“Just that I’ve noticed how much care they take of each other. How much time they spend together. Whenever Kody’s not with you, she’s over here, sequestered with Caleb. Even late at night. They seem to really care about each other. I wish I had someone who cared for me like that. It must be nice.”

He’d never really given it much thought, but now that she mentioned it, they were together a lot. And, in spite of his concerns about her possibly betraying them one day, Caleb did watch over Kody with a great deal of concern.…

Nick glanced at the bed as a bad feeling went through him.

No. It was a stupid fear. While Caleb could be a serious horn-dog when it came to those of the female persuasion, he tended to go after a specific type of woman who was older and much … less wholesome-looking than Kody.

His girl was definitely not Caleb’s type. At all. Not even a little.

Besides, neither Caleb nor Kody would ever cheat on him like that.

Would they?

Heck no. Refusing to let that seed be planted in his mind, Nick scowled at Livia. “So what did you want to talk to me about?”

She took his hand and led him from Caleb’s room. When she spoke, it was in the lowest of whispers. “I want you to be careful, Malachai. There are so many out to harm you. I don’t think you’re aware of exactly how many enemies surround you on any given day.”

He bit back a laugh. She was definitely wrong about that. “Think I have a pretty good idea.”

“Do you?” She gestured at the damage the Memitim had done to Caleb’s house. “Then you’re aware that Caleb is looking for a way to break free of his service to you?”

Yeah, okay, that one caught him off guard. He’d had no idea. “What?”

She nodded. “I think it’s what weakened his protection barrier and allowed them in. He’s been summoning stronger powers for some time now in an effort to find someone who can reclaim his soul from you. It could be why he has no powers now. I’m thinking he might have traded them off for it. If you were to die while he’s essentially mortal, he’d be freed from what binds him to your bloodline.”

Could that be true?

Nick swallowed hard at something that really wasn’t all that farfetched. Caleb did want his freedom. Even bad enough to die for it. “He didn’t tell me that.”

“Of course not. Why would he?” Livia bit her lip. “And I could be wrong, but I find it strange that all of this started after he supposedly sealed the gates for you, don’t you?”