Kody’s words put a chill down the spine of them all. Noir and Azura were two of the gods of the original source of all evil. If those swords were in their hands …
It was a bad day for humanity. As the Source, they would have the ability to create new warriors for them. Warriors so powerful that no one could stand against them.
“We have to get those swords back.”
Caleb laughed.
Until he realized she was serious. “Child, my entire army couldn’t take down the Sephirii and believe me, we tried. All the Malachai together, couldn’t defeat them. They tried. It was basically one bloody standoff every time we went to war against them. Which begs the question of who the hell was so stupid as to tell you, Shadow, to keep them?” He turned to glare at the man.
“And I repeat … someone I trusted. Short list, that.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“No arguments there. I used to hang out with you. Even worse, I followed you into battle, which says it all about my intellect and great mental abilities.”
Nick stepped back out of Caleb’s way. Given the expression on his face, he wasn’t about to get between them in the event the demon started swinging. He knew that look and it never boded well for the person or demon receiving it.
“Before you two go World War III, can I ask something?” Now they were both giving him that glower. “What happened to the demons and swords that attacked you? Did you kill them all?”
“No. We barely beat them off. They were more intent on weakening us.”
“Why?”
Caleb shrugged. “They’re demons. They don’t have to make sense.”
Nick snorted at something he knew was bull. “Since when?”
“Since you never do.”
He had a point. Still … “Isn’t this sending a flag up anyone’s pole, other than mine?”
“He’s right.” Kody bit her lip. “They came at me and Nick, at the same time they attacked you. It was strategic. Why?”
“Divide and conquer.” Caleb pulled the cloth away from his stomach to check his wound. “With those swords, they could have killed us. Yet they chose not to. You’re right. There was some reason they pulled back.”
A bad feeling went through Nick as he took Kody’s hand. “What’s your weakness?”
“You.”
That single word made his stomach tighten and his heart light. But as sweet as it was, it wasn’t what he needed right then. “Seriously, Kode. What are they trying to do with you?”
“While I’m technically dead, this body is living. It can be killed and I wouldn’t be able to stay here. I’d have to leave you.”
That thought tore him up inside. He couldn’t imagine living without her. She was vital to him in a way he couldn’t even begin to explain. Like breathing, only more important.
“What’s the new Malachai’s goal?” Nick whispered. Cyprian couldn’t kill him without ending his own future. If Nick died now, he wouldn’t be around to father him tomorrow. Kody was a different story. She technically didn’t live in this time period, so she wasn’t critical to Cyprian’s future.
And while he’d seen Caleb in the future, it didn’t mean his destiny couldn’t be altered. His death wouldn’t matter either.
Caleb sighed. “We know Sroasha wants you dead.”
Nick nodded, well aware of that fact. “But what about Cyprian? What does he want here?”
“That is anyone’s guess.” Caleb passed another sullen glare at Shadow. “You should have destroyed every last one of those swords.”
“Clearly I’m choking on regret.”
“You’re about to be choking on my fists.”
“When did this escalate to violence?” Nick asked.
Caleb gestured at his stomach. “The moment I was stabbed. What part of me bleeding and my guts hanging out did you miss?”
Kody shook her head. “This bickering is pointless and Nick has something he should be doing.”
“Yeah and I’m doing it. Protecting all of you.”
She tsked at him. “You need to go and take care of the matter with Virgil. We’ve got this.”
Nick didn’t like the sound of that even a little bit. Nor did he trust in the universe enough that he believed for one yoctosecond it didn’t plan to screw him over.
It always did.
“I don’t like unsolvable puzzles.”
Kody kissed his cheek. “We’ll figure this out.”
Growling low in his throat, Caleb took on his human appearance. “C’mon, Lord King Pain. Let’s get this over with.” He paused to glare at Shadow. “You, find out what happened. I’ll be back to kick your butt later.”
Shadow scoffed. “You better bring back up.”
“Won’t need it for your worthless hide.”
He laughed. “I’ll take that wager.”
Without commenting, Caleb grabbed Nick and took him home.
Kody met Shadow’s worried gaze the moment they were alone in his realm. “What are you hiding?”
“Certainly not the fact that I’m an idiot.” He glanced over to Simi and then to Aeron. “‘Course, he knows that.”
Aeron laughed. “You haven’t changed a bit.”
“And you’re hedging.” She could feel it deep inside. He had an aura like Nick’s. Both of them were handsome beyond belief, with a bashful confidence that said they’d been kicked enough to wear down their conceit. And both wore their cockiness as a mode of self-defense against a bitterly cruel world that ever sought to bring them to their knees. It made her protective of a man who was probably older than both her ancient parents.
“I’m just thinking that with those swords, in the right hands, they could breed new Sephirii.”
“Would that be so bad?”
“Depends. Those swords were forged from the pit of the Source. The very essence of the universe is inside them. Their blades will cut through anything, and they will cut through anyone. With them, their wielders can kill gods.”
“But the swords have to choose who wields them and they don’t bond with just anyone, yes?”
“True, but the swords feed on blood. They thrive on it. In the hands of a Source god, such as Azura or Noir, or one who is familiar with them, such as Grim or Laguerre, they can be tricked to bond against their wills. Enslaved if you will.”
“What happens then?”
Shadow’s eyes turned sinister and his voice dropped a full octave. “You create a monster so vicious, it makes the Malachai look like a friendly puppy.”
CHAPTER 5
Nick felt the jolt to his powers the moment he walked into the police station. It slapped him like Stone’s stench after gym class. And left him just as feral and ready to fight.
Totally Pavlovian.
Primal. The Malachai blood inside him reacted to evil the way a hungry baby embraced candy. It salivated and drooled, wanting him to tear them apart and feast on it.
His breathing turned ragged.
Virgil, who stood almost eye level with him, paused. “You okay, buddy?”
Nick felt his lip involuntarily curl. It actually wanted him to go for Virgil’s neck—which would be really stupid as Virgil wouldn’t take that lying down. He’d fight and make it hurt.
Eyes widening ever so much, Virgil stepped back. “I’ll take that as a no.”
And just as Nick was about to go for his throat, he felt an unexpected peace rise up within him. One so sudden and overwhelming that it made him gasp and stopped him dead in his tracks.
Thinking it was Kody, he turned to find his mother rushing toward them. Before he could so much as blink, she latched on to him in a fierce bear hug that was so powerful, it felt like some gigantic beast had wrapped itself around him and not the tiny waif of a woman who barely reached the middle of his chest and weighed less than his right thigh.
A slight exaggeration on her weight. But really, his mom couldn’t be more than a buck even after an all day bender at the Café Du Monde.
“My baby Boo! You okay?” The tears in her voice wrecked him.