Menyara turned toward Nick. “Dagon was the ancient Akkadian god of seasons, magic, and time.”
Xev arched a shocked brow at her list. “That’s not the ruthless god I remember. In my day, he, alongside Cam, judged the dead and was one of his father’s best generals during the Primus Bellum. He was a war god then who served the Malachai army well, and gleefully slaughtered everyone who came near him. What changed you?”
Menyara let out an ironic laugh. “As you told Nick earlier, Dagon went to see his mother one afternoon, and met the goddess of compassion, Shala. She changed everything about him. Gave him a heart and a soul.”
Dagon’s features turned to stone. “And it is for Shala that I’ve come. Because of me, Noir still holds her and I have to awaken Azura in this realm. Now stand aside.” He started for the couch.
They all blocked his way.
“Yeah, buddy, that ain’t gonna happen.” Nick stepped forward. “You need to leave now. Either out the door or through a window. Your choice.”
Fire rolled over Dagon’s shoulders. “Out of my way, boy. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”
Nick unfurled his wings and for the first time ever, he let his true Malachai fly. He knew it was all hanging out by the way Menyara and Kody gasped. “The last fool who called me boy ended up as a stain on the bottom of my shoe.”
Licking his fangs, he narrowed his eyes on the ancient god. “You want to dance, name the tune. Just remember, I ain’t Xev and I hold no love, kinship, nor friendship toward you.”
Dagon came at him with the same massive attack he’d used on Xev.
Instead of trying to fight him, Nick grabbed his arm and jerked him off balance. He spun the god around, buried his hand in his ponytail, and yanked his head back, exposing his neck. Before he could stop himself, his instincts kicked in and he buried his fangs in the god’s jugular.
Dagon tried to vanish. Somehow Nick kept him from it. He had no idea how. Something inside him just knew instinctively how to keep him in his form and under restraint. It was like a baby breathing or suckling its mother’s milk.
More than that, Nick’s senses reeled as he drank the power and tapped the Source that had birthed them both. Though he’d never been drunk, he had a good idea that this was what it must feel like. His senses sharpened so that he could hear everything in the aether. Every heartbeat for miles around.
He couldn’t really explain it. It was like being tapped into some kind of cosmic database for every living thing in the universe.
And he knew he was about to kill Dagon. Strangely, that wasn’t what frightened him. What terrified him to the core of his being was the part of him that craved it. The ease with which he could end Dagon and not care at all.
In fact, he would relish it.
Startled by that realization, he let go and staggered back.
Kody reached out for him. “Nick?”
His blood rushed through his veins with the familiar lust he always felt in her presence. But this time, it wasn’t carnal lust.
It was for her blood.
Her life. He wanted to end her. Desperately.
Simi stepped toward him.
He hissed and slashed with his claws, aiming for her throat, wanting to rip it out, too.
Menyara barely caught Simi in time and saved her from the attack.
Kody couldn’t breathe as she saw the unfeeling demon inside Nick’s eyes. The searing hatred that bore no recognition of them. This wasn’t the boy she knew and loved. The loyal friend who would cut his own throat before he betrayed those closest to him.
This was the beast who’d callously murdered her and her entire family.
The Malachai who’d coldly snapped Caleb’s neck and stepped over his body without a second thought.
Anguish choked her as she remembered that fateful day and she saw her brother’s death in her mind. As she felt helpless to save Ari’s life.
And her own.
This was the beast they were all trying so hard to prevent Nick from becoming.
“Menyara?”
But Menyara was as horrified as she and Simi. Unlike her, this was the first time Menyara had seen Nick in this form. The first time Menyara faced the full Ambrose Malachai. And he was a fierce, frightening beast.
Xev grabbed Kody in a firm hold. “Kiss him.”
She widened her eyes. “Are you out of your mind?” Nick was more likely to kill her than welcome her while in this state.
“Trust me.”
“Are you out of your mind?” she repeated.
“Do it!”
Before she could protest again, he shoved her against Nick. Only this wasn’t Nick. This was the monster Malachai. Huge and muscled, he glared down at her with a hatred that terrified her. There was no recognition in those glowing red eyes. No humanity or soul.
They were searing.