Page 87 of Bellamy
“Al,”Raiden said as he fought three demons at once.“We can’t—”
“Don’t,”Alastair interjected, hitting Asa with the hilt of his weapon, then jumping backward to dodge a hit.“We will win this fight.”
Pride wouldn’t let him believe otherwise. Even if it was hopeless.
A boom from outside drew my attention. Five figures appeared in the grass, their white wings glowing in the dark night.
“Lazarus,” Belphegor said, baring his teeth.
Hope blossomed in my chest.
Four other angels trailed behind Lazarus and attacked the demons outside while he stepped through the broken glass door that led into the study from the small garden. Lazarus remained composed, though a hard gleam shone in his eyes.
“About time you showed up,” Castor said from his place against the bookshelf. My heart sank at the sight of the growing puddle of blood around him. He’d kept pressure applied to the wound, but it was deep.
Kyo had returned to his side, katana drawn, to protect him should anyone approach. The sad truth was if one died, they both would: the downside to completing the mating ritual and binding their life forces. The same applied to Galen, Daman, and Gray too.
All were vulnerable.
I thought of Phoenix then. Even without us becoming fully bonded mates, I sensed him nearby. Goddamn fated mate bullshit.
Lazarus’ expression didn’t change as it fell to my wounded brother. However, his grip tightened on the handle of his whip. He then returned his attention to Belphegor. “Do you hate humankind so much that you’d fight so hard to see it destroyed?”
“You’re only this big of a pain in the ass because you’re following orders,” Belphegor said. “Or have you forgotten how you once shared Lucifer’s views?”
Alastair regarded Lazarus in shock. I think we all did.
“We all admired Lucifer once.” Lazarus steeled his gaze. “When he spoke, he bewitched us all. However, I then saw him for who he truly is. A vile snake. He betrayed all of us when he rebelled.”
“Betrayed.” Belphegor scoffed. “He only wanted to be free. We all did. We were tired of being chained down. He gave us a purpose. And we all loved him for it.”
“Most of you died for that love too.” Lazarus’ whip flickered and sparked like a lightning bolt as it snaked down his arm. “I call that justice.”
He struck at Belphegor. The whip caught the fallen angel around the neck and burned into his skin as it yanked him forward. A sword of fire appeared in Belphegor’s hand before he broke the hold of the whip and charged at Lazarus. As they collided, it sounded like two massive boulders smashing together.
The other four angels were met by Vepar and Purah. That left Asa to us. More upper-level demons materialized in the room. Daman, Warrin, and I fought them off, while Raiden, Gray, and Kyo stood around Castor fighting the rest.
Only Alastair could reach Asa.
“I’m done with these games.” Asa’s sword looked like pure onyx, the entire weapon a shiny black that had dark smoke swirling around it. “This ends now!”
Since Asa’s focus was interrupted, the freezing spell on Galen lifted. He shoved Simon behind him as three demons circled him. He could deal with him easily, so I turned back to the ones around me.
The study was crammed now, both with dead bodies and live ones. The stench was one I knew well, for we’d fought in countless battles. Probably would fight in many more before we eventually fell.
Unless we fell tonight.
A loud crack of thunder filled the room, so loud I flinched. But it wasn’t really thunder.
Purah hovered over one of the angels who’d come with Lazarus. His curved dagger jutted from the male’s heart. The sound had been the angel’s soul leaving his body as he’d died. Purah released a creepy giggle before pulling the dagger free and licking the blood. His green eyes—the same shade as toxic sludge—lifted to me.
“Lusty,” he said, rising to his feet. Red streaked through his ashy gray and black hair as he ran his bloody fingers through it. “I miss our playtime.”
My gut coiled at the memory of him digging his blade into my ribs and twisting. He’d been sure to use regular daggers—not ones with celestial steel—so he could torture me to his heart’s content without killing me in the process.
“Fuck you,” I spat at him.
An unsettling grin formed on his lips. “Cassy was fun to cut up too. Choppy chop.”
