Page 152 of Alastair

“Al?”Gray’s voice filled my head. His small body slumped to the snow.“I think it’s got me. I’m scared.”

“Don’t be scared, little one,”I told him, fighting the sharp, piercing ache in my sternum. I couldn’t breathe.“I’ll be with you soon.”

His big brown eyes held my gaze before closing. They didn’t open again. A light blue aura lifted from him before joining the other souls in the sword.

Bellamy was next. As he lost his strength and sank to his knees, Phoenix’s name formed on his lips. He grabbed the key around his neck before his head lolled forward. A royal blue mist flowed from him.

Raiden looked at me with tears shining in his eyes. “Looks like it’s just me and you now.”

My words caught in my throat. We had seconds left, and I couldn’t say a word to him. I’d never been good at goodbyes.

A tear rolled down his cheek. “See you again soon, brother.” Raiden thrust his sword into Lucifer’s spine before he, too, fell to the ground. As his soul was called from his body, the second to the last stone in the hilt turned orange.

For the first time since meeting them as boys, I was alone. I couldn’t feel them anymore. Couldn’t sense our mind link. It was as though they’d died and left me behind.

“How peculiar.” Blood dripped from between Lucifer’s lips as he was pinned in place by seven swords, all protruding from different parts of his body. He wheezed and met my gaze, his eyelids weighing heavier. “I’ve never felt so cold before.”

My skin itched, like something was poking at me from the inside. Searching for a way out.

“Lazarus.”I swayed unsteadily on my feet, the toes of my boots sinking deeper into the snow. I couldn’t tell him how I felt. I couldn’t tell him that I was scared.

“I’m with you,”he responded.

I sensed him approaching. My heart thrummed at that, though the beats had slowed considerably. Mustering the last of my strength, I plunged Night Fall into Lucifer’s chest. He jolted and spat blood.

“You… did it,” Lucifer said, breaths ragged as he stared at the blade.

“I did.” However, Pride took no joy from the victory. Not when so much had been lost to achieve it.

“I wonder…” Lucifer’s voice was barely audible. “Will I see… my Azazel… on the other…” His eyes shut, and his head drooped forward. The sword was still lodged into his chest. My brothers’ souls were preventing him from healing himself. He was so close to death.

But one last soul was needed to deal the final blow.

Unable to hold myself up anymore, I fell to my knees. Warm arms came around me from behind. And as I smelled winter apples, I emitted a small cry. I felt so weak and was only growing weaker. I turned my head to the side, meeting Lazarus’ watery gaze. “You’re… here.”

“I am. I’m not leaving you.”

I tried to smile but couldn’t. “Did I do good?”

“Yes,” Lazarus said as a tear slipped free. “You did so good.”

I slumped against him as my eyes closed. I felt so weightless.

And then, I felt nothing at all.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lazarus

The last stone in Night Fall’s hilt transitioned to purple. Alastair’s soul. The eight stones glowed brighter before there was a booming clash of thunder.

Lucifer was dead.

Silence fell over the battlefield. Upper-level demons vanished. Many of the enemy Nephilim fled. The only ones from Lucifer’s army who stayed were the remaining fallen angels. They stared at their fallen king in shock. But then, they began to leave too.

Purah slunk into the shadows, using them to escape. One of his abilities.

So be it. Let him flee like a coward. I didn’t care anymore.