Page 36 of Galen

Alastair looked calm. Indifferent, even. But his hands balled into fists at his sides. He’d been calling Lazarus for days, and when the angel finally answered, he took the ring and left without any sort of explanation.

“Phoenix is expecting an answer today,” I said, rising to my feet with Simon nestled in my arms.

“We can’t give him the ring if we don’t have it,” Alastair responded. He tore his gaze from the window. “All of us need to patrol tonight. If hedoesset any more shades loose, we need to be ready for them. Now all of you… leave my study.”

I exited the room, and the others followed me. The door closed behind us. Castor and Gray walked outside, while Raiden veered toward the kitchen. None of them spoke. We were all processing what just happened.

Who did the ring belong to? Why had Lazarus, a being who rarely showed any kind of emotion, appeared so freaked-out by it? The confusion quickly shifted to anger, as it so often did. Lazarus kept us in the dark on many things, but this felt too important for him not to tell us. Especially since we were right in the center of it all.

On the walk to Simon’s room, he stirred and opened his eyes. “Galen?”

“I’ve got you,” I said. “You’re safe. You just fainted.”

“That man… he had wings.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes. He did. He’s an angel.”

Even if he behaved like an asshole.

“It’s all real,” Simon said in shock. “I can’t believe it. His wings just appeared. And so did he. He flew high into the air.” He pushed his face against my chest. “I think I’m losing my mind. That’s the only explanation.”

“You’re not losing your mind.” I refrained from pressing my face into his hair. Why did he have to smell so good?

“How do I know for sure? You could be a figment of my imagination too.” Simon lightly snorted. “I always said I liked tall men. Leave it to me to fantasize about a sexy one like you who’s taller than a house.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. Maybe a small shed. But not a house.” His words wrapped around my heart. And knowing he shared a mutual attraction to me definitely got the attention of another part of me as well.

After entering his room, I placed him on the bed and forced myself to let him go.

“I don’t want to sleep,” he whined. “I just woke up like two hours ago.”

“You’re in shock,” I said, sitting beside him. “You need to rest your mind. I’ll bring you some water.”

“I’m not thirsty.” He tried sitting up, and I gently pushed him back down.

I touched his temple, sending a rush of calm into his body and putting him to sleep. Another power we had. The irony didn’t go unnoticed by me either, how someone like me could ever bring anyone a sense of calm. If only I could turn it on myself.

Simon slumped on the pillow, and I removed his glasses. I hated having to put him to sleep, but he really did need to rest. His body—and mind—had been through a lot over the past several days.

And humans were fragile.

I left the room and closed the door, releasing a sharp breath. In Simon’s presence, my anger had been tamed. Still present, but controlled. But with each step I took away from him, it grew stronger inside me.

I needed to kill something.

A few dozen shades would do just fine.

Chapter Eight

Simon

The sea at sunset was breathtaking.

Shadows slowly crept in over the mountain, a sharp contrast to the golden light touching the top of the peak and shining on areas of the deep blue water. I stood on the shore and breathed in the crisp spring air, closing my eyes as a breeze ruffled my hair, carrying with it a scent of the sea.

“Not planning to run away, are you?” a deep voice asked from behind me.

I turned to see Galen. As usual, he was decked out in all black: shirt, pants, and boots. Even the dagger on his hip had a black hilt.