Page 119 of Alastair

A deep laugh rumbled in his chest. “Yes. That. I will make an effort to knock next time. You’re mated now.” He threw an arm around my shoulders and shook me from side to side. “My dearest friend is all grown up.”

“Enough.” I swatted him away but smiled as I did. “We should rejoin the boys. They’re expecting us for dinner.”

“Then, let’s go,” he said. “We mustn’t keep them, or the delicious food, waiting.”

Colorful lights greeted us as Michael and I returned to the island that evening. Strings of red, green, and blue lights had been hung around Baxter’s villa. Twinkling clear lights had been draped over bushes and wrapped around tree trunks. From inside the house, a decorated Christmas tree glowed.

“How festive.” Michael beamed before opening the door and going inside.

I took a moment to pull myself together before stepping in behind him.

When Raiden mentioned having a Christmas feast earlier, the suggestion hadn’t been because of Gluttony and his cravings. Raiden had realized this would be their last holiday together. With each other. With their mates. And he’d wanted one last Christmas for them to laugh, eat, and visit as a family.

“Lazarus Angel Boy McGee!” Clara exclaimed from the living room couch, cuddling against Sirena. A big red bow was on top of her blonde hair, the type meant for presents. “About time you joined us. We were about to eat without you.”

“Enough with that nickname, woman.”

“It’s Christmas. I can call you what I want.” The witch stuck her tongue out at me. Her flushed cheeks told me she’d gotten into the wine, though not enough to turn her into a slobbering drunk. It just made her perkier. Cheekier too.

“Room for one more, I hope?” Michael asked. “It smells incredible in here.”

“Of course,” Penemuel responded as he closed his laptop and stood from the recliner. The sight of him didn’t anger me nearly as much these days. Perhaps because after being tempted with my own desires, I somewhat understood what led to his Fall. He’d wanted freedom. “Raiden even let me help with the cooking.”

“And Pen didn’t burn anything this time!” Gray latched onto Penemuel’s arm and swung a bit. He wore an ugly Christmas sweater with a glitter reindeer on the front. An animated sloth—also in a Christmas sweater—rode on the reindeer’s back and carried a bag of presents. “He can do more than write books and eat bagels now. I’m so proud of him.”

Flashing an awkward smile, Penemuel adjusted his glasses and continued toward the kitchen, carrying Gray along with him. Mason met them halfway, and Gray moved from one male to the other. Just like the animal on his sweater.

“Greetings, Captain,” Dargan said once spotting Michael. The warrior, who normally kept a stern expression, smiled warmly. “You must try the eggnog.”

Human alcohol had no effect on angels. But adding ambrosia definitely made it more potent and could intoxicate us if we consumed too much. As the warrior was on his way to doing.

“Yes,” Evangelos, a warrior from my unit, said. He hiccupped. “It’s delicious.”

“Lead the way,” Michael told them. “I must try it.”

“Me too!” Nico said, running after the three of them. The young Nephilim also wore an ugly Christmas sweater, though his depicted a glittery Christmas tree with small puff balls attached to the branches to act as ornaments. The tree wore sunglasses and had the phrase “I’ll Jingle Your Bells” at the top.

“Absolutely not.” Titan grabbed Nico by the back of his sweater to stop him. “You’re not old enough.”

“I’m old enough to fight,” Nico countered. “I should be old enough to down some spiked eggnog too. It’s not like I haven’t done it before. Just ask the guys in the barracks. We have a good time.”

“Is that so?” Titan was unimpressed. “Remind me to order you all to run drills at first light. Perhaps that will teach you to behave.”

Nico pouted at him, then smiled before shouting, “Raiden? Titan’s being mean to me. He won’t let me have any eggnog.”

Sirena glanced at him over her shoulder. “Child. Listen to your father.”

Titan’s stern demeanor slipped. Being called Nico’s father brought a small smile to his lips.

“Food’s done!” Raiden called from the kitchen, then poked his head around the archway. “Everyone, come get ya some grub.” He grinned at Titan and Nico. “Is someone bein’ a tattletale in here? Don’t ya know snitches get stitches?”

Titan’s booming laugh sounded as he and Nico walked that way.

As everyone crammed into the kitchen, I glanced around the living room, then down the hall.

“Looking for me?”

I turned to see Alastair standing at the foot of the stairs. He must’ve just come from the second floor. Most of his belongings were still at the villa, with the exception of the few clothes and books he’d brought to the bungalow. More books than clothes.