“We have to save them.” And the world. “But where do we start?”
“It all ends June 6, 3266.”
Kody’s eyes filled with pain. “When I was sent back.”
Nick remembered his dream where he’d seen himself. When he’d seen Kody die. “My memories merged with Cyprian’s.” That was the only way to explain what he’d seen. What he’d felt.
Madoc nodded. “You have the ability to know what he knows, just as he knows you. He used those memories to destroy the ones closest to you.”
Like Stryker would one day try to do. The leader of the Daimon army would use Nick’s hatred of Acheron to manipulate him so that Stryker could use Nick to spy on his enemies.
For years, that connection caused Nick to be isolated from his friends and family out of fear of Stryker causing them harm.
But nothing lasted forever.
Not even hatred.
Nick winked at Ambrose. “Guess we part company here, old man.”
Ambrose smirked. “No. I’ll see you in the future.”
“Yeah, it’s still screwing with my head.” Nick turned toward Madoc. “Can we use one of your portals to get us where we need to go?”
“You can. But be careful. You might have a lot of allies, but you have many more who want you dead.”
Some days, that felt like everyone on the planet.
Today, everyone in the universe.
He took Kody’s hand, grateful to have her at his side. She’d been so crucial to his sanity for so long now, he couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t been there.
“I can’t lose you, Kode.”
“You’re not going to lose me.” She smiled up at him before she pulled him in for the best hug he’d ever had. As good as his mom’s had been, they were nothing like this. She sank her hand in his hair and felt his entire body tremble. How could she both weaken and strengthen him at the same time?
Made no sense, but he couldn’t deny what he felt whenever she neared him. She could bring him to his knees and simultaneously make him fly.
He kissed her lightly before he stepped back and turned to face Madoc. “Send us to the future. Two days after the last battle.”
Kody scowled. “Why then?”
“According to Madoc, we can’t change it. Obviously, we did something after the battle that caused Cyprian to fear us. So much so that he came back to get more power. Means something we do will put fear in him, right?”
“Seems remarkably logical, especially for you.” Ambrose turned toward Madoc. “I guess I’ll head back to my time.”
“What about Caleb and your crew?” Kody asked.
Nick hesitated as he considered that.
Kody frowned at Madoc. “They were all dead when Cyprian killed you.”
Which meant they’d be safe to go with him.
Maybe.
“I swear I think my migraine just had a baby.”
“Good, it can play with mine.” Kody smiled at him.
