Page 120 of Gray

“I did what I was ordered to do,” Lazarus said, teeth gritted as he clutched his wounded side.

“Was abusing us an order too?” Raiden stared at the floor.

“I made you strong.”

“You turned us into weapons,” Gray said with a quiver in his voice. “Bell’s right. Why should we put ourselves at risk to save you and the other angels? They all hate us anyway.”

“That attitude is one reason why you failed to assassinate your father for a second time, Sloth. You can’t see the bigger picture. His death would’ve ended this. But you allowed love to blind you yet again.” His eyes burned like blue flames. “Now he’s killing my brothers and sisters.”

“What does Belphegor want from the celestial realm?” Castor asked. “And before you feed us any more bullshit, we know it’s not—”

“A weapon,” Lazarus said. “He’s after a weapon.”

“What kind of weapon?” Alastair asked.

“The most powerful one in all of creation.” The angel released a shaky exhale. “The sword of Lucifer.”

Alastair paled. “I thought it was destroyed after the First War.”

“No. It can’t be destroyed. As long as Lucifer lives, so does the sword. After he was caged, we hid the weapon deep in the celestial vault.”

“What’s so special about it?” Kyo asked.

“You of all people should understand, water dragon, for you have one too. Though, yours chose you rather than being forged with your blood.” Lazarus summoned a whip that looked to be made of lightning. “All of the higher ranking angels have soul weapons. I have my whip. Belphegor has his sword of fire.”

“That I remember quite well,” Daman muttered, touching the center of his chest. Warrin pulled him closer, a tortured look in his eyes.

“And Lucifer had Light Bringer,” Lazarus continued.

“He named the sword after himself?” I asked. I had delved deep into religious mythology when trying to learn more about the Nephilim and recognized the name.

“Yes. The sword was incomparable in both its power and its beauty, so he gave it the only name he thought worthy.”

“Why would Belphegor want Light Bringer?” Raiden asked. “A spirit weapon can only be wielded by the one it was forged for. He won’t be able to use it.”

“No.” Alastair’s body tensed. “But Asa can. He shares Lucifer’s blood.”

Lazarus nodded. “If Asa wields Light Bringer, I’m afraid not even you can stop him. Which is why we need to act quickly.”

Alastair regarded Galen, and silence passed between them. He then released a breath before turning his attention to Lazarus. “Tell us what we need to do.”

The angel winced as he rose to his feet. “Come with me to the celestial realm. Help us fight. If not for us, then for this world. You think it’s bad now. It’s nothing compared to what will happen if that sword falls into Asa’s hands.”

Chapter Nineteen

Gray

“We were supposed to be getting married today.” My heart ached as I grabbed my sword. “Instead, I’m leaving for war.”

“I’m going with you,” Mason said, arms coming around me.

I shook my head. “You can’t.”

“Like hell I can’t. I’d like to see anyone try to stop me.”

That fierce protectiveness was something I loved about Mason. But he did it in a way that didn’t make me feel like a child. He knew I could kick butt; he just liked to be beside me when I did. He was the big to my small.

“You’d be the first human to ever step foot into the celestial realm,” Lazarus said as Clara applied a healing salve to the wound on his side. “One that’s still breathing anyway.”