Page 99 of Alastair

The gentle crashing of waves outside the window mixed with the sound of our heavy breaths. What we’d shared went beyond sex. I had never felt so spent but also so alive. He hadn’t only made love to my body, but he’d caressed my very soul, knitting together the frayed pieces.

“Will you stay like this for a while?” I asked, holding him tighter. Our sweaty torsos stuck together, but I didn’t care. I wanted to feel him. All of him. His weight on top of me felt too good.

“I’ll stay for as long as you want me to.” He kissed the curve of my jaw and smoothed his hand over my hair. His rough breaths tickled my skin.

In a post-orgasm haze, I fought to keep my eyes open. But I wasn’t ready to leave this moment.

“Don’t fight it,” he whispered. “You should sleep.”

“No.” I nuzzled the top of his shoulder, breathing in the saltiness of his skin and his unique scent of snow and apples.

“So stubborn.”

“Just like you.” Another nuzzle.

I couldn’t help but think our time together had an expiration date. Not an unreasonable worry. We were at war with a seemingly invincible foe. We also had the council, who may or may not try to break us apart once they discovered the seal had broken. Michael would defend our right to be together, but he was only one archangel out of seven.

What if today was all we had?

Pride whined. The sound crept up my throat, a bit broken.

Lazarus pressed his mouth to mine, and the gentleness of his kiss eased some of my growing anxiety. Exhaustion weighed in my muscles, and as much as I didn’t want to, I needed to sleep. But my mind wouldn’t rest. My thoughts spiraled withwhat-ifsand various possible outcomes of the war, most of which ended horribly.

“I feel your worries.” He toyed with my bangs that lay messy and damp on my forehead before trailing his fingers to my temple. “May I?”

“It’s not like you to ask for permission.” I smiled as I said the words and peered up at him. His eyes were so warm. “Please.”

Lazarus kissed me again and applied a light pressure to my temple with his fingertips. As he used his sleeping power on me, grogginess took hold, and I started to drift off. Before sleep fully claimed me, he rested his cheek on mine and whispered three sweet words:

“I love you.”

But perhaps I only imagined it.

Chapter Sixteen

Lazarus

Sunlight gleamed off the celestial palace as I walked down the white-stone path. Once Alastair fell asleep, I held him for a while before pulling away, showering, and leaving the island.

The council needed an update on the war. Nerves jumbled in my stomach. It would be the first time I’d spoken to them since the warding blocking mine and Alastair’s bond broke. I took deep, calming breaths and ascended the steps, nodding to the two guards standing outside the entrance.

“Commander Lazarus.” Samuel smiled at me before glancing over at the stone-faced Quinn and forcing the smile away. He was a Joy Bringer angel who’d joined our ranks once the war with Asa escalated. Old habits died hard.

“Uriel is in the palace garden, Commander,” Quinn said, his voice just as hard as his expression. “Selaphiel and Raphael are with him.”

“Thank you.” I stepped forward as they opened the door.

Natural light flooded the entrance hall, coming through the domed glass ceiling above the grand staircase. The members of the council were the only ones allowed to live in the palace. Michael had a room, but he rarely stayed the night.

“Sleeping beneath the same roof as Uriel?”he had said once.“A frightening thought. His snores can be heard all throughout the palace.”

Whether that was true? Unlikely. But Michael was… well, Michael. Although the most powerful archangel in the heavens, there were rules that had to be followed. Uriel, more often than now, persuaded the other council members to vote in his favor. It angered my friend, so he preferred to live elsewhere. I didn’t blame him.

I wouldn’t want to live with Uriel either.

I passed servants on my way toward the gardens. They were lower-rank angels whose job was to serve the council and care for the estate. They were treated well though. In our realm, no position was looked down upon.

The palace gardens flourished with crystalline pools, arrays of colorful flowers, and soft green grass. Orchards of trees and rose vines rested on one side. Granite walkways curved throughout the courtyard, leading to seating areas with large decorative cushions on the lush lawn.