“Blatant stupidity? I find it to be responsible for the vast majority of evil I unintentionally do.”

She rolled her eyes and tossed the milk carton into the garbage. “Go on before you get another tardy. Love you, even when you make me crazy.”

“You, too.” He grabbed his backpack from the floor, kissed her cheek, and glared at the cat. “Later, Fuzzy Boots.” And don’t defile my bedsheets!

It was too late. Xev was already beelining to Nick’s room to take his shift in the bed.

Sighing at the uselessness of warning Xev off anything, Nick glanced back at his mom. “I’ll grab more milk on my way home from work.”

“Thank you, Boo. Have a good day.”

“You, too. Don’t work too hard.” Nick headed out the back door and crossed the condo parking lot to the brick wall that separated it from the school yard. Even though there were storm clouds gathering in the distance, and headed in from over the river, he took a moment to appreciate the day.

Zipping his jacket, he inhaled the familiar smell of beignets and coffee that wafted on the breeze, coming in from the Market and restaurants. Honestly, he was grateful to be home in the French Quarter, and among his friends and family.

To be standing here, in the most beautiful city in all the world.

Yeah, it was a good day to be alive. His friend, Acheron, who was an ancient Atlantean, was right, every day should be met with purpose and lived with gratitude. Having been forced against his will to live as someone else for a brief time, Nick had decided that as screwed up and dangerous as his real life was, he much preferred it to anyone else’s.

This existence and world might not be perfect. But they were perfectly his. The only thing he’d change at this point was the number of paranormal creatures who wanted him dead.

Or enslaved.

Yeah, it would be nice to be off a few hit lists for a while. That he wouldn’t complain about.

Eh, ca c’est bon. That was life. Some days you ate the rougarou. Some days the rougarou devoured you.

And in this city, and in his particularly screwed-up life, that phrase seriously had significance.

Sprinting up the steps of St. Richard’s High School, he entered the two-story redbrick building and headed for his locker to change out his books so he could start his day right, and with as little drama as possible. Which would be a really nice change of pace.

“What are you smiling about, Gautier?”

Nick grinned even wider as he shut his locker and turned to face his recalcitrant demon bodyguard. “It’s almost 8 A.M. and nothing’s tried to kill or eat me yet. Dang good day, if you ask me.”

Rolling his eyes, Caleb stepped around him to open his own locker. “I really hate chipper morning people. Thinking I should have hand-fed you to your enemies last night.”