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“I told you that”

Ash continued to stare at hihillie suit “A Malachai capable of love…”

“Yeah, nobody’s perfect”

Acheron laughed “You’ve no idea”

“Actually, I do”

The Atlantean fell silent as he continued to pace Aith the sudden intensity of Ash’s thinking, Nick debated the sanity of interrupting him He really wanted to, but there was an air about Ash that said he needed a fewNick understood better than anyone There was nothing about his life that was simple or easy, and especially nor his own head around his reality

Finally, Acheron spoke again “Why did you save Si to do She never hurt randdad’s a jerk”

“And ht hied “He didn’t insult lanced down at the wounds on his forear witch hazel won’t fix Didn’t feel like kicking Lassie for his idiocy Figured you probably do that enough for the both of us No need to add to his misery But, dude, really, you should buy him a toothbrush or Altoids, ’cause, man, his breath is nasty”

“And you’re the Malachai” His tone said that Ash couldn’t reconcile any kind of compassion with Nick’s DNA Made sense As a Malachai, he wasn’t supposed to have any whatsoever

For anyone

But that had never been him Nick Gautier was a different kind of beast Unique to hirinned at the confused Atlantean “That’s what everything that has attacked ”

Hands on hips, Acheron let out a tired breath “I’ to be honest My first inclination is to murder you where you stand”

“Option B?”

Ash snorted at his sarcasrant you a reprieve”

“Gracias”

“Da nada” Ash paused before he spoke again “Actually, it is so You are a threat to my family, therefore I only have one choice”

The deadly tone of his voice sent a chill down Nick’s spine “And that is?”

“I have to get rid of you immediately” And by the severe tone of his voice, Nick knew Acheron didn’tto kill him

CHAPTER 12

One second, they were in Ash’s study, and in the next, they were in the ed soldiers battled Aamons in wolf form and hell-monkeys Axes and fire blasts mixed with snarls, hisses, and curses

But as soon as the winged soldiers saw Nick, they pulled back fro ca It felt the sayed soldier as dressed in reddish-gold armor approached them slowly His pale blond hair fell from under his helm to his shoulders More than that, the soldier was pretty enough to reen with envy “So, Acheron, you’ve come to your senses” He stopped abruptly, just like Kody had done when they’d tried to leave Karlared at Ash “What is this?”

Ash answered his question with one of his own “Why do you want this boy?”

“That is not your concern, Atlantean Now hand hileao to war over a human?”

A slow smile spread across the soldier’s face “Are you?”

Nick held his breath as his life hung in the balance of this conversation He had no idea why the winged soldiers wanted him, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t to send hilanced over his shoulder to the rest of his ar Nick couldn’t translate All of a sudden, they threw their arms out in unison and sent a sonic blast toward Ash and Nick

Nick expected it to rebound off the force field

It didn’t

Rather, it sent both hih force to knock the air fros His back burned as his vision di

The leader stepped over Ash’s body and grabbed Nick by his arm and hauled him to his feet

“What are you?” Nick breathed

“Death”

Nick snorted at the arrogant tone “No offense, I’ve met the man and he’s a lot , the soldier grabbed him by the throat and choked him

“Ameretat!” Acheron snarled as he rose slowly to his feet “Let hio!”

The soldier blasted Ash ahile he increased the pressure on Nick’s neck

Unable to breathe, Nick did his best to break A he could do His face turned hot His ears rang fiercely

Just as he started to black out, A An instant later, Acheron tossed Nick over his shoulder and teleported theaze as he found himself back in Acheron’s study Ash set hih as he aze “Admit it, Ash I’m too fluffy and adorable to kill” He batted his eyelashes

For a second, he was sure Ash would take over where Ameretat had left off and choke the rest of the life out of him Finally, Ash rolled his eyes and scoffed derisively “When we get you back to yourher close and thank her”

“Not that I don’t always do that, but for what in specific?”

“The fact that I can’t break her heart by doing what I’ you over to theh his sore throat “We both thank you for your restraint”

Ash ignored the comment “I’ve never tried to send someone into an alternate universe before Never mind send them in and pull someone else out But—”