Page 1 of Alastair

Prologue

Alastair

“Cease your slouching,” my father snapped, shoving the heel of his palm into my spine.

I sat up straighter in my chair.

Lucifer took his seat at the head of the table and met my gaze. He slouched in his chair and winked at me. I did my best to hide my smile.

“Must you encourage him, my king?” Father sighed and sat beside Lucifer.

“Come now, Azazel.” Lucifer grabbed his hand and slid their fingers together. “He’s only a boy. Mustyouencourage him to grow so quickly?”

“He’s the son of a general, and I expect him to carry himself as such. I won’t have him tarnishing my reputation.”

“By slumping as he eats his evening meal?” Lucifer asked with an amused gleam in his sky-blue eyes.

My father’s resolve weakened as he held the king’s stare. Lucifer was the only being in existence who could melt my father’s icy exterior. He squeezed Lucifer’s hand. “Very well. If the king sees no fault, who am I to argue?”

“I am more than your king.” Lucifer leaned in closer. “Am I not?”

Father’s breath caught. “I… well, yes. Indeed you are.”

A smirk touched Lucifer’s lips as he released his hand and grabbed the goblet in front of him. His gaze returned to me. “Eat your meal.” His tone was gentle despite the shortness of his words. It was a tone he always used with me, never raising his voice—or hand—at me in anger.

Unlike my father.

“Yes, my king.” I cut into the juicy slab of meat, and my mouth watered at the explosion of spices on my tongue.

“Pardon my intrusion, Your Majesty,” one of the army lieutenants said as he entered the dining room, bowing his head. “Another son has been taken.”

Lucifer’s hand paused, the rim of the goblet nearly at his lips. “Which one?”

“Daman. The son of Asmodeus.”

“And Gusion’s key?”

The male hesitated, as if unsure whether to respond. “Also lost, Your Majesty.”

Lucifer’s eyes flashed a vibrant shade of blue, and the goblet flew across the room, the wine splashing against the stone wall. He sat unnaturally still, which only showed the severity of his anger. “What of the other children?”

“General Beelzebub’s son remains in Corinth with the mother, one boy is in Sparta, and the one possessed by Lust resides in a brothel in Gaul.”

“Tell Beelzebub to come to me at once,” Lucifer said. “You should be able to find him in the nearest tavern, where he’s drinking himself into a stupor.”

“Yes, sir. What of the other generals’ sons?”

“I will make arrangements to have them retrieved. We cannot allow Uriel to have them.”

“Of course.” Another tip of the soldier’s head. “Also, General Belphegor sent word. He has been searching for his son, Gradyn, to no avail.”

“So, there is no news on where the boys are being held?”

“No, Your Majesty,” the soldier answered. “Their life force cannot be traced. General Belphegor has every tracker on his force searching but has learned nothing. General Caim is doing all he can to find the boys as well.”

Lucifer’s jaw tightened. “Then Lazarus has placed them behind a protective barrier. A powerful one.”

“The celestial realm, perhaps?” Father asked.