So far, Ambrose had only mucked things up worse.

Together, they were supposed to be trying to unravel this gnarled mess that was Nick’s life and future. But it’d been some time since Ambrose had made an appearance. The last time Nick had seen him, Ambrose had confessed that he was on the brink of slipping and turning into the demonic Malachai that would destroy the world and end everything and everyone.

Even himself.

Every day that passed without any word from Ambrose made him wonder what his future self was up to.

If Ambrose had given in to their horrific destiny.

Nick stared at the overhead windows where lightning flashed and thunder clapped like cannon fire. Today, it wasn’t looking good for either of them.

And he really didn’t relish the thought that he would one day usher in Armageddon and unleash an army of ancient ticked-off demons onto the innocent world. An army that would claim the life of everyone Nekoda loved …

As well as Nekoda herself.

It was a terrifying and sobering thought that he could become that monster. That was not what he saw when he looked in a mirror and it was not what he wanted to put on his résumé for his future plans.

Suddenly, Mason let out a howl and turned from human to wolf. The students closest to Mason screamed out loud and bolted fast from the bleachers to the floor.

Stone and Alex penned the wolf between them, while the teachers tried to decide how best to handle this. Personally, Nick would have voted for running and screaming like a cheerleader in a cheap horror movie. But apparently, they were a little more sophisticated than that.

“Squires!” Ms. Pantall clapped her hands together to get their attention. “I need all of you to head on home. Don’t worry about school until tomorrow. Brynna? Can you go to the cafeteria and let Mr. Head and Sister Katherine know to dismiss those students and call for buses? Tell him what’s going on, and we’ll hold the Weres here until their parents can come get them. We won’t be putting any of them on buses, given the risk factor. They should be fine in here with us until their parents arrive.” Biting her lip, she looked at Mason, who was snarling and trying to bite at Stone, and said, “I hope,” under her breath.

Nick wasted no time heading for the cafeteria to pick up Kody’s corporeal form. She was already back in her body, waiting for him, right inside the doors as the rest of their class rushed past him in their eagerness to vacate the building before the principal changed his mind and made them stay.

Or worse, someone assigned them homework.

He cringed as the storm outside picked up its fury. “Not sure it’s a good idea for anyone to be out in this.”

“Yeah,” Kody agreed. “But not sure how wise it is to be in here with Mason already shifted, and the others on the verge of turning into animals, either.”