiel popped up at my shoulder. He didn’t sayanything. That wasn’t his speed. Instead he leaned against me, offering me his strength and support.

I drew comfort from it. I had Ezekiel. I had the Seraphim. I didn’t need love. I didn’t need Dimitri.

Even if that didn’t stop mewantinghim.

Rami joined us, wiping blood off his massive hands onto his trousers. “Why do demons make so much fucking mess?”

I rolled my eyes. “Perhaps if you killed them using your powers or a weapon, you’d be cleaner afterwards.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Theo said as he and Nathanial popped up. Both of them were in a similar state to Rami, covered in blood and dirt. They were identical in every detail, from their white hair to their startling lilac eyes. It was near impossible for anyone outside of the Seraphim to tell them apart. “We don’t get to play with them that often, so we might as well make the best of…”

Theo’s voice trailed off as his gaze fell on something over my shoulder. His mouth fell open in shock, the expression mirrored on his twin’s face. Rami, however, only glanced away for a second, before looking back at me in horror.

“What’s wrong?” I demanded, spinning at the same time as Ezekiel to see what had caused this reaction. “What are you?—”

My ability to speak was ripped from me. I wasn’t sure what was worse—seeing Dimitri kiss his mates with the heat of a thousand suns…

Or the black wings now sprouting from his back.

Ezekiel sucked in a quick breath. “Dimitri’s fallen.”

I rubbed at my chest, not answering.

“Micah, that means?—”

“I know what it means,” I snapped, finally findingmy voice. I shot Ez an apologetic look before stalking over to where Dimitri and his mates stood. Behind me, I could feel the other members of the Seraphim fall into line.

All of us knew this was the end. We’d seen it coming long before today, but knowing it was here?

It fucking hurt.

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