Page 93 of Galen

I tossed the ring on the bedside table and wrapped my arms around my knees, doing my best to hold myself together. Tears slipped from my eyes as I remembered Gray’s voice cracking as he banged on the door. Shit was overwhelming right now, and I felt like my mind was about to snap. I hugged my arms tighter around myself, wishing Galen was with me.

How had such an amazing morning turned out like this?

***

A grim silence hung over us later that evening. They never found Castor. Each of them had looked for hours, but the trail ran cold. As the sun set, the six of them made their way back home, worry written all over their faces. Anger too.

“What was he doing away from the mansion so early?” Galen growled, knuckles cracking as he squeezed his hands into tight fists. He stood beside the window in the entertainment room as rain pelted against the glass.

“We went to the club together last night,” Raiden said, gaze on the carpet. His voice shook. “Cas met some guy and went to the back room to fuck. Before I left, I asked through our mind link where he was, and he told me to go home. That he was okay.”

“You dumbass,” Daman said. “You shouldn’t have left him alone. Maybe if you would use your brain as much as your muscles, you wouldn’t have been so stupid.”

Raiden snarled and jumped up off the couch.

“Enough,” Alastair said from his spot against the wall. Raiden’s nostrils flared as he sat back down. “We’re all hurting right now and worried about our brother, but attacking each other is the last thing we should be doing. Castor needs us to keep a level head.” His pale eyes focused on me. “With the attack in the celestial realm happening at the same time as Castor’s disappearance… the two have to be related somehow.”

I hated to even ask it, but the question haunted me. “How do you know he’s even still alive?”

“We would feel it if he died,” Galen answered. “I sense his life force. He’s in pain, but he’s alive.”

Gray whimpered and shoved his face in the crook of my neck. I held him closer, an ache spreading through my chest.

“Lazarus isn’t responding to me,” Alastair said.

“He was in bad shape when I saw him.” I stared down at my lap. “I wish I could’ve helped.”

“There was nothing you could’ve done.” Galen’s voice was gentle.

“Will he die from his wounds?” I asked. “I thought you guys healed super fast.”

“We do.” Alastair took a steadying breath. “But we’re not indestructible by any means. Full-blooded angels like Lazarus can only be killed by a celestial blade, which is what Ramiel must’ve used to wound him. The weapon can kill us too of course. It slows our healing.” His brow dipped in the center. “Mainly, it’s used to torture us.”

Hot tears fell on my chest as Gray snuggled in closer.

“Why would anyone want to torture any of you?”

“You’re full of many questions tonight, mortal.” Alastair glowered at me. “This business doesn’t concern you. You—”

“Itdoesconcern me,” I snapped, fed up with his attitude. “Lazarus gavemethe ring and told me to keep it safe. So stop treating me like an outsider. Castor is my friend, and I want to help you guys find him.”

“There’s only one reason why they’d want to torture him,” Galen said, moving his gaze back to the rain hitting the window. “For information. Specifically, our location.”

“Doesn’t the warding prevent them from reaching us?” I asked.

“The veil isn’t impenetrable.” Alastair pushed away from the wall. “It’s strong, yes, but there are ways they can get inside. If Ramiel is working with Belphegor, he would’ve told him that Lazarus fled the celestial realm with the ring. It’s obvious where he would’ve stashed it. The one place none of them can easily breach.”

“So they took Castor to find a way inside,” I said as the pieces slid into place.

“Yes.” A tic started in Alastair’s jaw. “They were one step ahead of us. Predicting our movements and acting accordingly.”

“So what do we do now?” Bellamy asked.

“They took our brother,” Galen growled, turning away from the window. His light gray eyes darkened. “I won’t rest until I see them all burn.”

At the same time, the six of them flinched. Gray brought his arms up to cover his head, his small body shaking. Galen clutched at his chest, his eyes wide. Alastair slumped forward, having to catch himself on the edge of the couch.

“Poor Cas,” Gray said, his voice as small as he was. “They’re hurting him so much. I feel his pain.”