Page 91 of Alastair

“What the fuck are you doing, Flauros?” Amun asked.

“Show us how invincible you are,” Alastair said.

Flauros shoved the dagger into his own heart and twisted it. He dropped to his knees as he pulled the blade free, gasping as blood pooled from the gaping wound. A loud crack pierced the air as his soul exited his body.

Amun staggered backward, eyes wide. The other fallen angels gaped. None of them approached. Seeing Pride’s power firsthand stopped any attempts to attack.

Lucifer smirked. “You’ve grown stronger.”

“Not that it will do you any good.” Alastair wiped the trickle of blood from his neck. “I’ll never join you.”

“Such a waste.” Lucifer tapped a finger against Light Bringer’s hilt. “I could help nurture that gift and give you more power than you knew what to do with. But alas, I see that’s where you differ from your father. He was obsessed with proving himself and besting those around him, while you’re content living a monotonous life where you never reach your full potential.”

“Better than being a coldhearted bastard hell-bent on destroying the world.” Alastair tipped his chin up in that defiant way that often drove me mad.

“Destroying the world?” Lucifer shook his head. “No. I wish to purify it.”

“Cut the bullshit,” Alastair snapped. “Purification is what you tell these idiots so they’ll help you.” He nodded to the fallen angels, who on impulse took a step back once his gaze landed on him. “You’re jealous of humankind. You’re nothing but a child lashing out because your daddy gave attention to someone else.”

“How dare you speak to me like this.” All traces of humor washed from Lucifer’s face. “I raised you like my own son. I loved you like one too.”

Alastair recoiled, losing some of his fire. Those were words he had long wished to hear—that Lucifer loved him. He regained his composure, but the pain still lingered in his eyes. “You love no one but yourself. You always have.”

“Hold your tongue, boy,” Belphegor said, summoning his blazing sword. Flames danced along the shining steel.

Lucifer held out a hand to him. “No, Belph. Let him speak.”

“My father was your pawn,” Alastair said. “So was Beelzebub and the other generals. Pieces for you to move across the board at your leisure, doing whatever you wanted.”

“You know so much, yet also so very little. I cherished Azazel and mourned his death. A deathyougave him. I grieved for Beel, Asmodeus, and Caim. All of my beautiful princes. I wanted a life with all of them by my side.” Lucifer’s eyes narrowed into thin slits as they moved to me. “You, Michael, Uriel, and every bastard on the council took that life from me. You turned these boys against me and forced them to do your bidding. And don’t think I’ve forgotten how you slaughtered my own flesh and blood.”

A pang of guilt slammed into me.

Before we’d caged Lucifer, the council ordered me and my unit to track down all of Lucifer’s children and kill them. Tainted blood, Uriel had said, and a majority ruled in favor. They feared the children would grow up and be just as wicked as their father. I had carried out the order, ignoring the voice in my head that screamed for me to stop, that yelled they were innocent. Their blood was on my hands. Nothing I did would ever right that wrong.

Perhaps that was one reason why I’d wanted Michael to spare Asa. It wouldn’t absolve me of my shame, but it was a start.

Lucifer focused on Alastair. “You want greatness, do you not? You wish to prove yourself to the world? To me?”

“Maybe once. But now?” Alastair moved closer to me, and his proximity took away some of the coldness that had seeped into my bones at the bitter memories. “I just want a simple life with my mate. I want to spend my days with my family, tackling my massive to-be-read pile of books, and relaxing with tea. Never having to fight in another war. Being happy. That’s what I want.”

With my mate.My heart knocked around in my chest. He wanted a future with me. As we braced ourselves for a fight we might not walk away from, I knew I wanted one with him too. Whether I deserved it was another story.

“A simple life will never make you happy. Deep down, you know this. Pride will always want more.” Lucifer breathed out a sigh. “Shall we get to it, then? The human realm is nearly in my grasp, and there’s much to be done. I’ll even be nice and let you make the first move.”

“A choice you’ll soon regret,” Alastair said.

And then, all eight of the cursed sons lunged forward, swords at the ready and the fires of battle blazing in their eyes.

Chapter Fifteen

Alastair

My sword skated across Lucifer’s bare chest as though the blade were made of rubber, leaving no mark whatsoever. That didn’t stop me. I struck him again, then again, and dodged as he swung Light Bringer at my head.

The blade whirred above me, cutting so close to my hair that several strands were grazed. Pride growled at that. Appearance meant a lot to him.

“Hair grows back,”I told him before dashing to the side to avoid another blow.“Not losing our head is what you should be worried about.”