Adarian cursed.

I think it would be best if you left here.

“I’m not going anywhere. They won’t find Nick. Even if they do, they won’t mistake that guttersnipe for me.”

Caleb scoffed. You willing to risk your son’s life on that?

“No, but I’m willing to risk yours.”

Of course he was. Why not? If Caleb died, Adarian could always find another. I will keep him safe.

“Oh, I have no doubt you will. You’ve seen what happens to creatures who disappoint me.”

He’d also seen what happened to people who helped him. Either way, Adarian screwed you.

“Now go and protect him.”

Yes, my lord and tormentor.

Adarian turned to watch Malphas leave. So something had located him. It wasn’t the first time. Five years ago, he’d come close to being captured by one of his enemies. Death had never been an option.

Not until Nick had hit puberty.

Now that brat could take his place as Malachai.

Kirast kiroza kirent. Conceived in violence to do violence and to die violently. That was the promise written in the first language, on the Malachai symbol.

No sooner had that thought gone through his head than he felt his Malachai mark heat up. It was a warning that something from Azmodea was here.

A spark of electricity danced up his spine. Who or whatever it was, was watching him. Not that he cared.

But his end was coming soon. No matter how hard he fought against it, he knew the truth. He could feel it deep inside his bones.

If he didn’t kill Nick soon and absorb his powers, he would have to die. And that he wasn’t about to do. Not now.

He could always breed another son. One more malleable than Nick. One he could control and then kill.

Bitterness rose in his throat as he considered the son he’d only seen a few times. Who would have ever dreamed his wilting waif of a mother would possess a core of strength that was so staggering? Cherise had always been full of surprises.

But then so had he.

One of his guards snapped his head toward Adarian in a manner that was as recognizable as it was ludicrous. Some spirit had possessed the man. Which told him all he needed to know about the pathetic creature watching him.

“Lower forms don’t scare me,” Adarian said to the demon. “Higher forms either. Go home and leave me before I pull your wings off and shove you in a specimen jar.”

The possessed guard glared at him. “You’re the one who’s going to be shoved into a jar. And then we’re going to tear your son apart. Right in front of you.”

Adarian laughed at the fool. “Bring it.”

The demon attacked.

Adarian caught him up against his chest and held him tight. He choked the demon as he spoke to him in their native tongue. “How do you know about my son?”

“Everyone knows. We’ve known about him for centuries.”

Adarian frowned. Centuries? Nick was barely a decade old. What was the imbecile talking about?

“Malachai! Let him go or we’ll shoot!”

Adarian glanced askance at the moron who was interrupting them. “How did you find out about him?” he asked the demon in his arms.

“It wasn’t easy. Zeus took away his emotions. His lack of hatred shielded him from us for a long time. But that ban is weakening and we now know he exists and where to find him. That was sneaky of you, Malachai. Impregnate a goddess. But it won’t work. You will die. If not by me, then by one of my brethren.”

The guards opened fire. Adarian shielded himself with the demon he held. The human part of the guard’s body screamed as bullets pummeled him and sank in deep. Once the guard was dead, the demon pulled out and vanished.

Disgusted, Adarian hissed at the sensation of bullets ripping through his flesh. They wouldn’t kill him. No mortal weapon could ever kill a Malachai. They just hurt.

One of the guards grabbed him and threw him to the ground. “You’re going to pay for that.”

Yeah, right. They had no idea. Any more than they had a way to cause him harm.

But as they handcuffed him on the ground, his thoughts turned to something he’d never suspected before. He had another son out there. One who was grown, who had the blood of two gods flowing through him.

While that son might not have the Malachai powers, he was a god and if Nick were to die.…

Adarian could infuse his other son with enough of Nick’s blood to combine all three.

Oh yeah, this was better than he’d ever dreamed.

Nick’s life was growing shorter by his heartbeat.

And it was time he paid his son a long overdue visit.

CHAPTER 7

Alone in his room, since Kody and Caleb had decided he was relatively safe for the time being, Nick yawned and checked his watch. He needed to go by Liza’s before she closed and pick up Rosa’s gift, then stop by Timeless Treasures to grab the present he’d put on layaway for her. If he left now, he’d get back in time to walk his mom home. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called.

“Sanctuary on Ursulines. Jasyn speaking. How can I help you?”

“Hi, Jasyn, it’s Nick. Is my mom around?”

“Oh hey, kid. Hang on and I’ll grab her for you.”

Nick waited until his mother picked up the phone.

“What do you need, Nick?” There was definitely ice in her tone, and it made him feel awful to have put it there.

“Hi, Mom. I—um—I need to go pick up something for Kyrian at Ms. Liza’s. It won’t take long and then I’ll be back to walk you home.”

“You don’t have to do that.” Yeah, she was still upset at him and it more than showed.

“I know, Ma. But I like walking you home … and I’m really sorry, okay?” He held his breath, waiting for her to respond in kind.

She didn’t.

Instead, he got more of her icy shoulder. “I’ll see you in a little while.” She hung up.

Now I feel like total rolled over crap. She was probably thinking she should have signed the papers and tossed him to the nearest couple.

Trying not to think about it, he locked the door and left.

It was just starting to get dark. And that went a long way in cheering him. He loved this time of day the most, before the tourists started their heavy drinking, and when the Royal Street business owners began closing up for the night. They were always so cheerful as they left their premises and made their deposits. It was also that last few moments of the day before the real predators, the ones bullets and guns wouldn’t stop, came out to prey.

