“Two weeks!” Nick started to flip over it, until he remembered something. “Did the weasel pass my Chem test? Or do I have summer school?”
“He aced it.”
For that, he could almost forgive Cyprian. “Good. ‘Cause I’d have knifed him if he’d damaged my GPA.”
“Seriously? That’s your biggest concern, given everything else?”
“End of the world … and a close second is being forced to attend junior college. Yeah! Have you seen the difference in the campuses?”
Suddenly, Zavid had that disgusted look Caleb got so often around him.
“Don’t you even take that expression, old dog. It’s a big deal. I’m supposed to go to Loyola and Tulane. Can’t do that with failing grades.” He gestured toward his desk where his phone was normally docked. “Check with Caleb. He’ll tell you what my future was.”
“Anyway,” Zavid said, grabbing Nick by the arms. “Getting back on point. Your little friend has been playing havoc with everyone. It’s so bad, Bubba’s banned you from his store. He even threatened to shoot you if he saw you again.”
Nick’s jaw went slack. “Pardon?”
“Yeah. Your mom’s about ready to call in a priest to have your exorcized.”
“That’s priceless. So what happens if you exorcize a Malachai?”
“You really don’t want to find out.”
“If it’s done to Cyprian, I do.”
Zavid rolled his eyes. “Fine. Get Caleb. He knows a few to call. I dare you.”
Normally, Nick would call that bluff and raise it, but not today. He was a little tired of the fight. “So how do we get rid of this jackass?”
Before Zavid could respond, Nick felt a peculiar ache in his stomach. It was a soured feeling. Like being sucker-punched after eating way too much cake. For a moment, he feared he was going to be sick.
“Nick?”
He couldn’t breathe. The worst premonition went through him. One he prayed he was wrong about.
Unable to stand it, he teleported to Kody’s house.
The moment he appeared in her living room, he knew something was wrong. And it wasn’t just because the place was wrecked. This was more than that.
Tears filled his eyes as he choked on her name. He couldn’t bring himself to say her name. His fear was too profound for that. Because if she didn’t answer …
Please, be here.
Be okay!
Nick ran through the rooms, looking for her. Each one showed the remains of a vicious fight. Pictures were torn from the wall and shattered on the ground. Furniture overturned and busted. But it was the blood on the walls and floor that made his wings shoot out.
And when he reached her bedroom, everything in his world shattered.
For a full minute, he couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t move. All he could do was stand there as he saw her lying on the bed. Dressed in her white Nekoda uniform, she was pale and unmoving. Her mother’s bow was on the floor near her. As was her sword.
Over and over, Nick saw the future where she died.
He saw the day he met her. The way she’d defended him against Mason and Stone at school. Heard her laughter as she teased him.
Silent tears burned his cheeks as he stumbled toward her.
“K-k-kody?” But it was too late.
