Page 27 of Alastair

The other cursed sons had gained better control over the way their blood responded to Lucifer, but this was the first time Kallias had faced him since the first war thousands of years ago. He composed himself fairly quickly. He’d always been that way—strong-willed and not easily influenced. Some of it came from his Spartan upbringing. The rest was his fighting spirit, a trait engrained in him since his birth.

“What’s the plan?” Castor asked. “Set Galen loose on the shades while the rest of us distract Lucifer?”

“I’ll handle Lucifer. The rest of you go to Alastair.” I placed the teleportation stone in Daman’s hand. “The moment you’re all together, use this to return to the island.”

“Why are you giving it to me?” Daman asked, suspicious.

“Because you’re the only one who won’t hesitate to do what needs to be done. Even if that means leaving me behind.”

The other Nephilim might claim to hate me, but each of them would struggle leaving a warrior behind, even if that warrior was me. Even Galen would hesitate, if only a little. But Daman showed no such reserve. When it came to his brothers—and especially the ice dragon at his side—he’d do anything to save them. Their safety was priority.

“Leavin’ you behind isn’t an option,” Raiden said. “We all came here together, and that’s how we’re gonna leave.”

“Yeah,” Gray chimed in, livelier than when he’d answered the door earlier. Mason must’ve shared some of his energy with him—one of Gray’s abilities. “You’re kinda mean and scary sometimes, but we’re not gonna abandon you. So get ready. We gotta go whip Lucifer’s butt now.”

I exchanged a look with Daman, and he gave me a subtle nod. If it came down to it, I knew I could rely on him to do what was necessary. In the grand scheme of things, my life mattered very little. I was a high-ranking angel, but if I died, the world would continue. Oliver would take over as commander of my unit. I was expendable and easily replaced.

The same couldn’t be said for the Nephilim brothers. They were the key to winning the war. Without them, all would be lost.

“Why did you bring them?”Alastair asked me telepathically. His movements as he cut down more demons gave nothing away. He wasn’t reacting to our presence at all.

Lucifer would catch on soon though, if he hadn’t already. Perhaps he was pretending as well. Waiting for us to make the first move.

“Because you’re a foolish, arrogant child who refuses to behave,”I responded.My jaw tightened as I summoned my whip. The soul weapon was stronger than my sword but still not strong enough to wound Lucifer. It could keep him busy, though, while the boys escaped.“They’re here to ensure you make it home.”

And then, I used my wings to propel me quickly through the air, my whip pulsing in my hand as I aimed at Lucifer and struck.

As expected, he’d been waiting for me. Lucifer dodged the end of the whip right before it made contact with his neck. His movements mirrored that of a dancer on stage, fluid and graceful. Effortless.

“We have to stop meeting like this, Lazarus,” Lucifer coolly said. “You let your whip do all the talking for you. Be a big boy and use your words.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

Vepar drew his sword while Purah twirled his dagger, smile wide and unnatural. He hadn’t always been so unsettling.

Once upon a time, before he defected with Lucifer, Purah had been quite beautiful. Captivating and amusing those around him with his wit. But then he’d allowed the evils of the world to corrupt him like a strong poison, turning his blood to arsenic sludge and causing him to lose the grip on his sanity. He’d taken a celestial blade to his teeth to sharpen them into sharp points, and then he’d slid that blade across his cheeks, laughing manically as he did.

“Lazzy has nothing to say?” Purah hummed the words, running his sharp fingernails along the blade of his twisted dagger. “We’ll make him speak. Yes. We’ll make him scream.”

“Still coating your nails in poison?” I asked.

He gave me a sly grin. “I can show you if Lucy lets me play.”

“Soon,” Lucifer told him.

Vepar drifted closer, using the air currents as he hovered inches above the snow. “Ah. Youstill smell so pure. How I’d love to tarnish that purity. It may help get that stick out of your ass.”

My spine stiffened. “Not a chance.”

Vepar smirked. “Your loss.”

“It pains me to see you this way,” Lucifer said to me. “Chained and blindly following the council’s orders. My hope is that one day you’ll break free of those chains.”

“So I can be like you?” I tightened the hold on my whip. “I’d rather die.”

“That can certainly be arranged.”

The demons howled and snarled as the Nephilim and their mates cut them down. Their shadowy bodies burst into flame with each death, and then their ashes dusted the snow. It wouldn’t take the boys long to thin the horde.