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“So do you think the other Nick made it back home?”

Caleb picked up the remnants of his oils and packed them away “You would know before I would”

Nick started to ask him how, but before he could, he knew the answer Somehow “Yeah, he did” He frowned at Caleb “How do I know that?”

“You’re the Malachai,” he said si nonhu trophy that all preternatural creatures would kill to defeat, slay, or enslave

Up until now, that had terrified him Yet as Caleb handed him the basket of oils to carry while they headed back to his house, Nick realized that it wasn’t so bad

Yeah, okay, it really was It sucked It blew It was a destiny he wouldn’t wish on anyone

But this was his life, and honestly …

He liked it It wasn’t perfect, yet it was all his

And while it was true that he’d had no choice in how he’d entered this world, and he would most likely have no choice in how he left it, he did control the in-between years

As his father had said, the Aotten But it was up to Nick, alone, as to how he’d be remembered

And frole day count Most of all, he intended to ht, Xev,” Nick said, just outside the locked door “Brace yourself There’s no telling e’re about to walk into It could be bloody bloody”

“I think I can take it, Mal—”

“Nnh! What did I tell you about using that name?”

“Gautier,” Xevikan corrected “Believe me, I’ve been in much bloodier battles than this”

“Doubtful But keep up that bravery We’re going to need it”

Holding his ar thee then loosened up his neck muscles Man, he was terrified But he wasn’t about to ader

It had to be done

He inclined his head to Xevikan “Here we go” He opened the door and stepped inside

Nick had barely taken a step before the fiercest beast of all latched on to hith could break “Ma! Ma! Please, you’re killingher hold, she only tightened it ht?”

“Until you choked the life out of , she finally stepped back and stared up at hi blond hair was pulled back into a wavy ponytail that made her look listened with unshed tears “You have no idea how scary it is to be trapped with Bubba and Mark in a storm”

“Actually, it’s probably the safest place to be in New Orleans”

She scoffed at that “Did you know—” Her sentence broke off as she realized Nick wasn’t alone A deep frown creased her brohile she took in Xevikan’s height and unorthodox appearance

Both Nick and Zavid had tried their best to mask the boy’s multicolor hair, only to learn that part of his curse was that it couldn’t be changed No h

“Are you Ash’s little brother?” she asked

Xevikan raised a curious brow “Ash?”

“A friend of mine,” Nick explained quickly “No, Ma This is Xev…” His voice trailed off

Crap, soive him a last name

“Daraxerxes”

Wow, props to the Šarru-Dara for thinking fast on his feet Not that Nick could have repeated that name if his life depended on it “Um … yeah What he said” He stepped behind his mom to frown and mouth the name at Xevikan

What kind of freaky moniker was that?

His mom smiled “That’s absolutely beautiful, but quite a mouthful … says the woman with a last na other Cajuns Please say it again”

Xevikan repeated it slowly “Dah-rah Zuhr-cees”

“Dara-zur-zur-cees?”

He grinned at her atteood, Mrs Gautier … I’m impressed You did much better than most”

“Thank you Your accent is quite lovely, too, but I have no idea where it colish Khvrvarn?”

His mother actually squirmed “I’ve never heard of it”

Noas Xevikan’s turn to be uncomfortable as he looked to Nick for help, as if Nick had a clue where on a map that was Most days, he could barely find New York state “Um … it’s Mesopotamia? The land between the rivers?”

“Oh! Well, don’t I feel stupid, now Sorry”