“Hey, Mrs. Clancy,” he said as the owner of the Masquerade store locked her door to leave.

“Evening, Nick. You headed the wrong way to get to your mama. You going to Bubba’s store? Tell me that boy ain’t holding any more of his zombie survival classes.”

Nick laughed. “I imagine he’ll be behaving himself tonight since his mama’s in town.”

“Oh good. My worst fear is he’ll start a fire in his store and it’ll burn all the way down to here.”

“Always a possibility with Bubba.” He grinned. “Good night, Mrs. Clancy.”

“’Night to you, too.”

Tucking his hands into his pockets, Nick headed toward the Cathedral.

He wasn’t far from Jackson Square when he heard someone call out his name. Since he was a regular in the Quarter and knew most of the people who worked and lived in it, he paused.

Nick was about to ignore it when he finally spied another kid his age just in front of him, down the street a little ways. It was Bristol from school.

“Yeah?” he asked.

“I was actually on my way to your house to see you. Can you come here for a sec?” he asked, motioning Nick into the alley that led to a closed clothing boutique. “I want to ask you something about school.”

His gut tightened and told him it wasn’t a good idea. But it was Bristol. He’d known him for years. What could be wrong with going to speak to an old friend for a minute?

Nick headed over. “What’s up?”

The moment he was deep inside the alley, Bristol shoved a piece of paper in his face. “What is this crap of bull?”

It took a second for his eyes to focus on the printout that listed him as a source, claiming Bristol was gay. It also said that he knew it for a fact as he was gay, too, and had partied with Bristol a few times.

Nick curled his lip. “I didn’t say that, crap.”

“Yeah, right. You told the same lie about Spence.”

“I didn’t say nothing to anyone. I don’t do things like that.”

“And I’m supposed to take the word of a piece of Cajun trash whose mom’s a stripper and whose dad is in jail for multiple murders? Really?”

Nick’s temper exploded and he ached to pulverize him. “I did not say that,” he reiterated, enunciating each word with the malice he felt.

“You’re a liar.” Bristol shoved him.

Don’t hit back.… His mom wouldn’t be able to take two fights in one day. He’d never hear the end of that.

He thought about Wren walking away earlier in Sanctuary. Wren definitely possessed the power to rip out the throat of anyone who annoyed him.

You can walk away, too. No time to learn like the present. Taking a deep breath, Nick turned to leave.

The moment he did, Bristol punched him in the back so hard, it knocked the wind out of him. “You don’t turn your back on me, punk. You’re the one who’s trash, not me.”

Yeah, right. But Nick wasn’t going to fight him. Not now. Not after the argument he’d had with his mom. “Look, Bristol—”

He punched him again. This time in the jaw.

Nick staggered back. He had to get out of here before he struck back. Turning around, he took two steps and then pain exploded through his skull.…

* * *

Kody? Is that you?”

Nekoda frowned at the panicked sound of Cherise Gautier’s voice on her phone. “Yes, ma’am. Can I help you?”

“Is Nick with you?”

“No, ma’am. Why?”

Cherise hesitated before she spoke again. “He was supposed to walk me home after he picked up something for Kyrian at Liza’s store. I got off work almost thirty minutes ago and he hasn’t shown up yet. When I called Liza, she said she hasn’t seen him, either. I know how upset he was earlier … you don’t think he’s done anything stupid, do you?”

No. The most likely scenario was something had gotten ahold of him and eaten him. “I don’t, Mrs. Gautier. He was feeling much better when I left. Let me make a few calls and see if anyone’s seen him.”

“I already called Bubba and Mark. They said he left with you.”

“I dropped him off at your house.” She left it at that since his mother frowned on anyone being in their apartment when she wasn’t home.

“I’ll stay here in case he’s just running late. Please let me know if you find out anything.”

“I will.” Kody hung up the phone and immediately called Caleb. “Hey, is Nick with you?”

“No. Why?”

“He’s missing.”

Caleb cursed. “I’ll start searching.”

“Me, too. See you later.” She hung up and closed her eyes. Using her powers, she tried to sense Nick’s whereabouts.

For once, it didn’t work. She had absolutely no idea where he was.

Fine, this was why she’d given him her class ring. He thought it was normal, but she could always use it to locate him.

Sure enough, she picked up on it immediately. Letting out a relieved sigh, she allowed it to pull her to his side. She materialized in a dark alley that appeared to be in the middle of the Quarter somewhere. She glanced around, but didn’t see anything. Why would it have brought her here if there was no Nick?

She was just about to leave when she heard a low, soft groan in the shadows. “Nick?”

It sounded like it could have been her name, slurred. Maybe. She couldn’t tell for certain.

Her heart pounding in fear, she ran to where it had originated. At first, she only saw garbage on the street. But after searching some of it, she found a body on the ground, partially covered by refuse.

Please don’t be Nick.…

Panic swelled inside her as she uncovered the wounded human. A small pool of blood had formed around his head and shoulder.

“Nick?” she breathed, kneeling down by his side so that she could turn him over and confirm his identity.

Yeah, it was him. She should have known by his tacky shirt. But his face was so battered and bloodied that she wouldn’t have known it was him except for the clothes he wore.

Okay, how do I get him help? If she flashed him into the hospital, they’d know immediately that she wasn’t human, and they’d notify the authorities to come lock her up.