Even now, he could see her dying on the battlefield. It was enough to bring him to his knees. No one deserved to lose the person they loved.
They dang sure didn’t deserve to watch them die in their arms.
I wish I could purge these memories.They were horrible, and he didn’t want to see them anymore. He should have burned the Eye, or buried it.
But why show him the future if he couldn’t do anything to make it change? Surely, there had to be something, otherwise why create the Eye?
Yeah, that made more sense.
Nick had to believe that he was in control. Not fate. Or destiny or anything else.
He’d already defied all odds. He was a Malachai with morality. One capable of love.
Closing his eyes, he remembered the tattoo his friend Tabitha had.Fate is what we make.
No one controls me, Nick. Not my parents, my boyfriend, and never destiny. The fates can kiss my ass.
And that was how she lived. Fearlessly.
He flinched as an image of her death haunted him. Everyone had died fighting Cyprian.
I will change this.Or like them, he’d die trying.
Those thoughts stayed in his mind as Xenia led them. “Question?”
She looked at him over her shoulder. “Yeah?”
“Wouldn’t it be easier to teleport there?”
Xenia laughed, then stopped. “Oh, you mean that.”
“Yeah.”
“If you want to teleport, I won’t stop you. Just remember that anything that lands in my grandfather’s home without his permission is immediately imprisoned.”
“But if he’s not here …”
“His wards still are. I could teleport and I’d be fine. It wouldn’t be a banner day for any of you if you tried. Still want to chance it?”
Xev cleared his throat. “Having been a POW held by Noir, I don’t recommend it. I still have nightmares, and remember that his significant other is my mom. She was worse on me than he was.”
Yeah. Nick had seen enough of Azura in the memories of his ancestors that he wanted no part of her. He well understood Xev’s hatred of her.
And Noir.
“Hoofing it is.”
Yet it seemed like an endless journey through a haunted wasteland. Yes, there was vegetation. However, it was all twisted and strange. Kind of like a video game. But not nearly as fun.
“Behold,” he said in a gravelly voice. “You’re on a quest with your fellow adventurers. Bubba, the giant demon slayer. Xev the house kitty, sucker of your dreams of freedom and perpetual pain in the rum. Kody the magnificent, guardian of your ego, and inspiration to all. And lastly, Xenia, the newbie tracker who—”
“What are you babbling on about?”
Nick grinned at Xenia. “Just passing a good time,cher. Trying to keep our spirits up.”
“Rather you keep your head low and not attract attention to us.”
“And that’s probably the smarter way to go. But the one thing you need to learn about me—I’m braver than I’m smart.”
