Caleb let out an irritated sigh. More quality time with my hemorrhoid. Just what I wanted for Christmas. Yippee ki-yay.
Nick forced himself not to react to the sarcastic words only he could hear. If not for the fact that he knew the truth behind Caleb’s feelings where he was concerned, he’d be hurt by that animosity. But while he’d been trapped out of his body in another dimension, he’d seen and heard firsthand what Caleb really thought about him.
They were family.
Brothers in arms.
Yes, they fought and sniped. Yet at the end of the day, they would kill or die for each other. It was something each of them had proven. Of that, he had no doubt.
So he took the acerbic demon in stride and tried to keep in mind how hard life had to be for Caleb. He’d lost everyone he cared about. Had seen his wife brutally slain by his enemies and had spent centuries enslaved to a cruel, demonic master who’d hated his guts. One who hadn’t hesitated to abuse and mock him every chance he could. Yeah, Nick’s father had been a rank dog to everyone around him. Caleb had every reason in the universe to hate Nick, and instead, he was the best friend Nick had ever known.
Hey, bud, Nick mentally projected to Caleb. Thanks.
Caleb scowled. “For?”
Nick smiled as Caleb spoke out loud. Not letting me die. Fighting by my side whenever I need you to, and for getting up this morning when I know you’d rather sleep till noon or later.
His frown deepened. You’re so weird.
Given the fact that Nick was the hated son of a demon whose sole purpose was to one day end the world – and had been born the lead rider of the Apocalypse, Conquest, to be specific, and he was currently dating the ghost of a warrior he would kill in their future – weird was a massive understatement.
For that matter, if there was a primer for normality, Nick would be the first in line to buy it. His life was ever a case study of Murphy’s Law to the utter extremes.
Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. And in the worst way possible, at the worst possible time.
Yeah, that summed up his average day. Sad thing was, he was getting really used to that.
Just as the bell rang, Caleb sneezed.
Then sneezed again. And once more.
Nick froze at the startling sound he’d never heard before. Ever. Especially given the fact that Caleb’s features instantly paled.
“You all right, buddy?”
Caleb brushed his hand against his brow in a way that said it was not a good day to be Malphas. “I don’t feel well all of a sudden.”
“You don’t look so good either.”
“Sheez, Nick! You’re so blunt!” Kody chided as she stepped around him to check on Caleb. She placed her hand on Caleb’s forehead. “Gracious, hon. You’re burning with a fever.”
Caleb shook his head. “No. Can’t be. I don’t get sick.” He started coughing. Hard.
Wide-eyed, Nick stepped back. “While I’m no medic or nurse, that sounds pretty sick to me. And not the good kind of sick. The sick kind of sick. Like call-my-mama-I-need-soup-and-Kleenex sick.”
Kody patted Caleb on the back. “You okay, sweetie?”
Nodding, he drew a ragged breath. Then he started coughing again.
Richardson came over to them with an irritated sneer. “Is there a problem?”
Nick exchanged a worried glance with Kody before he answered. “I think Caleb’s illin’.”
Scoffing, Richardson curled her lip. “He looks fine to —”
Her words broke off as Caleb hurled at her feet. Shrieking, she jumped back, but not before he scored on her ugly brown ortho shoes.
Nick wrinkled his nose. “Dude, that’s so gross!” But awesome as all get-out! Nice to know Caleb had great aim in all things. “Man, what’d you eat for breakfast? That don’t look right. Is that small kitten bits or something?”
Turning bright green herself and retching, Richardson cursed them in a way that would have them suspended if the principal overheard one of them say that. “Take him to the office. Now!”
“Yes, ma’am.” Nick pressed his lips together to keep from laughing over the nasty retribution as he pulled Caleb’s arm around his shoulders and led him toward the front of school. Kody followed behind them.
As soon as they were clear of the room, Nick paused to whisper. “You want me to take you to the bathroom so you can teleport home?”
Caleb wheezed. “I-I-I can’t teleport.”
Nick went cold with dread. “What?”
Stark cold terror filled Caleb’s dark eyes. “My powers are gone, Nick. I’m human.”
CHAPTER 2
N
ick opened his mouth to tell Caleb he wasn’t funny, but before he could, Caleb dashed into the bathroom and to a stall to be sick again. Thankfully, he didn’t score on Nick before he left.
Or his shoes.
Bonus for that. Though, to be honest? if Caleb had taken out the hideous shirt, Nick wouldn’t have complained too much.