Page 7 of Conflicted

Dimitri’s lips twitched, probably in shock. I didn’t think I’d apologised to anyone in…well, ever. “Apology accepted. Now, can we move past this?”

I knew what I should say, but Dimitri deserved my honesty as much as my apology. “I’d like to say yes, but…I’m not sure. Seeing you with them, it’s just…” For some reason though, I found my gaze wandering as I spoke. It was like there was a rope tugging my attention over to a small group of demons a few feet away. One of them moved, and my gaze fell on the man who’d just been revealed.

No, not a man. A demon.

The tug in my chest increased as a word began to repeat over and over inside my mind. I ignored it, speaking over it. “No. No…it’s not possible.”

My limbs moved without my consent, taking me straight over to the tall man. In some ways, he reminded me of Dimitri. He was covered in tattoos, silver piercings flashing in his nose, brow, and lip. There were marked differences though. This guy was stockier, more muscled. Where Dimitri’s dark hair was long, his was clipped close to his head.

None of that mattered. Not really. Nothing mattered other than the word now screaming to be unleashed. The pull that was taking me closer and closer to this stranger.

His amber eyes met mine and I felt like I was being undone and stitched back together all at the same time.This torrent of feeling wasn’t one-sided either, not judging by the way the blood drained from his face.

Whatever this pull was, he was experiencing it too.

I ignored the word. I had to. I refused to acknowledge it.

“It’s not possible.”

My hand lifted, still out of my control, and gently brushed along the demon’s jaw.

Warmth exploded where our skin met, making us both jump apart several paces. That word roared inside me. It pushed at my lips. Begged for release. Screamed at me to pay it any attention.

I wouldn’t allow it. I couldn’t. There was no way I was walking down this path. Not after the vow I’d just made. And especially not for a fuckingdemon.

“Absolutely fucking not,” I hissed, wiping my hand on my shirt, like that might somehow remove the memory of his skin under my fingertips.

The demon seemed to share my sentiment. “You’ve got that right. Not in this lifetime.”

He didn’t spare me another look, opening his wings and making his way to the portal. The disgust that had poured off him cemented my belief that I was doing the right thing. Angels and demons were natural enemies. Falling in love was forbidden. Dagon and Dimitri might’ve found a way around that, but that was because of who his demon’s father was. Heaven didn’t want to start drama with Lucifer unnecessarily. They might’ve won the first time around, but there was no guarantee they’d get the same outcome a second time.

Dimitri was staring at me in disbelief. “What was that? Is he your ma?—”

“He’s nothing.” I cut him off before he couldfinish that word. If it wasn’t said aloud, it didn’t exist. It didn’tmeananything.

My body betrayed my words almost instantly, hungrily tracking the demon across the sky. I watched him all the way to the portal, something inside me tearing as he stepped through and vanished from sight.

Only then did I allow my wings to spread wide and take me skywards. I meant what I’d said. That demon was nothing to me.

But accompanying the beat of my wings was that word. The one I wouldn’t acknowledge. The one I refused to say aloud.

Mate.

Mate.

Mate.

1

Micah

Igritted my teeth against the pain ricocheting up my back.Baby steps,I reminded myself, the same way I had every day this week.Steady and careful movements. You can do this. Archangels don’t show weakness.

Slow breaths through my nose helped. They stopped the room spinning long enough for me to pull my shirt over my wounds. The soft cotton brushed against my back and I had to bite onto my knuckles. The anguished scream became nothing more than a whimper when I finally let it free.

“This is what you deserve, Micah. I want you to remember that.”

There were very few things that could cause angels pain, and even fewer that affected those as powerful as myself. But a spelled whip wielded by another arch? That’d do it.

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