Page 46 of Beyond the Storm
Uriel sneered. “Knitting?”
“I’ve heard humans say it relieves stress,” Michael said. “How adorable would it be for you to knit a wee bunny rabbit with a cotton-ball tail. You can place him in the garden to guard your beloved roses.”
I forced myself not to smile. Michael might’ve been the highest-ranking archangel, but he was also my greatest friend. His sense of humor and carefree attitude could lift even the lowest of spirits. Unless, of course, you were Uriel, the highest-ranking sourpuss.
I stood from the bench. “If that’s all, I’ll be on my way.”
“I didn’t dismiss you, Lazarus,” Uriel said, his tone harder than before. “You forget your place.”
“I forget nothing.”
“Then you’ll remember that I voted to allow your precious Alastair to live in this realm despite my better judgment,” Uriel snapped. “I can easily cast him back out.”
Unlike his usual threats, that one lacked fervor. It seemed empty. Maybe Raphael and Selaphiel weren’t the only archangels to fall beneath Alastair’s spell.
“Come now, Uriel,” Michael said, plopping down next to him on the bench. “Peacetime has made you paranoid. I assure you nothing is amiss. My warriors have everything under control. Let us journey to the kitchens for morning meal while Lazarus returns to his mate. Food will work wonders on your mood.”
“Are you implying I’m grouchy because I’m hungry?” Uriel asked.
Michael only grinned in response.
When I returned home, Alastair was no longer in bed. I found him in the kitchen, pouring a cup of tea. Instead of Earl Grey—his favorite—he’d made an English breakfast tea blend. It was made up of three different black teas, giving it a bold, full-bodied flavor.
“Do my eyes deceive me, or is my husband adding milkandsugar to his morning tea?”
Alastair rolled his eyes. “It’s not the first time. Sometimes I like it creamier.”
“If you want cream, I may have something you’d like.” I wound my arms around him from behind and placed my mouth at his ear. “And it would feel much better.”
He choked on a laugh. “Do my ears deceiveme,or is my husband taking a page from Bellamy’s book and making a perverted joke? Who are you, and what have you done with my Lazarus?”
I smiled before kissing his nape. He finished doctoring his tea, and the shade was much lighter than normal, even when he’d added cream in the past. Him breaking routine pleased me for some reason. Perhaps because it showed that he’d felt comfortable enough to try new things, to switch things up. I could certainly learn from him.
He took a sip and released a sexy little sigh of contentment. “This is sweeter than usual, but I like it. Blame Raphael. He’s always loading me up on sugar. It’s altered my tastes a bit.”
I turned him to face me and pressed our lips together. Just a short kiss, but it caused a rush of heat in my veins. “Apologies for not being here when you woke. Uriel summoned me.”
Instantly, his good mood faltered. “Is everything okay?”
“I believe so, yes. Uriel is finding it difficult to accept that the threat we’d faced for so many years is over. He’s overthinking, and those thoughts are preventing him from moving forward.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but I can relate to him,” Alastair said, expression pensive. “Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night, afraid I’d dreamed this amazing life with you. That worry is fleeting, as I quickly come to my senses, but it’s still there in the back of my mind.”
“You asked yesterday about Purah and Vepar. I realize I never told you.”
He waved his hand. “You don’t have to. If you say all is well, I believe you.”
I caught his hand before he could lower it and kissed his fingertips. Our gazes locked. Alastair was beautiful—silvery-blond hair, creamy skin that refused to tan no matter how long he spent beneath the sun, and blue eyes that never missed a thing.
“Purah is in the underworld,” I said. “Michael’s scouts are keeping an eye on him, though, and feel he’s not planning anything. Vepar is still off the radar, yet considering how deeply Belphegor hurt him, I find it unlikely he’ll do anything either. I’m sharing this with you because I never want to keep a secret from you again.”
“I appreciate that.” The sudden rush of emotion caused his voice to shake.
“Drink your tea.” I brushed a kiss to his temple before pulling back. “We’ll go for a swim in the lake afterward.”
“You’re not training today?” he asked with a hopefulness that squeezed my heart.
“I’m taking the day off. My mate is meeting a vampire for dinner tonight, so I’d prefer to spend the whole day reminding him of who he belongs to.”
