Page 38 of Alastair

“Nix is awake,”Bellamy projected into my head. When I’d gone to check on the demon earlier, he’d still been asleep, so I’d told Bell to tell me when that changed.

“I’m on my way.”

Any excuse to get away from the two of them.

I finished the last of my tea before rising from the chair, feeling Lazarus’ eyes on me as I turned from the pool. Even after flying away, I could still feel his stare burning into me.

He was angry with me, and rightfully so. Knowing he’d been assigned to keep an even closer eye on me and my brothers made me feel like a disobedient child who’d been placed in timeout.

Arriving at the villa, I let myself in and headed toward the first room on the left. Phoenix was propped up in bed, running his fingers through Bellamy’s golden locks as my brother lay with his head on the demon’s lap.

“Good evening,” I greeted them. “How are you feeling?”

“Imagine that,” Phoenix said with a half-smile. “You’re actually worried about me.”

“Well, it’s my fault you were hurt.” The confession knotted inside me, issuing a low growl from my sin.

“Damn right it was your fault,” Bellamy spouted off, not moving from his spot on his mate’s lap. “Nix was gravely wounded in the underworld months ago, and then you drag him on your goddamn two-man mission against Lucifer. You’re lucky I don’t kick your ass or—”

“I agreed to go with him, sweet Bellamy.” Phoenix continued sliding his fingers through the strands. “And although it didn’t go according to plan, it was still very much a success. Lucifer was worried.”

My brother snarled his upper lip. “You’re not supposed to take his side. You could’ve died.”

“But I didn’t.” Phoenix moved his hand from Bellamy’s hair to rest it on his arm instead.

Bellamy grabbed it and placed it right back on his head. “Keep petting me, dammit.”

Phoenix might’ve been the one wearing the collar, but it was Bellamy who was putty in his hands.

“Going to be weird answering to an archangel from now on,” Bellamy said, his eyes closing as Phoenix dropped a kiss to his temple. “Shit’s getting real now.”

Pride stirred in my chest, peeved by the reminder.

“I’ll see you both in the morning,” I said before turning toward the doorway. I had come to make sure Phoenix was okay, and he was. No further reason to stay.

Once outside, I strolled down the path instead of taking flight. My agitation over Michael wouldn’t dissipate. Since the moment he had stepped foot on this island, I had been irritated and bitter. Lazarus was the only person I’d answered to in thousands of years. Now I had to take orders from a cocky archangel?

Pride growled again.

Maybe I was just cranky. My nerves were wound up tight. I needed a release—sexual or otherwise. It had been years since I’d had sex. With Joseph’s ailments, I hadn’t even thought of sex. But now, as I stomped along a path under the stars, frustrated and tense, an orgasm was looking more and more tempting. However, I was out of practice.

Where did I even begin to find someone?

I had never been one for one-night stands or random hookups. I enjoyed romance and a natural lead-in to everything that came after. I also had quite a high standard as to who was allowed to have that part of me. Not just anyone had the privilege to see me so vulnerable.

Vulnerability.

I recalled the pressure of Lazarus’ forehead on mine. Recalled his hold on my jaw and the slight shaking of his hand.“Stop testing me, Alastair.”

My next breath stuttered in my throat before working its way up and out. Why couldn’t I get him out of my head? I pulled my phone from my back pocket and sent a text to the other cranky old man I knew.

Me:Since when did I become so old? How does anyone date these days?

Konnar:You do know I just slid into my coffin, yes? It’s so early here.

I snorted a laugh. He didn’t actually sleep in a coffin. He slept in a king-sized bed that more often than not had a naked male waiting for him beneath the sheets. His weakness was Fae men, partly due to the intoxication of their blood. No ambrosia required to feel that high.

Me:Forgive my rudeness, Sleeping Beauty. I’ll sort my problems on my own while you slumber.