Wings shot out of Ambrose’s back as he changed from human to full Malachai form. His skin marbled red and black as his eyes turned to full-on pret. Fangs and claws flashing, he grabbed Nick’s jaw in his fist and tilted his head until they locked gazes. “We are Malachai above all else. Now and forever. Never forget that.” Throwing his head back, he let loose a horrific blast of blue-tinged fire toward the sky before he vanished.

Shaken and trembling, Nick stood there as everything returned to normal and the rain again saturated him. But in his mind, he saw what Ambrose did. Nick saw the bloody future that awaited them, and there in the cold, winter rain, he refused to be intimidated. He refused to allow fate and Ambrose to win.

I will not become you, old man.

He would find this Eye and figure out where Ambrose and the others had gone wrong. He would stop whatever hell-monkey was currently loose and messing with his friends and family.

But most of all, he would make sure that he never fulfilled the destiny that said he would destroy this world. Kody believed in the prophecy that said he was the Malachai who would save their line. And he believed in her.

Since the day he was born, he’d been defying the odds. Today was not the day to stop that trend. Unlike Ambrose, he wasn’t about to give up or give in.

So long as there was breath in his body, there was life. So long as there was life, there was hope. And so long as there was hope, there was the possibility of victory.

Life wasn’t about just getting by. It was about getting through, no matter what, and making the most of every minute.

A chill went down his spine as he remembered what his father had said to him. The Malachai will never be forgotten. But it’s entirely up to you as to how you’ll be remembered.

Nick Gautier would not be remembered as a coward or a villain. He was going out a hero and a champion.

And he would not go down without a vicious, vicious fight.

As he started after Zavid, his phone rang. It was Kody. He answered immediately. “Hey, cher. What’s up?”

“Where are you?”

“Outside Caleb’s. Why? What’cha need?”

“You. Fast as possible. There’s something here and it’s after your mother.”

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

The instant Nick appeared in his living room, he was violently lifted off his feet and slammed so hard onto the wood floor that it knocked the breath out of him. Flat on his back, he moaned out loud while his ears rang violently. Ah, dang, it hurt! All he could do was choke and wheeze. It felt like he’d been mowed down by an eighteen-wheeler traveling faster than the speed of sound.