At least Kody appeared as confused by Caleb’s overreaction as he did. “What is it, Caleb?”
“Aeron wouldn’t have just taken off. Not if he had an assignment. Same for Nashira. She doesn’t have family or friends here. It doesn’t make sense that they’d head out alone like that. I would have been more vigilant going after Aeron, but I don’t dare leave Nick alone while he’s like this, because you and I know what happens when he’s left to his own defenses. As for Dagon … Dagon’s a bit more flaky. He might be visiting family on Olympus, but it’s still not like him to not check in.”
Kody bit her lip as she turned back to Nick. “Are you still having visions?”
“Kind of, but they’re weird. Not like the usual ones.”
Caleb ground his teeth. “Get Xev,” he said to Kody. “Meet us at Menyara’s shop.”
Inclining her head, she vanished.
Nick was about to ask what Caleb was thinking, but before he could, Caleb took his arm and flashed them to Menyara’s lapidary on St. Philip.
For the first time since his powers had come in, the trip nauseated him. Badly.
No sooner had they appeared in the back courtyard than Nick had to make the mad dash to the nearest bush and fertilize it.
Caleb made his own set of noises in response. Unlike Kody and Nick’s mom, Cay had a sympathetic gag reflex. Which made no sense whatsoever to Nick given the fact that Caleb was a battle-hardened demon overlord who’d marched his army over the crushed bones of his enemies. Entrails, blood, brain matter, none of that bothered Caleb.
But you let a little bile up, and it was over.
Nick was on his knees, gasping for air and unable to control himself.
Still making a face at Nick, Caleb looked like he was about to join him at any second. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Whatever I got into I want to return. This is crap.”
“Just make sure you keep it over there.”
Nick rolled his eyes. “You’re such a baby.”
“Don’t make me zap you while you’re sick, Gautier. You know I will.”
He would threaten to zap him back, but right now, he wasn’t sure he could make good on that threat. So he kept his mouth shut and stumbled toward the door.
No need to aggravate the devil when all you could do was upchuck on his shoes.
And speaking of … a part of him was still angry at Menyara for binding his Malachai powers when he was born, and lying to him for the whole of his life … never mind setting up his innocent mother to incubate another Malachai without her permission. Because of that, his mother’s life was, and would forever be, in danger.
It didn’t matter that Menyara was an ancient god who claimed she only did it to protect others. No one should play with someone else’s life like that. Nor should they make those kinds of decisions for them, without at least consulting them.
People weren’t pawns. Or a means to an end. They were sentient creatures who deserved to be made aware of their choices and allowed to decide if they wanted to be jerked around or not.
Or used like broodmares.
Yet that being said, Menyara was the closest thing to a family Nick and his mom had ever known. She’d stood by them when no one else had, and had always made sure they had what they needed.
That alone allowed him to continue to speak to her.
After all, family was family. You didn’t have to always agree with each other’s point of view or actions to still care about the other person as a whole.
Not to mention, Menyara had taken his mother in and helped birth him on her own sofa. So it was hard to stay angry at her all the time. No matter what came, she would always be his Aunt Mennie.
Even when they were fighting.
It took several minutes before a tiny woman came to the back door and opened it.
She scowled at Nick who scowled back at her. “Can I help you?”
“Uh … you must be new. I’m Nick. Just here to see my aunt Mennie.”
A slow smile curled her lips. “Ah, Nick. I’ve been waiting for you.” Her expression turned dark.
Sinister.
Then the sclera of her eyes turned completely jet. “Malachai.”
Before he could move, she attacked.
CHAPTER 7
Nick threw his hands up to counter and fight as the mortent demon came at him with its messy, sloppy jaws snapping. Was it too much to ask for his telekinesis to be left intact?
Of course it was.
Or for a napkin so that the creature could clean up after itself and stop demon-drooling all over him? It was so gross! Made him never want to have a teething child. He’d done his time in the crying room at church.
Nick slugged the demon, causing the mucus to go flying.
Gah, his mom would have a fit if this was in her house. They’d have to fumigate. Defunk and do who knew what to make it livable again. Just once, couldn’t they get an attractive succubus after him?
No. Way too much to ask of the universe at large.
Nick hit the demon with a blow that slimed his whole fist and left his entire arm numb.