“Get your own friends and life!” Nick growled at him. “What is wrong with you!”
“It’s not fair for you to have what I want! For you to be so loved and cherished when I’m not!”
“Dude! Then learn to be lovable and not a psychopath! Practice being a decent human being and stop stealing everything I have. You don’t get stuff just because you want it and you demand it like some two-year-old. It’s about finding your own way, not taking someone else’s life. Be yourself. Not a bad copy of what you stole. Step out of the shadows where you hide from everyone in fear, and into the light. Have the courage to stand by your own convictions, and walk your own path. Do your own thing! You can never build yourself up while you’re tearing everyone else down and trying to catch up to them.”
“Then give me what I want!”
Nick shook his head. “You have to earn your own way, dude. This ismylife. This ismyworld andmyfamily. For that, I will fight you until Lucifer is working in an ice plant.”
“And I’m your son!”
“I didn’t create you. You were ripped from me and made, without my knowledge or consent. That’s entirely different!”
Cyprian kicked him back. “I hate you!”
“Why? Dude, I never did anything to you. Seriously. If you want to hate, at least give me a chance to screw you over first.”
Shrieking, he ran for him.
Nick caught him and held him against his chest. His Malachai powers were draining out more and more. There was nothing he could do. If he didn’t get away from Cyprian, he’d be as helpless as a kitten soon.
And still Cyprian pounded against him with so much anger that Nick couldn’t fathom it. What could he have done to cause this much animosity in someone he didn’t know? All he’d ever done was live his life on his own terms. Be himself.
It wasn’t his fault Cyprian’s mom had created him against Nick’s wishes and without his knowledge.
His ears began to buzz as the last of his powers surged and he saw himself in the past. Saw the night that he’d first met Kyrian.
Life had seemed so easy then. Stay clean. Stay off drugs. Keep his grades up. Don’t miss work.
The only people out to kill him had been his mom whenever he left the toilet seat up.
Madaug whenever he forgot to complete a homework assignment they’d been given as a joint project, and Brynna for not realizing she had a crush on him.
When had life gotten so complicated?
Then he saw the future—not for long, just the tiniest flash of clairvoyance. And he understood the truth of the violent act that had created Cyprian.
Not one Nick had done against Cyprian’s mother.
An act they had committed against Nick …
For all Malachai were created in violence to do violence.
Holy crap!
That was one nightmare he hadn’t seen coming. Them attacking him.This is what they’re trying to protect.Why they wanted him to forget his powers and forget everything.
His vision dimmed.You can’t die. You have to remember this!
But then, that wasn’t the end game.
I won’t be manipulated!
With a feral growl, Nick dug deep and used the last of his powers to teleport into darkness.
CHAPTER 7
His mind reeling from the newfound knowledge, Nick tumbled through the darkness. The rustling sound was deafening. Like birds flapping through the night. He felt the wind against his skin as he sought once more to get his bearings.
