Page 161 of Alastair

“Consider it my payment for my impeccable delivery services.” His expression turned a bit more serious. “Two were opposed to your fated mate bond with Alastair.”

“Oh, I can only wonder who one of them was.”

“Uriel actually sided with you this time,” Michael countered. “I believe seeing the cursed sons sacrifice themselves changed his mindset, if only a little. He now sees that they aren’t their fathers. It will take more time for him to come around, but I have faith he will. Eventually.”

I kept my gaze on the pastry. “So I’m no longer forbidden from loving Alastair?”

He lightly bumped my arm. “Rid yourself of these nerves, my friend. All is well. You and Pride are free to move forward with the mating ceremony. Has the date been set?”

“We were waiting for the council’s decision before setting one.”

“Then, I suggest you return to him and discuss it.” His smile returned. “Arrangements must be made. Decorations, the menu, and of course, you need proper attire, as do I if I’m going to be… what do the humans call it, your best man?”

I faced him. “Actually, if you’d be so inclined, I’d like you to officiate. Both the wedding and the ritual to bind our souls.” My face heated. Was I overstepping by asking him? “But only if you—”

His big hand landed on my shoulder. “Say nothing more. I would be honored to.”

“Thank you, my friend.”

“I quite enjoy hearing you call me that.” Michael glided his fingers through the top of the water in the basin. “Not long ago, you still viewed me as your superior.”

“I still do. Always will.” I smiled at the bundle in my hand. “Yet, if loving Alastair has taught me anything, it’s that we must tell those we care about how we feel. Sooner rather than later. Even those of us with immortal lives can waste so many years by not doing so.”

“Speaking of wasted years…” Michael’s chestnut eyes shifted back to me. “I spoke to the council about Mephistopheles.”

“And?”

“Uriel was opposed to lifting his banishment. However, given how his information led us to victory, Uriel was outvoted.” Michael snickered at that. “Gods, the sneer on his face will make me laugh for days to come.”

“So Mephis will be allowed to leave the realm of the lost?” I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about it. The fallen angel had helped us, but it had been for his own selfish reasons. Yet, his loneliness had been palpable. No one deserved his fate. And all those years ago, he had allowed me to stash Kallias’ soul in his realm, proving there was good still inside him.

“On a trial basis,” Michael answered. “One day a month, he will be permitted to leave the realm and go wherever he pleases. He must continue his duties as guardian of the realm in the meantime. If this goes well, he will be granted more freedoms. Eventually, I believe his banishment will be fully lifted. Trust must first be earned.”

“Understandable.” I bit into one of the pies. It tasted even better than it smelled. Spices burst on my tongue, and the perfect pastry flaked on my lips. “Mm. Like paradise in my mouth. These must be served at the wedding.”

Michael laughed. “I’ll see to it that your wish is granted.”

I popped the rest of the pie into my mouth and silently chewed, mulling everything over in my head. “Have you reached a decision about Belphegor?”

“He’ll remain in the celestial prison for the foreseeable future,” he answered. “He begs for death. Which is precisely why the council decided to let him rot in a cell instead.”

“What of Asa’s sentence?”

“Ah. Asa Morningstar.” Michael softly sighed. “Night Fall has been placed in the celestial vault and heavily warded, so he is without his soul weapon and unable to call it back to him. The council sees little reason to keep him imprisoned, considering he’s powerless.”

My scalp pricked. “You’re setting him free.”

“With monitoring, of course.” Michael nodded. “He played a huge role in our victory. Without his aid, we would’ve lost the war. I weighed the scales of justice and decided he’s earned another chance. But one wrong move and I will clip his head from his shoulders.”

“Vepar and Purah are still out there,” I said. “What if they find him once he’s free?”

He shook his head. “Without his powers, Asa is no use to them. But Dargan and his scouts will keep an eye on the situation.”

“The boys still have their sins,” I then said. “I thought defeating Lucifer might rid them of the curse.”

Michael pondered my words. “Mephis theorized that their sins are soul weapons.”

“And a soul weapon cannot be destroyed unless the soul it inhabits passes on,” I said with a nod. “The boys are still powerful. Which means should another war arise, they may be called upon to help.” The thought caused a deep ache in my chest. Alastair wanted a simple, peaceful life away from fighting.