Nick tilted his head as he realized a truth that had escaped even his father. Because his father had never dared what he’d just done. Lifting his hand, he threw a burst of fire through the membrane that held him inside his grimoire.
While a part of him doubted his discovery, another part knew the truth.
Lucky for him, that part wasn’t insane. His fire caught and spread into a circle in the air, hovering like a manhole. It formed a sizzling ring of fire that made a portal from this world back into his own.
Like a dialing a phone. All at his command. Even Grim would have been impressed that Nick had finally learned to master the very powers they’d all tried so hard to teach him.
I am the Malachai.
Unrestrained.
May the gods help them all now. Honestly, even he was scared by it.I have to remain in control of it.
So long as he did, everything would be okay. He couldn’t let his emotions rule him. And whatever he did, he had to keep reign on his temper.
Defy my destiny.
He should be good at that. He’d never been the kind of kid to mind anyone or do what was expected of him. If he was, he’d be in county lock-up now. Not an honor student at one of the most exclusive prep schools in New Orleans. A school that rarely took in students who weren’t from the blue-bloods who’d founded it. Or the kids of Dark-Hunters, their Squires or Were-Hunters.
Yet Nick had scored higher than anyone in the school’s history.
Yeah, if he could do that, he could do this.
With a deep breath, he flew through the portal, into his bedroom and quickly changed into his human body. Then, he waved his hand and closed the portal behind him, sealing it shut.
A nervous twinge made the hairs on the back of his neck rise. Could it really be this easy?
He still wasn’t completely sold. After all, tricks on him were commonplace. Especially here lately. It would be routine for this to be yet another act of cruelty.
Cautiously, he made his way through his room, looking for any sign of another attack. Not to mention, the last thing he needed was for someone to see two Nicks. Life was confusing enough. And while he was creative, he doubted he could make anyone believe a “good twin” versus a “bad twin” scenario. Especially his mom, since she knew for a fact that he was an only child.
“Thought you were going out?”
Nick jumped at the unexpected deep voice. Cursing, he jerked around to face Zavid who was in human form. “What are you doing here? Besides trying to kill me? With a heart attack?”
Zavid normally stayed with Caleb.
Cocking his head, Zavid sniffed at the air then relaxed. “Oh thank the gods, it’syou.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You. Not the fake Nick. I have to tell you, I’ve been getting sick as a dog of his crap.”
If Nick wasn’t still hyperventilating, that would be funny given that Zavid was a shapeshifting Hel hound.
Was he dreaming?
Nick wasn’t sure if he could trust in this, or not. “You knew?”
“Of course I knew. Took a bit to make the others realize it. But he doesn’t smell like you.” Zavid pulled him back into his room.
Nick relaxed a degree. “Did anyone else notice?”
“Only your mom. Though she blamed it on a faze you were going through. And Kody, too, but it took her a little while.”
That made him feel a lot better that he wasn’t completely irrelevant and replaceable. “How long have I been gone?”
“Two weeks.”
