Page 12 of Alastair

“Friend.” I placed my hands on the railing and stared across the lake. The surface sparkled beneath the sun, and the water reflected the vibrant sky of blue, gold, and pink clouds. “Despite our many years together, you’re still my superior officer. My captain. First and foremost, that’s how I will always consider you.”

“Then as your superior officer, you must obey my every word, yes?”

I cut my eyes at him.

He laughed. “That indignant stare will forever amuse me.”

Truthfully, Michael was my closest friend as well. But admitting such a thing aloud would be insinuating that we were equals. And I was no equal to an archangel of his caliber.

“Uriel sent you,” I surmised.

The smile slipped from his lips. “He didn’t send me. I came of my own volition.” He turned toward the lake, mirroring me as he rested against the wooden railing. “The council of angels met earlier, as I’m sure you know.”

“I do.” The council of angels consisted of the archangels. Uriel, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and others, equaling seven in total. They made all the decisions and enforced the rules those in the celestial plane had to abide by. “I assume the meeting was to discuss my boys?”

“Your boys.” Michael expelled a breath, the edge of his mouth curving up as he did. “Aye. The return of Kallias has caused a divide among the council. Half fear that the cursed sons will become too powerful now that their link is no longer broken. They fear the power will go to the boys’ heads and they’ll turn against the celestial realm.”

“Nonsense,” I said. “I raised them better than that.”

“I know. Which is why I was on the side that said the other half were idiots.”

“You did not.” I fought a laugh. My insufferable captain was one of the very few beings who could bring up such emotions in me.

“Oh, I did.” Michael smiled too, raising his brows in the process. “If they don’t want to be called out for their idiocy, they need to use their brains. The cursed sons have been nothing but loyal to our cause. And whether the other members of the council wish to admit it or not, those boys are our only hope at defeating Lucifer. We need them.”

“Which side did Uriel fall on?” I asked.

“Selaphiel and Raphael shared my views. Zadkiel, Malachi, and Gabriel opposed us. Uriel stayed right in the middle, listening to both sides butt heads.”

“He made a promise to the boys,” I pointed out. “He said if they defeated Lucifer, he would allow their souls, as well as the souls of their Nephilim allies, into the celestial realm upon their deaths. The crimes of their fathers would no longer be placed on them.”

“They shouldn’t have been placed on them in the first place,” Michael said. “While I have no mercy for those who rebelled against us, I hold no ill will toward their offspring.”

“I take it a decision was made at the meeting? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have that expression on your face.”

“What expression? Are you referring to my dashing handsomeness?” Michael smirked again, then sighed as he drew serious. “Indeed. A vote was cast, and a decision was made. The boys will be closely monitored to appease the fearful fools, but no action will be taken against them unless warranted.”

“Monitored how?”

“Well…” Michael cocked his head at me. “I hoped you could help with that.”

“I have a feeling I’ll regret asking this… but how?”

“An angel will need to remain with them on a temporary basis. Someone to better watch their every move and have more of a role in their decision-making. I recommended you, given your history with them.”

“I’ve watched over them fine for all these years. I can continue to do so from here.”

“Yes, but now Lucifer’s army is starting to surface and attack humans,” Michael responded, the playfulness no longer present. “Watching over the boys from up high is not enough. Especially since your focus has been divided between them and commanding your own unit of warriors.”

“You wish for me to abandon my duty to my warriors to babysit the Nephilim in the human realm?”

“Not abandon your warriors, no. You’ll still be allowed to come here. But until the conclusion of the war, you’ll live with the cursed sons and ensure their loyalties do not falter. Oliver can oversee your unit in your absence.”

I thought over the request, not liking it in the least. “You know why I hesitate. Visiting them every so often to provide aid or pass down a command is one thing. But to stay with them… to stay withhim… for such a length of time… Michael, I…” My words hung in the air between us.

“An answer is not needed at this time,” he said in a much softer voice than before. “I’ll give you time to think it over.”

“And if I decline?”