Page 35 of Alastair

“There’s mango guacamole too,” Raiden said, walking beside the archangel. Titan kept pace on his other side, with Nico rushing over to join them. “Oh man, you haven’t lived until you’ve eaten some. I’ll make my famous tahini sauce burgers, too, while you’re here. How long are ya stayin’?”

As they went inside, I turned my attention back to Lazarus. The other angels had followed Michael, leaving him standing alone. Castor patted me on the back before he and Kyo walked off. Galen and the others followed suit. Despite my ability to keep them from poking around in my skull, they sometimes knew me so well. And right then, I needed answers that only Lazarus could provide.

“Are you finally going to talk to me?” I asked, my agitation growing. “I thought you were dead.”

“Would that have pleased you? My death?” His voice lacked emotion—a thing I was quite familiar with. Lazarus could be so cold toward me and my brothers. A part of me felt that, perhaps, it was a cover. That he was intentionally keeping us at a distance. Other times, I thought it more likely that he viewed us as a burden that had been forced on him.

“Of course not.”

“And here I thought you despised me.”

“Depends on the day,” I said. “You’re not exactly the loving type. That’s for damn sure.”

Emotion sparked in his eyes before fading once more. “Whether you like me or not is irrelevant. I’ve been assigned to watch over you and your brothers for the duration of this war, so we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. Get used to my presence here.”

“Watch over us?” I was taken aback. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“What you need is a good, hard spanking.” Lazarus stepped closer. “Michael is correct. The stunt you pulled was foolish. All so you could prance before Lucifer, fluffing your feathers like the beautiful, prideful creature you are. Was it to gain his approval? To intimidate him?”

I blinked, confused. Only one thing in his statement jumped out at me. “Did you just call me beautiful?”

For a fraction of a heartbeat, Lazarus only stared at me. “That’s beside the point. You dwelling on such a shallow detail only further proves you are a prisoner to your sin.”

“I am no prisoner. I have full control over Pride.”

His frosty eyes narrowed. “Not when it comes to Lucifer. He’s your weak spot. A spot he will target and use to destroy you.”

“Because of my actions, Lucifer knows Kallias is reunited with us.” I tipped my chin up. “The risk was great, yes, but it shook his confidence. We have the advantage now because of myfoolish stunt.”

Lazarus intently watched me. Quiet. Composed.

What did he see? When he didn’t say a word, my impatience grew. So many emotions were pumping through me. I was having trouble processing them all.

“Why don’t you trust me?” I asked, voice cracking a little. I hated it.

Finally, something surfaced in his eyes. Surprise. “I never said I don’t.”

“Then why is Michael really here?”

“To oversee the military,” Lazarus answered, the slivers of emotion he’d briefly shown sliding back into a composed mask.

“I don’t need his help. I’ve been leading our forces just fine on my own.”

“Don’t be a fool.” His eyes hit me like a wall of ice. “Michael is the captain of the celestial force. He’smycaptain. Much can be learned from him.”

Bitterness filled me, though I wasn’t sure why. “If he’s so much better than me, I’ll let the two of you deal with this war on your own. I refuse to take orders from a pompous bastard like him.”

“You sound like a child.”

“And you sound like an ass.”

“Careful of your tone.” Lazarus came closer, so close I felt the surge of warmth come off his body.

“Or you’ll do what?” I challenged him. “Bend me over your knee and spank me?”

Why did heat suddenly flood my core at the thought?

A tic started in his jaw. “I hardly recognize the male standing before me right now. Lucifer’s release from his prison has changed you.”