Page 58 of Alastair

I glanced at Kallias as a ripple of sadness came off him. “Your Elasus waits for you, brother. You’ll see him again.”

“Aye. I will.” Kallias gave a sad smile. “But not this day.”

“Why are you talking about mates?” Castor asked. “Kind of random.”

“Are ya sad about Joseph?” Gray cocked his head as he clung onto Kallias’ arm. “Feeling lonely?”

“No,” I answered. “A part of me will always love Joseph, but my grief has lifted.”

Just as it lifted with all the other lovers I’d lost in the past. Their loss would always hurt a little, but none of them had been my fated mate. No, my mate had been in front of me all along. Surely, Lazarus had taken lovers throughout the years as well. Yet, the thought caused an irrational bubble of annoyance to swell within me. Further proof that his words were true. Our destinies were intertwined. Blocking the bond didn’t change that fact.

“And now your heart’s ready to move on?” Raiden asked. “Are ya in love with Baxter? He’s not who I pictured you with, but I support you no matter what.”

“Though I’d question your taste in men if it’s true,” Daman said with a repulsed stare.

“Don’t be absurd,” I said. “That pink-haired devil isn’t my type.”

“He was my type for, like, two days,” Bellamy said.

“Oh gods,” Castor groaned. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Kyo’s brother. The dude has a damn harem of wives. Not even you with your pretty face could sway Tatsuya to bat for our team.”

Pride awoke in my chest.

“No,”I told my sin.“We are not going to try to seduce the water dragon king.”

“We’re more beautiful than all of his wives,”Pride said.“He would fall at our feet.”

“Absolutely not. Get that thought out of your head right now.”

My sin grumbled in response.

“No,” I answered Castor. “Would you all stop trying to ship me with people and allow me to speak?”

“Ahoy, Cap’n.” Gray saluted me. “Your crew is standing by for your orders.” As everyone looked at him, he grinned. “What? He said ship, and I remembered my pirate days.”

Bellamy smirked. “You mean the days you spent fucking the pirate captain. Instead of scrubbing the deck, your job was to wet his di—”

“Please stop talking.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “This is serious.”

Their silly banter helped take away some of the pain in my chest though. Cleared the fog from my mind. I was still angry and confused, but I’d managed to pull myself back together. Or rather, they had.

“I just visited Lazarus.” Saying his name out loud caused a quickening in my pulse. “He… he revealed something to me.”

“Oh shit,” Bellamy said. “Is it about Uriel?”

“No. It’s nothing like that.”

“What else would’ve upset you so much if not our unfriendly neighborhood angel dickwad?” Castor asked.

I needed to come out and say it. Rip the Band-Aid off quickly. “He’s my mate.”

At first, there was only silence. I waited with bated breath for them to say something—anything. My gut churned as my anxiety heightened.

“Uriel’s your fated mate?” Gray asked, head cocked to the side. “Well, I didn’t see that one coming.”

“Fuck, man.” Castor blew out a breath. “Talk about shit for luck.”

“No, not Uriel.” I deeply inhaled and inwardly asked the gods to grant me strength. And patience, as my brothers were grating on my last nerve. “Lazarus.”