Page 101 of Alastair

Alastair’s question had seemed irrelevant at the time, but what if he’d been onto something? Lucifer said it would take more than the cursed sons weakening him to kill him. As Michael pointed out, a piece was missing.

And Mephistopheles might have that missing piece.

“Permission to speak?” I asked, interrupting one of Uriel’s rants.

“Please do,” Selaphiel said with a sigh, waving his hand at me. “If I have to listen to those two fight for another second, I’ll lose my mind.”

“Mephistopheles first told us about the cursed sons,” I started.

“Only as a bargaining chip to save his own hide,” Uriel said. “What of it?”

“Regardless of his reason for telling us, it’s because of him we were able to take action and ensure that the boys didn’t grow to become Lucifer’s weapons. Proof that his intel was credible.”

“You believe he knows something more,” Michael said, eyes narrowing in contemplation. “Something he kept to himself?”

“Alastair suggested it,” I responded. “He’s always been clever and highly perceptive, seeing things no one else does. I never once considered there was more Mephis might know.”

Raphael snuck back over to the table and returned with a croissant. “Even if he does know something, what makes you think he’ll tell us? He was stripped of his wings and banished to the realm of the lost.” He took a bite and released a happy little sigh. The pastry cream filling oozed onto his lips, and he licked it off. “The years of isolation would make anyone bitter.”

I thought back to when we visited him on All Hallows’ Eve. He had been bitter toward me, sure, but he’d enjoyed the boys’ company. Mephistopheles was lonely, as anyone forced into solitude for so long would be.

“It’s worth a try,” I said. “We have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

“I agree,” Selaphiel said. “I vote in favor of the idea.”

“Me too.” Raphael nodded.

“As do I.” Michael focused on Uriel, waiting for his answer.

For a moment, Uriel only glared. At me. At Michael. Then, he blew out a frustrated sigh. “Although I believe it’s a waste of time, go ahead. But I suggest you make it quick. While you run off to speak to the traitor, Lucifer’s army continues to march on the human realm.”

Michael and I then returned to the island together.

“Go wake your mate,” he told me once we’d landed. “I’ll inform the others of the plan.”

“Wait.” I touched his arm, causing him to turn back to me. “Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For believing in fate’s plan for me and Alastair.” Speaking such sentiments aloud made me self-conscious. “You are too good to me.”

Michael smiled. “As you are to me.”

“I’ve done nothing of value for you. As Uriel said, you’re always running to my aid. Yet, I never do anything in return.”

“I must disagree.” His smile turned sad. “The other angels see only my power, but you see me for how I truly am. You allow me to be myself in your presence.”

“An immature fool?”

A booming laugh burst from him. “Precisely.” He gazed up as birds passed overhead. “Uriel is an ass, but he was right about one thing: we need to do this quickly. Time is a luxury we don’t have.”

Alastair was still asleep when I returned to the room. I sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed my hand over his pale hair. His nose crinkled, and he pushed his backside more against me, wiggling his hips.

I smiled. Seeing him that way was a contrast to how serious he was around everyone else. This adorable side of him was one only I got to see—even if he was asleep and unaware of it.

I pressed my lips to his temple. “Wake up.”

One lid opened, then the other. “What time is it?” he croaked.