One he couldn’t see, hear, or touch.
He could only feel it like a hidden shadow. Malevolent and cold, it sent a shiver down his spine. It was pure hatred, but he couldn’t tel who it was directed at.
Him.
Or Nick.
Kyrian lowered his tone so that neither Rosa nor Nick would hear him. “What aren’t you saying?”
“Ever have one of those feelings you can’t shake?”
“Every damn night.”
Ash gave a short laugh. “Stil planning to set Nick up as your Squire?”
“He’s not old enough yet. But when he is, that’s my plan.
Why? Is there something about him I should know?” Ash felt the tattoo on his biceps shift down toward his elbow. The burning sensation was Simi’s way of letting him know she was getting restless and wanted to come off his body and take human form, or maybe she just had indigestion from eating the zombies so fast.
Rubbing his hand over his demon, he stopped her for the moment. “He seems like a good kid.”
“But?”
But there’s something about him not quite …
Right.
If only he could put his finger on it. Not wanting to worry Kyrian when there was no reason to, he shrugged. “I have nothing to add. Other than don’t let the zombies eat you while nothing to add. Other than don’t let the zombies eat you while you’re on patrol tonight. Be a damn waste of a good Dark-Hunter.”
Kyrian flexed his foot so that one of the knives shot out from the toe of his boot. “I think I can take them.” Ash wasn’t so sure about that. Kyrian always had a hard time harming anyone under the age of consent. Not that he was cold-blooded himself.
Simi was another matter. She’d eaten the zombies in the kitchen before he’d had a chance to corral her. It was why he’d blinded Nick and Rosa. His little demon had a mind of her own and when she smel ed nonhuman delicacies, which she claimed weren’t on her banned food list, there was no stopping her.
Soon he’d have to let her loose again or she was going to crawl al over his body until she had him doing St. Vitus’
dance. “The sun’s setting. You want me to take Nick home for you?”
Kyrian nodded. “Thanks. While you do that, I’l rendezvous with Talon in the Quarter and see if we can get a handle on this zombie outbreak.”
“Good luck.”
“Back at you.” Kyrian headed for the door that led to his garage.
Ash waited until he was sure Kyrian was gone before he went to the kitchen. He paused to watch Nick joking with Rosa. There was something extremely charismatic about Nick. Like an aura that warmed people and made them want to listen to him.
Some would cal it glamour—a power certain creatures were born with while others learned it later in life. It was more than charm. More than a good personality.
Ash had a similar ability, only it pul ed people toward him for an entirely different reason. One that kept him on guard against people constantly lest they lose control of themselves.
Funny thing was, Nick seemed immune to that too. And for that, Ash was extremely grateful. Very few people didn’t react to the curse his aunt had given him at birth. In fact he could count on one hand the number of people over the centuries who’d been immune.
There’s something not right about this kid.
You’re being paranoid.
Was he?
You were human once too with no knowledge of your true birth or destiny. Another curse given to him by his family. Until his twenty-first birthday, he’d had no idea that he was a god.
No idea that his real mother had been the Atlantean goddess of destruction.
And when his powers had been unleashed, it’d almost destroyed the entire world and had driven mankind back into the Stone Age.
What if that innocent kid eating the gumbo Ash had repaired was a creature like him?
You are being stupid.
Or was he? When Ash had been human not even other gods had been able to detect his real nature. Artemis herself had stood right beside him and proclaimed him human.
He narrowed his gaze on the boy. The zombies had been here for Nick and Nick alone. He was sure of it. There was no other reason for them to have attacked.
The only question was why. …
CHAPTER 8
Nick froze in front of Ash’s shiny black car. … No, not car.
Friggin’ Porsche 911 Turbo! Talk about epic. His heart actual y started pumping like a freight train at the prospect of riding in it.
“How can this be your car?”
Ash shot him a “duh” stare. “Wel , I wrote a real y big check that didn’t bounce to the dealer and then the most amazing thing happened. … The salesman gave me the keys and let me take it home. It was like magic.”
Nick gave him a peeved glare. “Only I’m al owed to be that sarcastic.”
“Trust me, Nick. I’ve got many more years of practice at it than you have. Now hop in.”