Page 86 of Alastair

Titan smiled at them. “He’d make such a good father.”

“You should have one,” Daichi told him. “A child. Once all of this is over.”

“Maybe.” A grave sadness filled Titan’s eyes. He didn’t voice the cause of that sadness, but it was obvious. With a battle quickly approaching, talking about the future was bittersweet. Almost painful.

“Nico would get jealous,” Bellamy said.

Titan breathed out a laugh, his somber mood lifting. It lifted even more as Raiden returned to his side, flashing a wide, toothy grin.

Nico had stayed on the island. Despite his training, Titan chose to keep him as far away from the conflict as possible. I couldn’t say I agreed with that decision—Nico had wanted to come with us and was angry when told he couldn’t—but I understood it, to an extent. Titan was protecting him.

“This is familiar,” Lycus said as he sat beside Warrin. In his human form, he had medium-length blond hair, golden eyes with swirls of orange, and a light dusting of freckles across his cheeks. “Us gathered around the fire with a fight on the horizon.”

“Thank you for meeting with us,” Michael told him. “You have a lovely home. Beautiful and peaceful. It’s to my understanding that Gusion lived here?”

“He did.” Lycus dropped his gaze to the fire. “He stayed here for many, many years. Taught us a lot within that time. His death was, and still is, a great loss.”

Daman laid his head on Warrin’s shoulder. A deep sadness radiated from him. He’d had a connection to the fallen angel. If we defeated Lucifer, Uriel had promised to allow our souls, as well as the souls of our allies, into the afterlife. Nephilim and fallen angels included.

“Tell me the situation,” Lycus said to Michael. “Daman provided some details, but I need to know what we’re facing here.”

Michael described the attacks happening across the world. More places had been targeted since our earlier meeting. The world was on fire. Despite Penemuel’s influence, fear and panic had spread as death tolls reached epic proportions.

“I sent several forces of angels to help the areas being hit the worst,” Michael said. “And when we learned Lucifer was in this area, I knew it was now or never.”

Galen nodded. “Take down the king and the army falls with him.”

“You plan to take him by surprise?” Lycus asked.

Michael nodded. “An assassination mission.”

“Will that work?”

“We have the advantage,” I explained. “Lucifer is no longer shielding himself. One might think we’re playing into his hands, but I know it comes from his arrogance. He no longer feels the need to hide in the shadows because he thinks himself more powerful than any being on this earth.”

“Isn’t he?” Lycus asked.

“Not when fighting the eight of us. The curse in our blood makes us the one force that can combat him.”

Pride rumbled his agreement.“We won’t fail.”

My brothers and I hadn’t been able to tap into the synchronized way of fighting since being on the island because it only worked around Lucifer. When we faced him, together and as one force, he would fall. I would accept nothing less.

“You’re certain Lucifer is coming for the forest?” Lycus asked, eyes on the burning wood.

“He was seen in a castle about an hour from here,” Michael answered. “We believe he was meeting with witches who practice in the dark arts. This forest seems a likely target.”

“Because of the nexus,” I said. “The dimensional gate can be used to summon, but the energy can also be siphoned. For spells. To strengthen weapons. For anything, really. Power of that magnitude, in the wrong hands, can be detrimental.”

Michael nodded. “We plan to take the fight to Lucifer before he can reach the forest. The cursed sons will deal with him, but he has fallen angels, witches, and other strong allies by his side. We could use the aid of you and your pack.”

“But you can refuse,” Daman said. “You don’t have to fight with us.”

“Yes, I do.” Lycus glanced around the camp—at his people. “We’re safe behind this barrier, but that means very little if the outside world goes up in flames.” He then smiled at Daman. “Besides, you’re my brother. I fight beside you. Always.”

“Come with me,”Lazarus projected into my head as he turned away from the firepit.

As the others continued the discussion, I stood and followed him. The smoke from the fire, and the voices of those sitting around it, lessened the farther we walked.