Page 95 of Conflicted

Micah’s eyes flicked to the side briefly. “They’ll be fine without me.”

“But will you be fine without them?”

Micah faltered. It confirmed how right I was. Micah wanted to be with me, but he didn’t want to have to leave the Seraphim.

I didn’t blame Micah for it. They’d been his family for millennia. Leading them was his purpose.

Just as mine was protecting him.

Micah’s shoulders went down, his chin lifting. “It’s the right decision. You’re worth it. Being with you will be worth it.”

No, it really wouldn’t. With time, Micah would come to long for his old life. He might have hated the pressure on him, but he loved everything else, especially his brethren. That longing would fester between us, poisoning whatever love we might share.

I wasn’t prepared to put Micah in that position.

Cupping his jaw with my hand, I kissed him sweetly. “If I thought that was the case, if I thought there was even a slim chance we’d survive, I’d take off with you right now. This isn’t about me not choosing you, it’s about me saving you.”

“I don’t need saving,” Micah roared, his temper breaking free as his power hummed louder around him. “I need to be loved, damnit! Why is that so much to ask for?”

It was like he’d stabbed my heart. I couldn’t stand theagony on his face. I deserved his fury. I’d happily accept every drop of it.

But his pain? I couldn’t stomach it.

I caught him by his shoulders, hauling him to me roughly. “Idolove you, Micah.”

He froze, his breath catching. “You do?”

“Yes,” I said passionately. “Why the fuck do you think I killed Emilio, Micah? I did it for you, because I love you.”

For the first time, there was a glimmer of my little angel shining through. His shoulders relaxed, a small smile playing on his lips. “That’s a pretty fucked up way to show you love someone.”

I chuckled, leaning my forehead against his. “I’m a demon, Micah. What did you expect?”

“You shouldn’t have killed him,” Micah said heavily, the tension returning. “You had to know they’d execute you in return.”

“I know.”

“Then why’d you do it?” The frustration was back. “For fuck’s sake Nox, I’m fine.”

I pulled back so he could see how much I disagreed with that statement. “Fine? Wanna show me the scars on your back and tell me that again?”

“Scars are nothing. I’d go through it time and time again if it meant keeping those I love safe.”

“News flash, Micah—you’re not the only one prepared to risk themselves to protect those they love. That’s the whole point, don’t you see? I did this to protectyou.Because I love you.”

“No, you’re the one missing the point.” Micah was shouting again, more agitated than I’d ever seen him before. “I need to protect those I love as much as you do, and now I can’t do that.”

I squinted at him in confusion. “What do you mean? I’m sure there will be plenty of opportunities for you to do some self-sacrificing shit to protect your unit.”

“I’m not talking about my unit, you fucking idiot, I’m talking about you!”

Oh.

Oh.

“You love me?”

His head fell back in defeat, his eyes closing. The setting sun caught the lines of his neck. His jaw. His cheekbones. I committed them to memory, carving them in place on my black heart.

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