Page 44 of Alastair

“Gluttony can give people the munchies.” Raiden’s cheeks darkened with a blush. “Hard to focus on fighting when all ya want is a juicy cheeseburger.”

Castor snorted a laugh. “Even your negative trait is endearing, Ray. Never change.”

Raiden actually had the potential to do more harm than that. Gluttony fed off people’s cravings, though in a different way than Bellamy’s sin of Lust. Raiden could drive people mad with hunger, so much so that they became crazed and began gorging themselves on anything closest to them—food, of course, but also rocks, shards of glass, even other people. It was a truly horrifying power. Which was precisely why Raiden didn’t have the heart to use it on anyone.

That was the one thing he’d refused to budge on throughout the years. I had trained him hard—sometimes harshly, as was the only way I’d known at the time to turn the boys into warriors—but when it came to hurting other people in such a cruel manner, he had remained firm on his decision. His brothers accepted it. Eventually, so had I.

Gray told Michael about his power next. Sloth could steal a person’s energy. If enough energy was taken, it would kill the individual. But if he was careful, he could simply put them to sleep.

As the avatar of Greed, Castor could blind an enemy with the promise of power or riches. Anything they coveted would become their sole thought, even while in the midst of combat. Perhaps not as malicious as Wrath or Envy, but still had its effectiveness in distracting an opponent.

“Unfortunately, I never truly mastered my power before my death,” Kallias said when it was his turn. “Melancholy can weigh on those around me, like waves of sadness that drown all hope and joy. During my stay here, I have been training to gain a better hold over my sin so it may better serve us in this war.”

“You were gone for thousands of years,” Michael told him. “And in purgatory, no less. I’d say you are doing an excellent job considering. Give yourself more credit.”

Kallias nodded to him. “I’ll do my best, sir.”

Michael then looked at Alastair. “Ah, the keeper of Pride. Is this where you boast about me saving the best for last?”

Galen huffed, while Castor rolled his eyes. Gray snored himself back awake.

Alastair simply eyed my captain. “I find no reason to make such claims. Only an insecure person feels it necessary to remind everyone of their importance.”

Michael returned his stare, showing no reaction to the words. Not much got under his skin. It took a lot to break his composure—or cause a falter in his relaxed smile. “Excellent. Then, by all means, tell me of your power so we can move on.”

“Pride can boost a person’s confidence so high that they forget logic and believe anything I tell them,” Alastair explained.

“A power of persuasion?” Michael questioned.

“Greater than a mere persuasion.” Alastair’s pale eyes narrowed. “And far more deadly.”

A silver tongue was what I called it.

Alastair could convince someone they were capable of doing anything. Walking off a skyscraper because they were convinced they could fly—even when they couldn’t. Stepping into a blazing fire by believing they were immune to the flames. Or shoving a dagger through their own heart because they believed their skin impenetrable.

Pride was the deadliest of the sins for a reason. That reason being the blond-haired, blue-eyed Nephilim standing before me who, with only a few words, could force basically anyone to do whatever he wanted. The only catch was he had to make direct eye contact with them first.

It was one reason why Uriel refused to see the good in him. He saw only what Alastaircouldbecome. A villain. Someone who could easily turn the tide in the war if he ever decided to fight against us. And with his direct control over his brothers? The eight of them would possess extraordinary power.

A power that would make Lucifer unstoppable if it ever fell into his hands.

“Can we end this little meeting now?” Daman asked. “I have other places I’d rather be.”

Warrin rubbed a hand up and down Daman’s arm and whispered softly in his ear. That one touch seemed to calm Envy.

“Not quite,” Alastair said. “I want to know Michael’s plan. As such a renowned and mighty warrior captain, he must have some brilliant strategy mulling around in that large head of his.”

“Careful of your words,”I warned him telepathically.“Michael is good-natured, but disrespect him further and—”

“I do not fear him,”Alastair responded without taking his eyes off the archangel.“I dare him to raise his sword to me.”

“Keep spouting off that smart mouth and he might.”

A cold smile touched Alastair’s lips. Part of him wished for such a challenge. Curse his Pride. He needed to tighten the reins on his sin. It was out of control.

“I’ve been here for one day,” Michael casually said. Though, there was nothing casual about the sudden hardness in his brown eyes, despite the smile he still wore. “You’ve had months since Lucifer’s release from his cage to strategize and are no closer to having a plan. So tell me, Pride, what’s your excuse? I’m all ears.”

“The plan is to use the combined powers of our sins against Lucifer. Seven of us were able to wound him. With all eight of us attacking him, our bodies and minds in sync, he won’t stand a chance.”