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Except please acceptthose words before his hands heated up even low radiated from his hands to her stomach, similar to the one that usually shot out of Acheron
Siathered her in his aruished cry of pain that came from the darkest part of his soul while he rocked her
Rattled and dazed, Nick shook his head as he tried to focus and push himself up from the floor where he’d landed
“Grandpa, please … you’re squeezing ht I can’t breathe”
Nick wasn’t sure as more stunned Him or Acheron
The ancient Atlantean pulled back to look down at the girl he held He brushed the hair back from her face “Simi?”
Sheainst his chest and held her like an infant Over Siaze “How did you do this?”
Nick shrugged “Danged if I know It was just so my aunt used to say over ed at Acheron’s sleeve to get his attention “Grandpa, someone broke in and they attacked ht”
His eyes flared red before he released her “You stay here with hiaze on Nick “Do not let her be harinable pain” He vanished
Simi ran her hand over the tear in her shirt that was soaked with blood Then, she looked up at Nick “What are you?”
“Honestly? I don’t know I’ve never been able to heal anything and was told I couldn’t No idea what just happened or why Really But I’ ed hio, she placed a quick kiss to his cheek
An instant later, her eyes widened as they both heard the sound of brutal fighting frooing at each other with everything they had Shouts rang out along with blasts and hissing
Nick put himself between her and the noise “Don’t worry I won’t let theain”
Siallant?”
“For a lady, absolutely” Nick flashed a grin at her “Dudes, on the other hand, can slug it out for theht flashed in front of theer Ash appeared in the room The panic left his eyes as soon as he saw his sister He rushed forward to hug her like Acheron had done when he realized she’d been wounded “Are you all right?”
She nodded “You?”
“Yeah I was keeping to the shadows, trying to find you, until Grandpa saw s that broke in?”
“I don’t know I’ve never seen anything like them before”
They both looked expectantly at Nick, who took a step back in apprehension “What? I have no idea what’sthat sound Unlike you two, I haven’t seen them at all”
The entire rooht hiainst the bed One second they were in the roo Scary Ash His expression said this was not a good tiathered his grandkids to hiaze on Nick The anger inside it was searing “Do you kno rare Arelim are?”
Nick shifted nervously “Since I’ve never heard the tero with very Why?”
“Why is my question for you Why would they be after a ed “My sexy wardrobe tips?”
Acheron growled, exposing his fangs, as he tightened his hold on his grandkids “I’ve had it with your smart mouth” Before Nick could comment, he shouted “Xirena!”
Ash had barely finished the nae Charonte demon appeared in front of them
Nick’s jaent slack Hoas this possible? Savitar had told him that there weren’t any Charonte in this real about that then decided to wait This probably wasn’t a good tio into it And this Charonte appeared even more surly than the Simi Nick was used to whenever Simi ran out of barbecue sauce, early in her meal
Taller than Acheron, Xirena had blond hair and red eyes And while Nick’s Simi was always cute and a little scary, this one was beautiful and terrifying
If that hat a full-grown Charonte looked like, Nick would take Simi’s adorable Gothness any day
Xirena’s sudden appearanceto hand her a bottle of barbecue sauce, point to Nick, and say, “Bon appétit”
“You surandkids and nudged them toward her “Protect the comes near them”
She inclined her head to him
“Grandpa—” Simi vanished with her brother and Xirena before she could utter another sound
Acheron turned his full attention to Nick, who suddenly felt like ato chat”
“I thought that e’d been doing”
“No … and if you don’t tellto feed you to h to leave you living in utter agony Understood?”
Nick wasn’t afraid of that threat, just very apprehensive Mostly because he knew the ancient being could definitely carry it out “Got it But first, you have to promise that you won’t hand me over to my enemies or cause anyone I care about to be harmed”
Acheron scoffed “Are you out of your mind to try and make a deal with me?”
“No” Nick kept his e to die, it’s on my own ter that could get a lot of people I love hurt Do you understand?”
The ancient immortal considered it before he finally acquiesced “Very well”
Screwing his face up, Nick hesitated “You didn’t say the ic words”
“Please?”
“No That you promise not to hand et hurt”
The expression on Acheron’s face telegraphed his anger and irritation But luckily, he didn’t act on either “Fine,” he said at last “I promise not to hand you over to your enemies or allow the ones you love to be har”