May 2000
Caleb let out a tired breath as he watched Nick running toward the school’s entrance.
“Is he ever on time?”
Snorting at Xev’s stupid question while they sat on a tree branch, he shook his raven’s head. “You know better.”
In the form of a large white house cat, Xev swished his tail. “Well, at least you finally got out of high school.”
“You’re not funny, brother.”
They both went still as they picked up on the death shadow heading up the steps, in the same direction Nick had just vanished.
Disgusted, Caleb looked at his brother. “You were saying?”
“Go get ’em, tiger.”
“What? You’re not coming?”
“You got this. Besides, I’m going to check on Nick and make sure he’s all right.”
Grumbling, Caleb flew toward the entrance. Still invisible, he transformed into his demon’s body and went inside so that he could protect his charge.
Xev reached up and touched Myone’s winged necklace around his neck before he used his own powers to return to an invisible version of his demonic self. Even though Nick was now ignorant of their existence, they still had to watch his back.
All around them, evil flourished.
It was a thankless job they would carry out until Nick was older. Not that Xev minded.
For the first time in history, he was happy and content with his lot. While he might not have his wife or his son, he had Jared’s daughter and grandchild near him.
His legacy.
And they were much better than a demon like him deserved.
Nick paused as he felt the wind near him shifting. “Kody?”
Brynna looked up from her lab worksheet to frown at him. “Pardon, Gautier? Have you lost your mind? Name is Addams? Hello? I know you know me. We’ve known each other for years.”
Blinking, Nick shook his head. Where had that name come from? The only one he knew was the Were-Hunter, Françoise Peltier, at Sanctuary who went by Cody as a nickname. But he wasn’t looking for a guy.
For some reason, he felt like it should be a girl’s name.
How odd. But then, his entire purpose in life was to serve as an example to others on what they should never do.
And apparently, he’d eaten paint chips as a kid or something. ’Cause he must have brain damage to be spouting off like this.
Yet …
Here lately, it felt like something was missing from his life. Like something had been here once and it was now gone.
But he didn’t know what.
Must be graduation jitters.
Yeah, he’d go with that. Though it wasn’t like he didn’t know what he’d be doing after graduation. Basically the same as now.
Squiring for Kyrian. Occasionally, running errands for Talon and Ash. Doing a few odd shifts for Bubba and Liza in their stores. And going to school.
Only instead of St. Richard’s he’d be at either Loyola or Tulane. He just had to decide which one he wanted to attend since he’d been accepted into both.
“Are you listening, Mr. Gautier?”
Nick glanced up at his teacher. “Yes, ma’am. Always.” After all, he had a bright future to look forward to, and he had no intention of screwing it up.