Page 148 of Alastair

“Breaking isn’t always a bad thing,” Lazarus said. “Sometimes it’s necessary in order to build yourself up stronger. But if you break and find you’re unable to mend those pieces…” His arms came around me. “Lean on me. We’ll shatter together.”

“If I fall, you’ll fall with me,” I said. “But where I’m going, you can’t follow.”

“Watch me.”

“An inflated ego is my thing. You’re supposed to be the levelheaded one who brings me back down from the clouds.”

He chuckled low. “A friend once told me nothing is impossible. I’d like to believe that’s true. Otherwise, I won’t be able to let you walk away from me.”

Finally, I faced him. Long pale lashes surrounded his blue eyes, and specks of gold swirled from the irises. I memorized every detail—smooth skin, white hair, a slight rosiness to his cheeks, and soft pink lips. His features blurred as tears sprang to my eyes. “You have my heart.”

“And you have mine.” Lazarus rested our foreheads together. “You always have.”

“Our love hasn’t been easy,” I said. “It’s been complicated, messy, and painful at times. But it’s also perfectly imperfect andreal. It’s the realest thing I’ve ever felt.”

“With Pride, you strive for perfection yet accept that we aren’t perfect.”

“That’s what makes it beautiful.” My soul vibrated, grew restless, as if it knew we were about to be torn apart. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I hugged him, wishing we had more time. “Iwillfind my way back to you. Because this between you and me? It’s the messy, all-consuming love I’ve always dreamed of.”

Lazarus grabbed my jaw in that familiar way of his. His intense stare made my insides quake. “Keep your promise.”

“Yes, sir.”

He rewarded me with a half-smile. “Good boy.”

Fuck if that didn’t make me melt. It made me break a little too.

With a small forward push of my head, I kissed him. It ended much too soon. As I pulled from his lips and turned my back to him, there was a high-pitched ringing in my ears. The lump in my throat constricted my airway. Every muscle in my body protested with each step I took away from him, screaming for me to return to his arms. To kiss him one last time.

But I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

“I love you,”Lazarus told me telepathically.

I knew he stared after me. I broke a little more.“I love you too.”

Lucifer stood at the front of the roaring battle, barking orders to his subordinates. He told the witches to find Asa. When one answered that another summoning spell that soon was impossible, his eyes flashed brighter, and the woman’s head exploded, bloody chunks landing on the witches around her.

“My king.” Belphegor touched his arm. “We—”

“You believe you can escape my wrath because we’re fucking?” Lucifer’s hard tone caused the other male to flinch. “Find my bastard of a son, or your head will be the next to paint the snow.”

Belphegor nodded once. “Yes, my king.” He released his large black wings and lifted into the air.

Lucifer shouted more orders to the witches. His composure had cracked, revealing the nervous desperation underneath. As my brothers and I neared him, his cold eyes darted to me. “You think you’ve won.”

“I know I have.” I stopped a few feet from him. “You know it too.”

“I’m the master of my own fate.” Lucifer stood proudly, his chin tipped up. “Neither you nor anyone else will change that.”

“Look around you.” I motioned to the dead bodies and then to the warriors still locked in combat. “Isthisthe world you wanted? One with chaos and death?”

“I only wanted freedom. At first.” Lucifer dropped his gaze to Light Bringer, gliding a finger along the hilt. “But then my ambition grew. I was the most powerful angel in the celestial realm, yet these weak-minded beasts called humans had more say over their lives than I did. It repulsed me. Why settle for freedom when I can rule? When I can force humankind to kneel to me?”

“You’ll never stop, will you?” I asked, hoping he’d see reason but knowing he wouldn’t. “You will burn the whole world down just to prove that you’re better than they are.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, my boy.” He smirked. “I’ll burn the world down just because it’s fun.”