Invision - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 0,39

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.

D-i-s-g-u-s-t-i-n-g.

His stomach churning with revulsion, he felt another visit to the bushes coming on. Which was definitely not something he needed to do in the middle of being attacked by demons. That would probably not work out well for him.

Them either, really.

Unless he wanted the demon to keel over laughing at him. But hey, he had the tacky shirt for that. It had happened before. There was something to be said for being a demon laughingstock.

He ducked a punch the demon aimed at his head and twisted away from it.

“Caleb! Stop napping!” Nick head-butted the demon. “I need a little hand over here. One not covered in demon snot.”

Sliding in from the left, a colorful blur caught the demon in front of him, and slammed it to the side. Ah, he knew that blur and never had he been more grateful for that mass of mismatched hair, and almost seven feet of immortal fury.

While Xev continued to battle in his stead, Nick turned to find Caleb on the ground, oozing his black blood all over the pavement. Pale and shaking, his friend could barely breathe.

What the heck?

Terrified, he ran to Caleb.

Kody had already peeled his shirt back to expose an ugly, jagged wound where Caleb had been stabbed in his side, to the left of his navel. She was trying to tend it. She held Caleb’s balled-up T-shirt to it in an effort to stave off the bleeding.

“What happened?”

Caleb grimaced. “Demon came in behind me while I was distracted. Stabbed me before I killed it.”

Nick scowled. “You don’t get distracted.”

Sucking his breath in sharply, Caleb gestured at his side. “You would be wrong. Apparently.”

Xev came running to their