Page 67 of Conflicted

“Easy, Jeremiah,” Nox said warningly, stepping between us. “We’re not here to fight today, we’re here to help.”

Jeremiah’s nostrils flared. “They’re the ones being cunts, not me. Treating us like we’re nothing better than scum on the bottom of their shoes. Fuckers wouldn’t know real hardship if it smacked them in the face.”

Was that really how we seemed to them? It was strange, I’d heard almost identical words from Nox before, but they hadn’t hit me as hard as they did from Jeremiah.

I knew why, too. I knew all too well why I didn’t want them to think of us that way. Well, notthem.

Nox.

I didn’t want him thinking of us that way. Of me. Nothing could have been further from the truth, especially in terms of how I felt about him.

They were far from scum. Nox especially was nothing like I’d accused him of being.

Cruel. Selfish. Uncaring.

Nox wasn’t any of the words I’d flung at him, and from what I’d seen tonight, neither were his demonic friends. He hadn’t hesitated to help. He hadn’t worried about the consequences, knowing what we were going to do was more important.

But I had.

“You’re exactly what I’ve been raised to believe angels to be. Cold. Ruthless. Uncaring. You just take what you need while never thinking of others.”

What Nox had said to me on that rooftop rang truer now than ever before. It was yet another obstacle in our path; another reason why we’d never work. Because even if Nox decided he wanted me, he didn’t deserve me.

He deserved someone much better.

The realisation hit me hard, making me reevaluate everything I thought about myself.

Who am I? What’s the point in being this powerful if I’m not using those skills to help others?

That existential crisis would have to wait until later. Right now, I needed to make sure no one came to blows. “Nox is right. We have other things to worry about than fighting.”

“Nox?” Ezekiel’s voice was low as he crept around me, standing at my side. “That’s what you’re calling him?”

I rolled my eyes as the demon in question turned to face us. “Well, itishis name.”

Ezekiel’s gaze flitted between us. Behind Nox, I could see Jeremiah doing the same.

I tensed. Were they working out what we were to each other?

“Do you…do you two know each other?”

I froze, not knowing what to do. Nox, however, smirked. “No. I have better things to do with my free time than hang out with angels.”

My hand touched my chest.Ouch.Was that how he really felt? Was spending time with me a burden? Was he only doing so because of the bond?

Deep down, I think I knew that wasn’t true. But exhaustion was riding me as hard as the others, making my insecurities rise to the surface as my logic receded.

I should’ve known Ezekiel wouldn’t leave it there, but again, let’s blame the exhaustion. “Oh, really? So you won’t have a problem if I do this…”

Yeah, I was exhausted.

Which was why I didn’t even realise Ez had raised his blade before it sliced across my throat.

I died with the faint sound of roaring in my ears.

Idon’t know how long it took for me to reincarnate, but apparently it was long enough for Hell to break loose.

And when I say Hell, I mean,Hell. Nox was standing over me, flames wreathing him. All the other demons were on their feet, positioned between Nox and the rest of the Seraphim. Most of them were fighting, trying to get to me. Not all of them though; Benji and Grace were trying to be the voices of reason.

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