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“Wait,” Nick dodged Acheron’s hand
“What?”
“My girlfriend’s here, too”
Ash gaped in disbelief “How do you mean?”
“When Thorn attackedSi under his breath, Ash glared at Nick “Where is she?”
“She was at the convent where your hell-monkeys found uess”
The expression on Ash’s face said that he was about to follow through with his threat and return Nick to his enemies “Is she human?”
“Kind of”
Ash cursed again “I know I don’t want to ask this, but the compulsion’sthe sanity of answering, Nick decided that he owed so hi Ash wasn’t going to like it “She’s a ghost”
Acheron scowled at hiht? But true nonetheless”
“Can’t I send you back and then you call her?”
“I’d rather you not … just in case I can’t No offense, but the whole girlfriend designation means I’m kind of attached to her and would be very put out if she didn’t host?” The expression on Ash’s face said that he was about to send Nick back anyway Until his phone rang He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the ID After hesitating a few more seconds, he made a sound of supreme irritation before he finally answered it “Savitar … it’s been a while”
Grateful for the reprieve, Nick said a quiet prayer of thanks for Savitar’s ti
And that new look Ash cast in his direction told him that he was the prime subject of their conversation A conversation that orsening whatever intestinal woe had besieged Acheron
Nick cupped his hands around his mouth “Tell Sav I said hi”
Acheron narrowed his eyes in warning “Yeah, I’ll bring hirabbed Nick’s arm Before Nick could blink, they were back in the Burdetteon the couch not far fro her thumbnail A tall blond man Nick assumed to be Mark was next to her
The ave him a smile that set fire to every ods!” She ran to hied him close “We’ve been worried sick”
Nick closed his eyes and inhaled the sweet scent of her hair Yeah, okay, he’d take a beating and then some for this There really were no words for what he felt anytime Kody ith hirinned “You don’t think I’d let just anyone et it,” Ashdark passed between them that said they had a bad history with each other But what Nick didn’t miss was the way Kody reacted as she realized Acheron ith hi of her body A flash of pained recognition in her eyes Most people wouldn’t have caught it at all, but Nick was attuned to every nuance of her
She knew Acheron Well
Gently, Nick tilted her chin until sheto answer, she shook her head “Nothing”
Yet he knew better It was another secret she refused to share Had she dated Acheron or so?
Gah, he hoped not That wouldhis mama Never mind the fact that the two of them were married in this realm
It was sick all the way around
“Well,” Ash said to Nick “Now that you’re reunited, let’s get rid of you both”
Savitar snorted “Won’t work”
Acheron glared at Savitar “What do you mean?”
Savitar jerked his chin toward Nick “He’s been split You can’t send hi the other kid back”
“How do you know?”
“How do you not know?” Savitar challenged Ash
Rolling his eyes, Acheron scoffed “When was the last ti?”
“That’s a cold, lo”
When Ash started for Savitar, Kody broke them apart
The scowl returned to Ash’s face as he stared down at her “Do I know you?”
Kody sed hard before she shook her head “Please don’t fight”
“Are you sure we don’t know each other?”
Nick held his breath, waiting for her to answer Ash’s question
Clearing her throat, Kody glanced at Nick “We’ve never met”
His lip curled, Savitar moved to stand by a wall He crossed his arms over his chest before he sneered at Acheron “A double transh diestured toward Nick “If it’s been done, it can be undone”
“And we’re not talking about turning iron into gold, oh great alche two living creatures across di done Have you?”
Acheron didn’t answer
“Well?” Savitar proestured at Nick and Kody “How else did he get here?”