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“Not the sa”

“Sure it is”

Kody pulled the blanket from the foot of Nick’s bed and tucked it around Xevikan “Thank you”

He licked his lips “Just repaying a debt We’re even now, Malachai”

Nick shook his head in denial “No, Xev We’re not” He laced his fingers with Kody “What you did for me … for Kody, I can never repay”

“As I said, Malachai, we are even”

But Nick knew better And though he didn’t kno, he was going to ht for his newfound friend

“You wantyour dinner to you?”

“I don’t want to be rude to yourI don’t think you should be ht now Just rest and I’ll be back in a few hter, he nodded “Thank you”

Nick hesitated as he brushed the back of his hand against Kody’s cheek “You want ave her a light kiss before he left them alone

Kody bit her lip as she turned back toward the Šarru-Dara and a weird feeling went through her He had a presence that was unmistakable and it wasn’t just the fact that he was a allu

This was very different

And very scary

“Nick called you Xev?”

He nodded “I’m Xevikan”

Absolute horror filled her at the name of a creature as only half a step less deadly to the world’s future than a Malachai

Please, please, let

“Xevikan,” she repeatedly slowly “Or is it Daraxerxes?”

His gaze snapped to hers and held it prisoner “How do you know my title?”

Kody stuods, Nick, what have you done while I was gone?

Her boyfriend had not only opened the gates of hell, he’d just unleashed the od of all time