Page 58 of Galen

Kill, Wrath said from inside me.

Red spots danced in my vision, and I lurched toward him again, blade drawn. He wasn’t quick enough this time. I managed to slice his muscled bicep before he could dodge the blow completely.

“Fuck off, demon,” I spat, my body shaking with barely suppressed rage.

Alastair placed a hand on my shoulder and leaned in to whisper in my ear, “Breathe.”

Phoenix wiped at the blood trickling down his arm and glared at me. “You should be thanking me, you Nephilim filth.”

“Why?” Alastair asked, his tone calm. He kept a hand on my shoulder.

The demon held out his arms, motioning to everything around him. “The shades have been called off. There will be no attacks tonight.”

“What are you playing at?” I asked through gritted teeth. “I know you didn’t do it out of the kindness of your cold, dead heart.”

“Perhaps I’m sick of you and your group of winged abominations killing them all.” He cocked his head to the side. “Or perhaps not.”

“Enough with the mind games,” Alastair said, losing patience. “You have an infinite number of warped souls to torture and command to do your bidding. The ones we’ve killed mean nothing to you. So why stop the attacks?”

“How prideful you are to think yourself so important.” Phoenix stepped closer, though he was sure to keep distance from me. “You all are nothing but small blips on his radar.”

“His radar?” I asked. “You mean Belphegor?”

The demon’s eyes flashed red before returning to their normal shade of dark brown.

“Something has you rattled,” Alastair said, his demeanor turning cocky. “Is that it, then? Your boss is displeased with you and ordered you to back off?”

“You smile now, Nephilim, but you won’t be for long.”

I rolled my eyes. “You sound like a cheesy superhero villain. At least be original in your threats.”

And then I smiled because it reminded me of what Simon said about him.

“You’ve wasted enough of my time already, demon,” Alastair snarled. “Now tell me why you called off your shades.”

Phoenix lifted a finger to his lips, a smirk uplifting the edge of his mouth. “That’s a secret.”

Then, he blinked out of sight.

“Fuck!” I squeezed the hilt of my dagger. “I won’t rest until I can drive this blade through his throat.”

Alastair closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at me. “I told the others what happened. They’re heading back to the mansion. What do you think? Do you believe Phoenix speaks the truth?”

“You’re asking my opinion, Pride? And here I thought you had all the answers.”

“This is not the time for jabs, Galen.”

“I’m well aware.”

“Then answer the question.”

“Yes,” I said. “Phoenix wouldn’t risk showing his ugly mug around me unless it was for good reason.”

Alastair regarded me in silence before nodding. “We should head back.”

I unfurled my wings and lifted off the rooftop. The wind nipped at my bare chest as I rose higher into the air. Alastair flew beside me, and I caught him glancing in the direction of the hospital.

“Go to him,” I said.