than Nick. Or another higher-level paranormal creature. There now, you all cocked and dry?
Sighing, Nick nodded. âThank you.â
So what got you all unlaced?
Nick felt his temper rise again. Thereâs a prick in my classroom making eyes at Kody. Go kill him.
Aeron burst out laughing.
Until he realized Nick was serious. What? Youâre serious, like?
âDo I look like Iâm joking?â
Nae. You look like we need to loosen the knob on your lid before you blow your gasket and pop your fool head off. Aeron tsked, then moved as if to chuck Nick on his arm. But since he wasnât in his physical body, his hand passed through Nickâs shoulder and left a peculiar tingle there. Sorry, boyo. But you know I canât kill a man for simply eyeing your girl.
â Then pluck his eyes out. Bring me his male parts. At the very least snap off a finger!â
Aeronâs eyes widened as Nickâs voice deepened to the demonic level. Having some trouble there, son?
âLittle bit!â
âLittle bit of what, Gautier?â
Nick froze at the sound of Mr. Headâs voice. Great. That was all he needed. The principal thinking he warranted a visit to the psych ward. âSorry, Mr. Head. I was thinking about my next class. I needed a little bit more time to finish the reading for it.â
âWell, come on in and letâs discuss this latest event that has you darkening my doorway. I canât wait to hear your version of the matter.â
Nick met Aeronâs gaze, then sent his thoughts to him. If you wonât kill him for me, at least go keep an eye on the troll. And if he lays one hand on her, make it a bloody stump.
Aeron shook his head. Hold that temper, Malachai. Itâs going to get you into all kinds of trouble.
Yeah, it already had. Sighing, he headed into the office.
Aeron tried not to be amused as he watched Nick vanish. It wasnât funny, yet he couldnât help being entertained. Heâd never seen the boy get jealous before. At least not like this.
And that made him curious about the Nathan boy whoâd evoked such a powerful emotion. Poor child had no idea what he was courting.
With that thought, he turned back into his púca form and headed for Calebâs old raunchy smell. Bad thing about a Daeveâcouldnât miss their unique stench. Though the last time heâd pointed that out to the ancient demon and handed him a bar of soap, Caleb had gotten a mite testy about it.
But as Aeron neared the door of the classroom, he felt a peculiar presence. One that made his blood run cold.
Before he could act, he was sucked into a vortex.
Â
CHAPTER 3
âSo ⦠do I have to go punch Stone in the face, or just burp in Richardsonâs class?â
Nick scowled at Calebâs bizarre question as he took his backpack from him in the hallway outside their next class. âDo what?â
âIâm trying to gauge how much detention I need to earn to match yours. Therefore Iâm asking the severity of my grievance and who to assault for it.â
Nick snorted. âI donât know. Depends on Richardsonâs mood. With that evil witch, you could get more detention for the burp than you would if you coldcocked Stone and made him sterile. Which might not be a bad thing. Future generations would thank you for it.â
âVery true.â Caleb brushed his dark hair back. âSoâ¦?â
âYouâll be proud. Iâve finally mastered my ability to manipulate the weak-minded without turning anyone into a goat or exploding the space-time continuum.⦠I got none.â
Instead of being happy that Nickâs power had worked for once and nothing had exploded, melted, or summoned a terrifying higher deity or hell-beast from another dimension, Caleb grimaced. âWhile I am more than thrilled at the prospect of not having to suffer through another round of teenage after-school angst and drama with you, I
Roni Loren
Ember Casey, Renna Peak
Angela Misri
A. C. Hadfield
Laura Levine
Alison Umminger
Grant Fieldgrove
Harriet Castor
Anna Lowe
Brandon Sanderson