Page 98 of Conflicted

I had to make sure the approaching angels believed he wastrulydead. That I’d executed him. The only way to do that was to drain his powers so low they were almost undetectable. He’d been running on reserves when I’d first arrived, so fortunately I didn’t need to do more than drain his blood and snap his neck.

With injuries now littering his beautiful body, Nox’s powers were struggling to know which area to heal first. I cast out my power to test whether my theory was correct. I sighed in relief when I felt the barely there pulse of power, buried deep within him.

It wouldn’t disappear entirely unless one of these archs used their powers on him, but they’d have to execute me first. Heaven wanted me to show how loyal I was? That was fine by me. The loyalty I was about to demonstrate would cascade through the ranks. A lesson about what happened when we were pushed past our limits. When we were asked to choose between obeying orders and following our hearts.

Nox had sent them a message, now it was my turn to do the same. I’d use every skill they’d taught me, every power they’d blessed me with in order to save the man I loved.

They’d shaped my body into a fearsome weapon, but Nox had shaped my heart. He’d reminded me of who I was beyond being the leader of the Seraphim.

And that man was one who’d happily lay down his life to protect his demon.

I stepped over Nox’s inert body, shaping my features into a mask of indifference. Three angels were approaching.No, I strained my ears. Four. There was another a few miles out and flying fast.

As the first three drew closer, my eyes narrowed.Juniper.Lyle, the leader of the unit, was taking point. Flanking him on either side were his second, Atlas, and another angel that I didn’t recognise.

I didn’t let my face betray anything other than mild surprise as they landed on the sand before me. “I wasn’t expecting company.”

Lyle’s condescending smile got my back up. He was a handsome man—or rather, he would have been if he weren’t constantly looking down his nose at people. “The higher-ups thought you might need some assistance.”

Bollocks did they. “And they decided to send Juniper instead of my own unit? How interesting.”

“It is, isn’t it.” Lyle’s smile widened. “Word is that the Seraphim aren’t the unit they once were, what with Dimitri falling and all. It’s made other units sit up and take notice, wondering if maybe there’s a chance for a change in the hierarchy.”

I knew exactly what change Lyle was hoping for. He’d made no secret in the past of how he believed his unit should be ranked alongside or above the Seraphim.

What was interesting was how the angels on either side responded. They exchanged a confused look, shuffling on their feet as though they were uncomfortable with what their leader was implying.

Looked like the rest of Juniper might not share the lofty ambitions Lyle seemed to be harbouring. I filed that away for later.

“Funny how rumours spread,” I said mildly. “They’re dangerous things too. They can lead to all sorts ofmisunderstandings. The kinds that start rivalries that lead to wars.”

I may as well have drawn a literal line in the sand and invited Lyle to leap over it. He stayed put, doubt on his face for the first time. My attitude was confusing him. He’d probably been expecting to show up to find me broken.

But I wasn’t broken. Not yet. Not while Nox still clung to his immortality.

“I’m happy to put this rumour to rest though,” I continued pleasantly. “The Seraphim are stronger than ever. In part due to Noah joining our ranks. I don’t know what you did to make him leave, but I owe you thanks. He’s quite the soldier.”

Lyle’s condescending smile was replaced with a snarl as the other two angels exchanged another significant look. “Don’t get too comfortable with him being there. He’ll come running back to me as soon as he realises there’s no better life waiting for him.”

Fuck.Lylewas the angel Noah had got entangled with?

The poor bloke. If I somehow made it through this alive and still in charge of the unit, I was taking him to a gay bar the first chance I got. There was certainly a better life for him out there, and I was going to help him find it if it was the last thing I did.

The fourth angel was almost here now, but I wasn’t worried. He was close enough for my powers to recognise his imprint. If nothing else, his arrival might distract the Juniper angels long enough for Nox and me to make our escape…especially knowing what I did now.

The other angels either hadn’t heard him or didn’t see the approaching angel as a threat, which made sense given who it was. I guessed it wasn’t only my loyalty being tested today.

“As you can see,” I said, waving my hand carelessly at Nox’s body, “no assistance is needed. I’ve already dealt with the issue.”

Lyle tried to peer around me but I sidestepped quickly. “Is there a problem, Lyle? I can assure you, he’s quite dead.”

He bared his teeth again. “Then you won’t mind me checking, will you?”

I stepped closer to him, stretching to my full height and letting my power surround me. “Are you questioning a superior, Lyle?”

Lyle sneered. “You’re no superior of mine, Micah. I’m a leader in my own right.”

“A leader in a unit that ranks below my own,” I reminded him. I rarely ever pulled rank, usually cringing when I was forced to. I wasn’t cringing now. I’d do whatever I could to guarantee Nox’s safety. “The demon is dead. I’m going to take his body to Heaven as proof.”

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