Page 45 of Alastair

“Cute idea. But does it have merit?”

“Do not speak to me like I’m a child,” Alastair interjected.

“Then stop behaving like one,” Michael said. “Have you tested this synchronization?”

Alastair worked his jaw back and forth. “No. Not with the eight of us. But—”

“So you have a theory. Not a plan.” Michael tilted his head a bit. “You damn well know you can’t defeat Lucifer on a whim. Let that be a reminder to check your ego.”

“I need no reminders from you,” Alastair snapped. “Lucifer raised me. I know his mind. If anyone can defeat him, it’s me. But if you feel as though my ego is such a hindrance, perhaps I’ll just sit back and relax while you go win this war on your own. Since you’re all-knowing and powerful.”

The muscle in Michael’s cheek twitched.

“Who wants breakfast?” Raiden asked, cutting the tension in the air. “French toast smothered in maple syrup and powdered sugar, scrambled eggs, and sausage links.” He threw a beefy arm around Gray’s thin shoulders. “But waffles for my Smalls here.”

Gray’s wide, toothy grin said he approved of that idea.

“That’s a complete one-eighty from the Chinese food you wanted earlier,” Bellamy said. “But I’m in.”

“I’ll go if there’s coffee,” Phoenix said.

Daman smirked. “Something the demon and I have in common.”

“Other than our love for this idiot.” Phoenix gently bumped Bellamy’s arm.

“True,” Daman said. “Heisan idiot.”

“Everyone is welcome to come over to our house,” Titan said. “We’d be glad to have you.”

The Nephilim with the titanium arm used to be unapproachable and disinterested in the company of others. Raiden had helped him come out of that shell. He now stood a bit taller and exuded a different aura—a happier one.

“I must decline,” I told them. The less time around Alastair, the better.

Raiden’s expression fell, as it so often did when I told him no. It caused a twinge in my chest, but I hid it well. Keeping my distance from them, pretending I didn’t care, was for the best. I had been that way for centuries: distant and cold.

Why change it now?

“Is it possible to include apples in this breakfast?” Michael asked, cutting his eyes over to me as a smile bloomed on his lips.

I squared my jaw, and a tingling prickle radiated from my cheeks to my scalp.

“Hmm.” Raiden pondered the question. “I could do an apple cinnamon french toast. Damn. That sounds freakin’ delicious.”

“Hear that, Lazarus?” Michael’s smile grew. “Applecinnamon french toast. How could you possibly say no to that?”

Alastair looked at me, his brows tapered. That piqued his interest. Why? Was Michael right and he somehow felt…no.He couldn’t.

Whatever the reason, his attention heated the blood in my veins. I needed to get away from him, but where would I go? Me being assigned to the island made ignoring him impossible. Not unless I barricaded myself in my hut.

Correction:bungalow.

I glared at Michael, who stared back with an amused smirk. He was fortunate to be my captain, my closest friend, and a male I greatly respected. Otherwise, I might’ve had to kill him.

Gray cocked his head. “You like apples, Laz? I didn’t think you liked anything.”

“I don’t.”

“Angels are not supposed to tell lies,” Michael tsked, wagging his finger at me. “How very human of you.”