Page 8 of Alastair

But the only thing Lucifer cherished was power. And he would use and manipulate anyone, sacrifice as many people as it took, to seize it. The ease with which he’d watched Asa die and then stepped over his dead body as if it were nothing had shocked me. His own son had been nothing more than a tool. Someone to step over on his quest for power.

Asa had since reemerged and was currently imprisoned in the celestial realm. A problem for another day.

Penemuel opened his laptop and got to work. We sat in silence after that, the only sound coming from the light clacking of his fingers on the keyboard and the breeze as it sang through the leaves.

My connection to my brothers showed in my mind like a thread corresponding to their sin’s color—orange for Raiden, red for Galen, royal blue for Bellamy. Daman’s was green, the shade of Envy. Gray’s was a lot like his personality, a light blue that symbolized a bright sunny day. Castor’s was gold, reflecting the trinkets and shiny things he coveted.

Kallias showed as a black thread, the color of Melancholy. Black seemed like nothingness, the absence of color. When really, it was every color, every emotion, combined. That’s why he felt everything so intensely, the good and the bad, often resulting in his melancholic state.

One by one, each of their threads glowed brighter, a sign of them waking. The rest of the island woke as well, and soon, the other Nephilim warriors and our dragon allies started their day, bustling about for morning meal before heading toward the training arenas.

With the war more in effect, training had lessened in place of dispersing units to areas of the world that needed aid. The warriors not stationed elsewhere continued to train daily. In recent days, monster attacks had been reported across the globe, small but escalating.

It was just one of the things I’d contemplated that morning. What location would be hit next. How long until the attacks intensified.

After finishing my tea, I visited the training field and stayed until midday before returning to Baxter’s villa. Baxter and I hadn’t been fond of each other in the beginning—butting heads was an understatement—but we’d become friendly over the past year and had earned the others’ respect. He allowed me, Penemuel, Gray, and Mason to stay with him.

The rest of my brothers were scattered in different villas with their mates: Daman and Bellamy in one, while Galen and Castor had taken a beachside house. Raiden and Titan lived in Titan’s cottage on the edge of the island, and Kallias was staying in their spare bedroom. Clara was staying with Sirena near the harbor.

A temporary living arrangement, but it was nice to have my family so close together again. Even if the reason was less than ideal. Another war. One that would claim many lives before it drew to an end.

“When in doubt, shoot the fucker in the head with a silver bullet,” Mason Hawk said into the phone, walking into the kitchen that afternoon with Gray on his back.

My brother gave me a sleepy smile before closing his eyes and nuzzling the back of his mate’s neck.

“Is that Thor?” I asked.

Mason nodded and held the phone away from his ear as he told me, “He and Scar encountered a new baddie last night. A type of monster we’ve never dealt with before. They said the skin was scaled like a dragon but slimy.”

“Where are they?”

“Ireland,” he answered. “They thought it might be a kelpie, but shit doesn’t add up. It’s been slaughtering fishermen but not eating their bodies. Just killing for the hell of it.”

I thought for a moment. “Did it have wings?”

Mason relayed my question to Thor—a hunter and one of Mason’s closest friends. “Yeah. He said it had wings and a slender neck.”

“It’s an Oilliphéist,” I said. “A sea-serpent type of monster found in murky waters like rivers and lakes.”

Gray opened his eyes. “Nessie.”

“The legend of the Loch Ness Monster was inspired by this beast, yes, but they differ slightly,” I explained. “This type of beast hasn’t attacked humans in about a hundred years. Some of them must’ve recently allied with the demonic army. Decapitation, or a silver bullet to the head like you suggested, will certainly take it down.”

Knowledge fueled me. I enjoyed providing answers to those in need of them. Pride rumbled his agreement in my chest. Anything that made me seem superior pleased him.

As much as I tried to fight it, it pleased me too.

“Who’s ready for some grub?” Raiden asked as he came through the patio door, black hat on backward and a silly grin on his face. “I’m here to make all your foodie dreams come true.”

“I want waffles,” Gray murmured into the back of Mason’s neck.

“For lunch?” Titan asked my little brother.

“Smalls would eat waffles every meal of the day if we let him.” Raiden’s grin widened to show the dimple in his cheek. “Lucky for him, I respect his palate too much. Food variety is the awesome part of life. Or whatever that saying is.”

Titan pressed a kiss to Raiden’s temple. “What are we cooking, handsome?”

Raiden smiled. “Brunch sounds good. Like a crab eggs benedict with some badass hollandaise sauce. Maybe some fresh avocado to go with it.”