Page 76 of Bellamy

Galen watched Alastair closely from his place on the couch. Castor did the same from where he was propped against the wall. A green potted plant with delicate leaves stood beside him.

“It’s mine and Joseph’s anniversary,” Alastair answered after a short silence. “Or… it would’ve been our anniversary. Forgive my appearance. I know it’s dreadful. I just…” He shook his head. “The day slipped away from me, is all.”

How in the hell had I forgotten something so big? I felt like a shitty brother. Judging by everyone else’s downturned expressions, they felt the same. The war with Asa had taken over everything. Made us forget that our brother was still grieving his loss.

I exchanged a look with Galen. He was the closest to Alastair. Just like Daman and I were closer to each other than the rest. It didn’t mean we loved our other brothers any less; it only meant we shared a deeper bond.

“I’ll speak to him privately after this,”Galen told me.“Tell us your news.”

“Taeden confirmed that Asa betrayed the reapers,” I said. “But he mentioned Penemuel too. Apparently, Holden overhead a fight between him and Belphegor before the battle in the celestial realm. Penemuel said he refused to help Belphegor continue on his destructive path.”

“That sounds like Penemuel,” Phoenix said from my side. His tail flicked across the back of my legs. “He wasn’t one for violence.”

“There’s one more thing. I don’t know what it means, but Taeden said Holden heard Penemuel say something about Belphegor using ‘the boy’ as a pawn and that he almost pitied said boy for the fate that awaits him.”

“The boy?” Daman asked. “As in Asa?”

I nodded. “I’m assuming so, yeah.”

“What do you know of this?” Alastair asked Phoenix. “What fate is he referring to?”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it,” Phoenix answered. “Belphegor is using Asa as a pawn? I fail to see how that’s possible when Asa is the one calling the shots. If anything, Belphegor is using him for his power, but that’s common when you’re as powerful as Asa. People gravitate to you because of it.”

“Maybe…” Gray’s brow scrunched. “My dad is influencing Asa in some way? Manipulating him to do what he wants.”

“Asa is the manipulator,” Phoenix said. “Believe me.”

“Smalls has a point though.” Raiden handed Gray a pizza roll from his plate. Alastair didn’t like us eating in his room, but he made an exception for our gluttonous brother. “Belphegor was loyal to Lucifer and could be usin’ Asa to fulfill Lucifer’s vision.”

Gray bit down on the pizza roll, and sauce squirted out, coating the edge of his lips. Mason shook his head before wiping the sauce up with his thumb and sticking it in his mouth. Gray looked at Mason’s lips before abandoning the food and diving for them instead.

“None of that in here,” Alastair snapped at them. “Focus.”

“Yeah, focus,” Raiden mumbled before eating a pizza roll. Gray elbowed him in the shin, and he laughed around his mouthful.

“Surely you aren’t suggesting Asa is a victim in all of this?” Phoenix asked, tone veering on a growl.

“Not at all,” Alastair responded. “But it makes me question Belphegor’s true motives. He could have something much more sinister planned than what we thought.”

“More sinister than destroying the world?” I asked.

“I need to contact Lazarus and inform him of this. See if he has any insight.” Alastair turned away from us. “Leave. All of you.”

Galen pressed a soft kiss to Simon’s lips before guiding him toward the door. He whispered something in Simon’s ear before turning to me. He nodded for me to go ahead. I knew he was going to talk to Alastair, whether our brother wanted him to or not.

Pride wouldn’t allow Alastair to admit he needed someone to lean on, but he was hurting and shouldn’t be alone.

“Let’s watch a movie!” Gray grabbed Simon’s arm and dragged him down the hall.

“Nothing scary,” Simon said.

Gray giggled. It was a mischievous little sound that suited him perfectly. Scaring Simon was one of his favorite things to do. Mason smiled after them before silently following.

“No patrols tonight,” Raiden said after closing Alastair’s door. “Do y’all wanna play cards? Maybe poker?”

“I never say no to gambling,” Castor responded, hand resting on Kyo’s lower back. “What about you, little dragon? Wanna get your hot ass kicked in poker by your hot-ass husband?”

“Why do I put up with you?” Kyo asked, but warmth filled his tone. It shone in his orange eyes too.