Nick quickly filled them in on everything they’d learned, and on his plan to head to the future.
Xev was aghast as he gestured around the room. “So all of us are dead?”
“No. Neutralized.” Kody patted Xev on the back to soothe him. “Cyprian wasn’t strong enough to kill anyone other than Nick … and me. The rest of you are in stasis. Our plan is to set you free and fight by your side.”
Nick glanced around at hisfamily. Though most of them might not be blood related, they were bound just as tightly. And he would die for any of them.
United we stand.
And they were his mighty cord. He knew that. No one would ever break them apart.
This wasn’t going to be easy, but he would see it through. He had no other choice.
“So how are you planning to do this?” Caleb asked.
“We go together as a team and free Acheron first.” Kody spoke with a confidence Nick wished he felt.
Caleb arched a brow. “Why Ash?”
That was a simple answer. “He’s the final fate,” Nick said. The harbinger who was supposed to end the world for his goddess mother. So long as Acheron lived, his mother was trapped. It was why Cyprian hadn’t dared to kill him. That would unleash the power that had birthed their Malachai line thousands upon thousands of years ago.
Apollymi didn’t play when it came to the death of her son. To this day, she hated the gods for what they’d done to Nick’s progenitor.
And after everything humanity and the gods had done to Acheron …
If she were ever freed, the whole world would burn. As powerful as a Malachai was, they still couldn’t compete with the original goddess who’d birthed their line. She was the one thing everyone with a brain feared.
And while the first Malachai may have been her son, that was so long ago that she would see them dead if they harmed one hair on Acheron’s head.
“Where do we—”
Xev’s question was cut off as the door opened to reveal a tall, scary beast of a man—or demon would probably be a closer description.
Takeshi.
Acheron had once told him that Takeshi hadn’t invented war. He’d perfected it.
Tall and sleek, Takeshi was known as theIchikagi. First Shadow. How he’d become a zeitjäger, Nick still didn’t know. But they were the keepers of time. It was their job to make sure no one abused a timeline or altered one.
They also stole time away from others and used it to barter. Zeitjägers were very scary beasts.
But Nick wasn’t afraid of his old friend.
“T.” Nick inclined his head. “What’s up?”
“Ambrose tells me that you’re planning to do something profoundly stupid.”
“He’s breathing, isn’t he?” Caleb asked. “That means he’s naturally planning something stupid. Sadly, we can’t seem to curb that tendency.”
Takeshi smirked at Caleb. “Given your history, I’m sure you’ve tried.”
Caleb held his hands up in surrender. “Hey, just be glad I’m not your favorite kitsune, right?”
“Do not go there, demon. I’m not in the mood.”
Nick frowned at their exchange. “What kitsune?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
