Page 19 of Alastair

The cemetery he spoke of was the largest in Echo Bay and an ideal place for the dead to rise. Big enough to keep the angels busy for a while. It was also on the other side of town, which was fortunate. The last thing I wanted or needed was to run into the angels and have them report to Lazarus.

“Any sightings of Purah or Belphegor?” Phoenix asked. He scrutinized the contents of a table against the wall that held an assortment of candles and glass bottles of the finest liquor. Konnar only ever had the best, a male of exquisite taste. “Maybe the king of the underworld himself?”

“Purah is the one with the unusual shade of green eyes and scars on his face?” Konnar asked, and I nodded. “I caught a glimpse of him before he slunk into the shadows of a crypt and vanished. I’ve not seen him since, nor any of the others.”

“Maybe you were wrong,” Phoenix suggested to me. “You can’t be right all the time.”

“Lucifer is here,”Pride said, peeved by the demon’s insinuation that I was mistaken.“I know he is. He’s waiting for us.”

I felt it too. But where?

“The mansion,” I whispered, my scalp prickling with the sudden realization. “Or what’s left of it. That’s where I need to go.”

It was the one place in Echo Bay that meant the most to me. Lucifer would be drawn to it because of that. He would sense the energy present within the burnt rubble. My energy. My grief too. The loss of home was a sadness that would be embedded in the very soil the wreckage rested upon.

Konnar set his goblet aside and stood from his chair, straightening his shirt. “I’ll accompany you.”

“No.” I shook my head. “You’re one of my dearest friends. I won’t have you risking yourself.”

“But you’ll risk me?” Phoenix snorted and set the crystal he’d been toying with back on the side table. “How kind of you.”

“I’m not risking you either. If you die, Bellamy dies.” A part of me had grown to care for the demon too, but there was no need for him to know that. “You’ll stick to the original plan. Stay out of sight until I have need of your power.”

“What will you do?” Konnar asked me, his brow dipping in the center. “I’m fully aware of your skill as a warrior, but if you’re right and they are at the mansion, not even you can defeat a force of fallen angels on your own.”

“I won’t need to. Fighting is not the goal tonight.” I smoothed back a strand of my bangs that had slipped from its hold and looked at Phoenix. “Aren’t you the one always saying that some things can, and should, be settled with words, not brawn?”

“Perhaps this isn’t the best time to admit this, but I only say that because I’m shit at fighting. And each time I said it, I was facing off with Galen, who could rip me in half without breaking a sweat.” Phoenix put a hand to his chest. “I’m a master of self-preservation, remember?”

“How could I forget.”

“If anyone can negotiate with a madman, it’s you,” Konnar told me. His purple eyes glowed as shadows from the lit hearth danced across his face. “But do be careful.”

“I will.” I nodded for Phoenix to follow me and turned toward the doorway.

Konnar grabbed me by the arm, halting my step. “I mean it, Alastair. As the saying goes, pride comes before the fall. And I dread the thought of you falling, my friend. If you need help, any at all, you only need to ask. This fight is not yours to fight alone.”

Warmth flared in my chest. And when I spoke, that same warmth reflected in my tone, even if my words veered on teasing. “Don’t worry so much over me, old man. You’ll cause wrinkles on that flawless skin.”

Konnar grinned, exposing his sharp canines. “Says the most ancient of the two of us.”

“We’ll have a proper visit soon,” I said, more serious. “With tea, cranberry scones, and no talk of war.”

“I look forward to it.” Konnar bowed his head, and the edge of his mouth hitched up. “Though, I’d prefer honey crumpets to scones. Perhaps your brother could whip us up a batch.”

“Oh, I’m certain he’d love to.” Raiden never turned down an opportunity to bake. He loved sweets nearly as much as he loved pizza. Which spoke wonders.

Once Phoenix and I left the mansion and were past the iron gate, he arched a brow at me.

“Whatever it is, say it and get it over with.”

“Are you and the vampire…?” Phoenix made a circle with one hand and stuck a finger from the other inside it. Moved it in and out.

I fought an eye roll. “Gods, you and Bellamy are too much alike. No. Konnar and I are only friends.”

Phoenix shrugged, and his tail swished behind him. “It was only a question.”

“A senseless one.” I was close with Konnar but had never felt that spark of attraction with him. He’d never felt it with me either. “Who I do or don’t sleep with is none of your business.”