His grin turned even more debonair as he ran it under his nose and smelled the stylus as if he could still detect her light perfume on the wood. “Mmm, I’ll treasure it always. Thank you for your kindness, my noble lady.”
When Nick started to rise, Caleb caught his arm. Down, boy. Don’t make me smack your nose with a rolled-up newspaper.
Nick cut a glare at his best friend to let Caleb know he could be a worthy substitution as a whipping boy if he didn’t let go.
Kody turned toward Nick. Is it me or was that gross?
And that right there saved Nathan’s life. Leave it to his girl to be oblivious.
He was relieved, until Nathan turned back toward her.
Suddenly, Kody’s desk slid four inches closer to Nick’s, and farther from Nathan’s. She turned an indignant glare at Nick for his audacity.
At the sharp scraping that made most people cringe, everyone in the room shot around to look for the source of the sudden sound. Nick forced himself not to cringe at the involuntary use of his Malachai powers.
Clearing his throat, he glanced at his teacher. “Sorry. My foot got caught under Kody’s desk.”
“Why was your foot under her desk?”
Nick shrugged. “I’m too tall for the desk and my feet have a mind of their own. You’ve seen me walking down the hall, Ms. Pantall. I never know where my arms or legs are located, hence all the bruises I keep.”
She rolled her eyes again. “Keep your feet under your own desk, Nick. Stop disrupting class or I’ll send you to the office.”
Something stabbed him in the leg. Hard. Nick let out a sharp curse and though it wasn’t in English, Ms. Pantall had enough Cajun in her to unfortunately know exactly what the word meant.
“That’s it! Get to the office! Now!”
“But—”
“No buts! Go!”
Growling low in his throat, Nick got up to retrieve the pass from her hand. He glanced back to see the sad pout on Kody’s face and as his gaze went to Nathan …
For the merest instant he could have sworn he saw his eyes flash red. But that would be an impossibility. If Nathan had demon in him, Nick would see it.
He’d sense it.
For that matter, he’d even glimpsed Acheron’s true demonic form and Ash had more than enough power to camouflage himself.
From anyone.
But not a Malachai. Nothing and no one could hide themselves from Nick. He was the Geiger counter of preternatural species. It was both his gift and his curse.
Which got back to the weird sensation on his spine. He needed a serious consultation with his fellow Power Rangers. But that wouldn’t happen until after he figured out how many hours of detention this little miserable morning was going to cost him.
Maybe I’ll get lucky and when I go after Zavid something will eat me and I won’t have to finish detention.
A boy could dream.
Taking the slip from Ms. Pantall’s hand, he headed for the door and took one last look at Kody. Instead of watching him, she was saying something to Nathan.
Nick’s vision darkened in such a way that he had to catch himself before he let loose his own demonic eyes and freaked out half his class. His breathing ragged, it took everything he had not to blast the door from its hinges.
Okay, stop!
Aeron would be the first to warn him off his anger. This was the gateway to a place he didn’t want to go. It was what had forced his father to live out his “free” life in the human realm incarcerated in a maximum security prison. That had been the only place Adarian could stay where his frequent violent outbursts that resulted in the flying entrails of whoever had annoyed him could be contained.
Every time Nick exploded into those powers, he put a cosmic target out to his enemies. Told them exactly where to find him and anyone who was near him.
The only way to have peace in his life was to keep his temper and remain dormant.
Yeah, but he wanted that kid’s throat.
And by the time he reached the principal’s office, he was good and livid. His palms damp and his heart racing. He even felt his temple pounding. Too pissed to sit, he paced in front of the chairs outside Mr. Head’s office and half expected to go Carrie White on everybody. All that was missing was the pig’s blood.
Suddenly, a tiny light appeared in his peripheral. One that wouldn’t be all that noticeable to most people. It was only slightly larger than a speck of dust in a sunbeam. But Nick knew the source of the ethereal blue light.
It was a will-o’-the-wisp. Or more affectionately, Lucky Charms Legolas.
He stopped pacing to whisper, “Legolas? What are you doing here?”
I felt you burning them powers, and wondered if you were in trouble. Or are you trying to summon Noir? ’Cause if you are, let me know now. I need to pack some bags before I abandon your sorry hide to him and his forces to save me own arse.
Nick released a scoffing laugh. As if. Aeron would sooner cut his own throat than hightail it out. One thing about the Celtic war god, he never backed away from a fight.
Aeron manifested into his shimmering shade body. More shadow than form, it wouldn’t be visible to anyone other than Nick. Or another higher-level paranormal creature. There now, you all cocked and dry?