“I know,cher. That’s why we’re here.” Too bad he couldn’t see anything more than utter defeat for all of them. How in the world were they supposed to make this right?
Aeron quickened his steps. “For the record, I still think it’d be better to stop Cyprian from being born.”
“Won’t help,” Caleb said to him. “The more you try to thwart destiny, the more you screw it up.”
Xev agreed. “There’s a time to fight and a time to yield.”
“I yielded once.” Vawn gestured at his female body. “Didn’t turn out well for me. It’s why I no longer give up ground.”
Nick felt so bad for his companion. “Is there any way to reverse your curse?”
“None that I’ve found.”
“We should put that on the list.”
Caleb laughed. “Sure. Kill Cyprian. Free Acheron and the others. Save the world and give Vawn back the body that was taken. Anything else you want to add?”
“Yeah. Cure my demon of his sarcasm.”
Kody tsked. “Now, now. You’d miss it if it was gone.”
“I’m willing to make that sacrifice.”
“Shh!” Bubba help up his hand.
Nick froze, unsure what had made Bubba nervous. Then he heard it. The sound of what seemed to be a thousand wings.
“What is that?” he whispered.
“Hit the trees!” Bubba ran for the forest around them.
Nick took a second to process that. Then he realized they’d left him behind.
Jerks!
Heading to the trees, he quickly tucked himself back into the group. But what he wanted to do was yell at them for not looking back. Seriously? Not even Kody had paused to make sure he was with them.
I don’t have to outrun the bear, bro. I just have to outrun you.For once, he didn’t find that old joke funny.
The sound grew louder.
Closer.
Everyone did their best to blend into the forest.
Desperately, Nick wanted to repeat his question to Bubba about what was making the noise. But the wild look in Bubba’s eyes told him to stay silent. He ran through his mind every threat he knew and that they’d faced. Hell monkeys. Demons. Gallu … You name it. And still nothing came to mind.
Until he saw them.
The sky was dark with red-skinned demons, crows, and ravens. “Wow … it’s a thousand Calebs.”
Caleb grimaced at him. “I’m not the only Daeva in existence.”
Apparently. Some of them had the same orange hair with yellow serpent eyes and fangs. But it was the deep blood-red skin and black wings that always made Nick cringe. Because it reminded him of his own demonic form. How hideous he felt whenever he shifted into his true body.
And like a Malachai, they could shapeshift, which was why a large number of them were in crow or raven form.
“Any of them friends?”
