Nick shook his head. “You haveneverfailed me. You couldn’t.”
“But I did, Nick. I know it.”
He stopped and turned her to face him. “Look at me, Kody. Don’t let them in your head. You have failed no one.”
Bubba stumbled.
“Big guy?”
He caught himself. “I’m fine, kid. If I survived Mark’s insults for all those years, I can do this. They’re amateurs.”
Nick glanced to Xev. “What about you?”
“They’re bringing up things I’d really like to forget. But I was raised under my mother’s scalding tongue. Like Bubba said, they’re amateurs compared to Azura.”
Given that Nick had memories of her laying into his father over nothing, he could only imagine the horrific things she’d said to her son. That beast didn’t have a single kind word for anyone.
Now, she was unleashed into the world of man.
Yeah. They needed to get a handle on this.
You’re worthless. How can you get a handle on anything? Everything you touch, you screw up. You should have died at birth. You destroy everyone and everything you come into contact with.
Your mother would be alive had you not been her son.
Nick staggered as those demons laid into him.
Why are you alive when so many good people have died? Your father died to save you, and what have you done with your life? Nothing.
You’re worthless from your first breath to your last. Do the world a favor and end it all.
“Umph!” Nick winced as they kept belting him with everything he already thought when it came to his existence.
“You okay, bud?”
He nodded at Bubba. “Remember, I went to school with Stone. He said worse things to me on a daily basis.”
Because he was right. He saw just what a loser you are. Why should anyone fight for you? You’re a betrayer. A failure.
All you do is take. When was the last time you gave anything to anyone?
“Now that last one isn’t true. Call me worthless and I’ll agree. But I’m not selfish. Never been that. I’ve taken care of my mother every day of my life!” he shouted at the demons. “I watch over my friends and I take care of my girl. So sod off, you losers.” He felt his Malachai fangs come in. “You want to pick on someone? C’mon. I dare you!”
Something akin to a sonic boom went through him, then it spread out in a circle around them.
Feral screams filled the air. Nick’s eyes changed and he was able to see them.
Tiny, insignificant beasts, they were twisted and hideous. When he started toward them, they shrank away. Too terrified to face him or the lies they’d spoken.
“Yeah, you insult us? You’re nothing but soul-sucking animals. Take your hate and lies, and get out before I set you on fire!”
Then again, hewasthe Malachai. Nick let out a blast of fire and listened as they screamed out in agony.
He tsked at them. “You’re the ones who made nothing of your lives. You spread hatred and pick on those who are weak, where they’re weakest. Any mongrel can do that. It takes someone special to build others up.”
Nick turned to Kody. She was just such a special being. When he was weakest, she, like his mom, reached out to save him. They guided those who were lost and unable to see the goodness inside themselves into a safe harbor.
They spread light through the darkest storms. Not for any reason other than it was the right thing to do.
