And extreme stupidity. Lethal stupidity, for that matter. Bubba would be so proud.
Or disappointed that Nick hadn’t paid closer attention in all those survival classes he’d attended and mocked Bubba for teaching. That’ll learn me for daring to make fun of others.
Artemis was right. Payback was a cat.
Nick fought back as best he could. Alone. “Out of curiosity,” he panted, between near-death blows. “Why were you chosen as a ?arra, if you can’t, and don’t, fight?”
She lifted her chin as if offended by what, to him, was an extremely reasonable question. “I’m very handy, I’ll have you know! I induce envy and conflict into battle and war.”
Oh… great. In other words, she was a dung-stirring troublemaker. Pure and simple. That was her entire value in war. Wonderful. Just… effing beautiful.
That was exactly what he wanted in a fight right now. Yeah.
Nick cursed himself for not asking that question sooner. That explained why she’d outed him so fast and hurled his bleeding carcass under the bus with the one-eyed giant on their arrival.
That was her nature and her job.
It actually explained a whole lot about many things since he’d brought her on board with his crew. She was a troublemaker. The one who lit the fire in others and watched it burn.
Crap… I’m such a flaming moron. And he was about to be a dead one.
He realized too late the mistake he’d made, putting her at his back, and leaving her alone with his friends after he’d freed her.
Oh, the things people learned about others when it was too late to make it better. The last thing anyone wanted on their team was someone whose sole purpose in life was causing drama and stirring up jealousy and intrigue.
How could I have been so stupid? How could he not have seen it before now? Not known what she was doing with her subtle comments and snide innuendo?
But it was easy to do. The thing about jealousy and gossip was that they slipped up on everyone. The trick was to recognize them and stop them immediately. To not let them under your skin.
Because, just like now, they were worthless things that existed for no other purpose than to destroy lives. No one needed them and they served no real use.
Nick looked at Lerabeth. “Hey, bird? A hand or wing here, please?”
The bird snorted. “I’m your guide. Not your soldier. You’re on your own, Malachai.”
That was how he’d wanted it, but… He was beginning to realize alone wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, either.
Especially against this number of attackers, who were hell-bent on ending his days and ruining his boyish figure.
Sticks and stones continued to rise up from the ground and twist into more armored soldiers. Which would have been cool when he was a kid, playing toy war. But these sticks and stones fully intended to break every bone in his Malachai body and not stop until he was fully dead.
Fine. What do I have in my arsenal?
Lethal sarcasm. A sword. Malfunctioning powers.
And one trapped demonic spirit…
Nick laughed at a ridiculous idea. A real Hail Mary move.
You are Catholic. Those tend to be your specialties.
True. But there was no guarantee it would work.
You have a full guarantee that it won’t work if you don’t try it.
Nick ducked as the ugly and very-skilled-with-a-sword giant in front of him swung for his head. He caught the blow with his own sword and parried, then narrowly missed the next attack from another creature moving in at his back. Man, he could use Kody and Caleb, and their wicked sword skills right now. These guys were going to win just by their sheer numbers against him. One person, even a Malachai, couldn’t stand for long against this onslaught.
Not alone. Not with his ill-training. Between work and school, he just didn’t have the time to focus on martial skills that he needed. If I live, I swear I’m going to pay more attention to Kyrian, Caleb, and Acheron when they try to teach me this stuff. No more gaming until he mastered real fighting.
He meant that this time!
“Liv!”
“What?” she snapped irritably. Like she had a reason to be snotty when he was the one getting the crap beat out of him? His arm was so bruised right now, he could barely lift it. His back ached. His head hurt. And he wasn’t too sure he still had a working spinal cord.
“Help!”
“Can’t. They don’t have blood for me to drain. That’s how I fight.”
Well, fan-freaking-tastic. Nick blasted another stone soldier with a bolt of fire and twisted from the grasp of another.
I’m so getting my butt kicked. He couldn’t even get to his grimoire to attempt his Hail Mary play.
How had Xev survived it here?
For one thing, he was a god. And a trained soldier, with real battle experience.
And you’re the Malachai. You have the power of ancient gods and the Source, too. You can tap the primal powers of the entire universe and blast them to oblivion.