Page 67 of Castor
“Isn’t that what demons do?” Baxter casually rested against the kitchen counter. “They possess people, spread chaos, et cetera.”
“Usually, yes, but the timing is suspicious,” Alastair said. “They’re toying with us. I think it also might be a test.”
“What kind of test?” I asked.
“To see how many of us are still in town.” Alastair looked out the terrace doors. The daylight brought out the lighter shades of blond in his short hair. “It’s exactly what Phoenix would do. He’d send shades and mid-level demons to attack while he sits back and sees which of us respond. I’m sure it’s all leading to something much bigger.”
“Like what?” Kyo shifted a bit closer to me. “Do you think he plans to break through the barrier around your mansion again?”
Alastair shook his head. “No. There’s nothing at the mansion he or Asa wants. Other than us dead anyway. Someone must’ve been spying on us over the past few months and knew some of us left home.” His blue eyes narrowed. “Which means they know we’re separated right now and not at our full fighting power. Shit.” He snatched his phone back up, pressed a button, and held it to his ear. “Galen. Is everyone at the mansion? Good. Don’t patrol tomorrow night. Yes, I’m aware that demons have attacked, but I think it’s a trap. They’re intentionally attacking to get your attention. Theywantyou to pursue them. Don’t give them what they want.”
Galen’s voice was a lot louder than Daman’s, and so I was able to hear his side of the conversation.
“You expect me to sit here and hide behind the barrier when I know humans could be in danger?” Galen growled. “Fuck that.”
“Iexpectyou to do whatever the fuck I tell you to, Wrath,” Alastair countered. “This isn’t a request. It’s a goddamn order.”
Alastair must’ve been really triggered. He rarely cursed that much. Something I’d learned about him over the years was when it came to us—his family—he would go to extreme measures to keep us safe. Even if he tried to hide it.
“Yes, sir,” Galen said with a slight snarl before hanging up.
“Should we go home?” Bellamy asked. “It sounds like it could get ugly.”
“No.” Alastair slowly inhaled, then released the breath. Calming himself. “They can take care of themselves for now. We need more allies. Our mission takes priority.”
Naida, who had entered the room earlier, stepped forward. “Do you want me to contact Sirena and let her know to be expecting you?”
Alastair pondered a moment. “What do you know of Sirena, Naida? Can she be trusted?”
“Yes.” Naida bowed her head to him. “I was in her clan for many years. She is a fierce warrior, protective of her people, and loyal.”
“Why did you leave if she’s so awesome?” I asked.
Naida’s amber eyes moved to me. “A handful of us traveled to Greece in years past to meet with a new recruit. While in Athens, I met Zale.”
“Zale?” Raiden asked. “Isn’t that a ring store?”
Kyo choked on a laugh, and I grinned at him, thinking it was the cutest freaking thing I’d ever heard.
“Zale is my husband,” Naida clarified, her stoic expression faltering a bit. It was damn near impossible to be around my idiot brother andnotsmile at least a little. “He was in Athens replenishing medical supplies for the island. We spent a weekend together, and I knew he was my destined mate. Sirena allowed me to leave her clan and join him here on the island. That’s when I met Baxter and chose to fight for him.”
She had known Zale was her mate only after a weekend. Time really didn’t matter, then. When your heart knew, it knew.
“Is Zale a warrior too?” Kyo asked.
“No. He’s a physician.”
“And a fine one at that,” Baxter said. “We Nephilim heal quickly, of course, but the human mates don’t.”
“Can you not heal them yourselves?” Bellamy asked.
Baxter glared at him before looking at Alastair, as if he were the one to ask the question. “We don’t share your healing abilities. We can heal ourselves but not others. We can also be killed easier than you can. Decapitation, being stabbed in a vital organ, blown apart, those things can kill us before our bodies have time to heal.”
A celestial blade was one of the only things that could kill me and my brothers. I hadn’t known it was different for other Nephilim. Lazarus had failed to mention it, just like he’d failed to mention a billion other things that would’ve been useful to know.
Alastair looked at Naida. “Do you think Sirena would ever side with Asa?”
I knew why he’d asked. If there was even a possibility that she had already sided with him, alerting her to our arrival beforehand could turn into an ambush—the exact reason why we hadn’t let Baxter know either.
