Page 81 of Conflicted

I couldn’t look at him. My demon was clawing at mebeneath the surface, desperately trying to break free, to salvage whatever he could from this situation. It was strangely easy to keep him at bay. I think it was because I knew this was what was best for Micah—the thing that would enable Micah the best shot at the happiness he deserved.

“It is, little angel.” I kissed his forehead, lingering for as long as I could. A ball formed in my throat, so thick it was choking me. “Be happy, Micah.”

I didn’t wait for him to respond, releasing him and marching out the door.

I didn’t let myself look back. I couldn’t.

The whole time I walked away from him, I repeated my final words to him like a mantra. Like if I said it enough, I’d manifest it from thin air.

Be happy, Micah.

After all this time, I’d finally found my purpose. To make Micah happy.

And to do that, I needed to track down the fucker who’d hurt him. I’d remove him from the world with a smile on my face.

Then, if I left too as a result, I’d die happy, knowing I’d protected my mate. That I’d given him the best chance of a joy-filled future.

By removing myself from the picture entirely.

There wasn’t exactly an instruction manual on how to track down the being who’d hurt your mate. All I had to go on was that he’d received the lashings as some form ofpunishment and which weapon had been used. Thanks to my own time in Hell, I knew his scars were from a whip.

It had to have been done by another angel. Likely an arch, given the damage they’d managed to inflict on Micah.

As a demon, it wasn’t like I could just fly up to Heaven, knock on the pearly gates, and demand answers. Even if I’d been an angel, it was unlikely they’d give me the information I needed. I had to imagine that this bullshit was classified, given the Seraphim were apparently in the dark about it too.

That was the reason I also wasn’t banging down the door to the compound. Although they’d likely be able to help me, Micah hadn’t told them for a reason. While I disagreed with his logic, I wasn’t about to betray him. Not like that.

That left only one avenue open to me. One I wasn’t thrilled about taking. But if it meant helping Micah, I’d put my own selfish feelings aside and do it. I just needed to find him first.

Other supes were notoriously hard to track down. Humans though? They were a piece of cake.

I loitered under a tree on the bustling university campus, waiting for the lecture to finish. When it did, a surge of students rushed out into the grounds, their excited chatter filling the air. I ignored them all, looking for the one I needed.

When he appeared, he was thankfully alone. His dark hair was shorter than I remembered, and he certainly looked less tense than the last time I’d seen him.

Given I’d been helping him escape Hell at the time, that was to be expected.

I stepped into his path, aiming for a friendly smile. “Hi, Lucky.”

He paused for a second before his gaze narrowed. “Nox?”

I bowed mockingly. “The one and only.”

“Why are you here?” His voice was laced with suspicion. From his pocket, I could hear his phone vibrating over and over as someone tried to reach him. “If you’re planning on kidnapping or hurting me, you should know my mates are on their way.”

My smile stretched wide. “Perfect. Wanna grab an ice cream while we wait?”

I’d clocked the ice cream van parked on the road by the lecture hall while I’d been waiting for Lucky. We joined the queue of students waiting to be served. While we queued, I reassured the human that I had no nefarious intentions, just that I wanted to talk to his mates.

Well, one in particular.

Flame hit my shield as we drew level with the window to order Lucky’s ice cream. The human’s head whipped around as he glared at the blue-haired demon storming over with murder on his face. “Don’t hurt him, he’s about to buy me an ice cream.”

The way Dagon faltered was almost comical. He literally stumbled, his ire replaced with confusion.

To be fair, he couldn’t endanger me without putting his mate at risk thanks to the deal we’d made in Hell. I wasn’t about to point that out right now though. I was reckless, not stupid.

Biting back a laugh, I paid the man running the van andwaited patiently while Lucky collected his Mr. Whippy complete with two flakes and sprinkles. He hummed happily and gestured at a nearby picnic bench.

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