Yeah, it was a good day to be alive. His friend, Acheron, who was an ancient Atlantean, was right, every day should be met with purpose and lived with gratitude. Having been forced against his will to live as someone else for a brief time, Nick had decided that as screwed up and dangerous as his real life was, he much preferred it to anyone else’s.
This existence and world might not be perfect. But they were perfectly his. The only thing he’d change at this point was the number of paranormal creatures who wanted him dead.
Or enslaved.
Yeah, it would be nice to be off a few hit lists for a while. That he wouldn’t complain about.
Eh, ca c’est bon. That was life. Some days you ate the rougarou. Some days the rougarou devoured you.
And in this city, and in his particularly screwed-up life, that phrase seriously had significance.
Sprinting up the steps of St. Richard’s High School, he entered the two-story redbrick building and headed for his locker to change out his books so he could start his day right, and with as little drama as possible. Which would be a really nice change of pace.
“What are you smiling about, Gautier?”
Nick grinned even wider as he shut his locker and turned to face his recalcitrant demon bodyguard. “It’s almost 8 a.m. and nothing’s tried to kill or eat me yet. Dang good day, if you ask me.”
Rolling his eyes, Caleb stepped around him to open his own locker. “I really hate chipper morning people. Thinking I should have hand-fed you to your enemies last night.”
Nick laughed. “But you didn’t,” he teased against all common sense, in a singsongy voice he’d learned from a very special Charonte demon named Simi, while Caleb pulled books out and shoved them into his expensive designer backpack. “Which means you think I’m all cute and fluffy. Besides, you’d miss me if I were gone.”
With a rude snort, Caleb zipped his bag shut. “Careful, Cajun. I wouldn’t test that theory, were I you.”
Nick leaned up against the locker bank and tried not to envy Caleb his dark, perfect Hollywood good looks that made every female in their school pass a longing gaze at him as she walked by. Student and teacher. “That would hold more weight if you weren’t here.”
“Meaning?”
“You said if my demonic overlord of a father were dead, you wouldn’t be in high school anymore to guard me. Now he’s gone, and yet here you remain… ever my faithful, handsome protector.” He batted his eyelashes playfully.
Ignoring Nick’s feigned flirtations, Caleb shut the locker and brushed his hand through his stylishly coiffed jet-black hair. His dark eyes flashing orange, he gave Nick a harsh, unamused stare. “Yeah, well, my self-preservation and common sense kicked in. If something eats you, they inherit my servitude and soul. As annoying as you are most days, I’d rather deal with you than one of my other possible choices. ’Cause let’s face it, my luck and past experiences say it would never be a sexy succubus who spends her days working as a supermodel in a bikini, but rather some scaly elderly male exhibitionist who likes to pull the wings off daeves and stick us in jars… or nail us to walls.”
He shoved a chemistry book at Nick. “Been there. Done that. Reloop’s a bitch and whoever designed it should be relegated to the lowest level of Thorn’s special pit.”
Nick tsked at him. “Poor Caleb. Thousands of years old and still in high school. Dude, you seriously need to speak to a guidance counselor about your transcript.”
“Don’t push it, Gautier. My maternal instincts don’t kick in till noon.”
Laughing, Nick stepped away from the lockers so that LaShonda could open hers. Dressed in a J-pop-style navy suit, she had her newly done sisterlocks pulled back into a matching bow.
“Morning, Miss Sunshine.”
LaShonda scowled at him as she pulled books for her first period. “Someone’s in a good mood this morning.”
Nick winked at her. “What can I say? The sight of your beautiful face can cheer my most soured mood.”
“Better not let her boyfriend or your Kody hear you speaking to her like that, Gautier, or they’ll be having a pair of fried Cajun nuggets for lunch.”
Smiling, Nick stepped aside for Brynna Addams, LaShonda’s best friend, and one of the few people he knew he could count on whenever it mattered. Unlike LaShonda, with her daring style, Brynna was much more sedate in her wardrobe choice, with tan pants and a white shirt. “Morning, my other Miss Sunshine. Ever a pleasure to see you.”