Sherrilyn Kenyon - Illusion

“Strangely, I think I am.”

“Then I swear. It’s not a trick, Kody. I will take you home to Nick.”

She stepped forward and placed her palm against his. For a full minute, Xevikan couldn’t breathe at the warm softness in his hand. It’d been centuries since anyone had touched him for any reason other than to cause him pain.

First Cherise.

Now Kody.

In that moment, he hated Nick for what he took for granted. Unlike all the ones who’d come before him, the Ambrose Malachai had no idea what it was like to exist in solitude. To be truly despised and betrayed by everyone. To have no friends.

No family.

But Xevikan knew. And it hurt to a level unimaginable.

Unable to resist the impulse, he closed his eyes and pulled her hand to his cheek to savor the sweet scent of her warm, soft skin.

She shifted nervously. “Um … excuse me, Mr. Šarru-Dara? What are you doing?”

He wanted to hold her there forever. But she didn’t belong to him. Or even with him.

Opening his eyes, he lowered her hand and pulled her back with him, through the darkness. As he returned to his body, she was almost ripped from his grasp, but he refused to let the others take her.

An act of kindness deserved an act of kindness. It didn’t deserve to be heartbroken. For Nick, alone, he would defy them all.

Even his parents.

No one would take this woman from the Malachai. Not without a brutal fight.

And once Xevikan was restored, fully, there would be plenty of paybacks to come. But that would have to wait.

First he had this to take care of.

Finally, he got her through in one piece. Unscathed. He released her hand and left her to stand by the bed as he merged his spirit back into his physical bondage.

He gasped out loud the moment his spirit reunited with his body. He’d forgotten how much pain his wounds had left him with. That brief respite from the physical realm cost him now as he struggled to breathe.

“Are you all right?”

Stumbling against the wall, he barely heard Kody. “I just need a moment.”

“You’re shaking.”

His breathing ragged, he doubled over in absolute agony. It hurt so much, his teeth chattered. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t bring it under control.

“Are you bleeding?”

He must have reopened the wound on his return. “It’ll stop.” Eventually. At least the external injuries would.

“Let me see.” She pulled at his shirt.

“No!” he snarled, but it was too late. She’d already seen his shame that had been branded into his flesh.

“You’re cursed.”

He glared at her. “Aren’t we all?” He pulled away and sank to the floor so that he could steady his breathing and acclimate to the pain of his wounds.

“What are you?” she breathed. “Really?”

He met her gaze without flinching. “As you said, my lady … Cursed.” Finally, the pain overwhelmed him. Before he could stop it, it dragged him back to the darkness he hated with every molecule of his being.

“Hey, Xev, what’s keep…” Nick’s voice trailed off as he opened the door and saw the last thing he expected.

Kody, in the middle of his room.

A million emotions ripped him apart and froze him to the spot as their gazes met and locked. But the most overwhelming one was joy at seeing her there.

How was this possible?

“Are you real?” His voice trembled with the fear that this was another illusion. That he’d reach to touch her and she’d vanish.

Tears flooded those beautiful green eyes. “I’m real.” She ran to him and hugged him tight.

Nick trembled as he buried his face in her hair and inhaled the most precious scent on the planet. He rubbed his face against the silken strands. “How? Simi said you couldn’t come back.”

She pulled away to kiss him, then gestured toward Xevikan. “I don’t know how, but he rescued me.”

Flabbergasted, Nick released her and ran to check on his new friend. “Xev?”

He came awake slugging.

Nick barely had time to duck out of the way.

Snarling, Xevikan rolled into a crouching position, ready to attack. His eyes feral, he glanced around as if looking for something that wanted to eat him.

“Xev! You’re safe. It’s me, Nick.”

Finally, he calmed down and relaxed even while he remained on all fours. “Did I pass out?”

“Yeah. You okay?”

He sat down on the floor. Leaning his head back against the wall, he closed his eyes. “I can’t die.”

“Not the same thing.”

“Sure it is.”

Kody pulled the blanket from the foot of Nick’s bed and tucked it around Xevikan. “Thank you.”

He licked his lips. “Just repaying a debt. We’re even now, Malachai.”

Nick shook his head in denial. “No, Xev. We’re not.” He laced his fingers with Kody. “What you did for me … for Kody, I can never repay.”

“As I said, Malachai, we are even.”

But Nick knew better. And though he didn’t know how, he was going to make this right for his newfound friend.

“You want me to bring your dinner to you?”

“I don’t want to be rude to your mother.”

“Dude, you’re bleeding. I don’t think you should be moving around right now. Just rest and I’ll be back in a few minutes with a plate.”

Pulling the blanket tighter, he nodded. “Thank you.”

Nick hesitated as he brushed the back of his hand against Kody’s cheek. “You want me to bring you some, too?”

“Please. I’m starving.”

He gave her a light kiss before he left them alone.

Kody bit her lip as she turned back toward the Šarru-Dara and a weird feeling went through her. He had a presence that was unmistakable and it wasn’t just the fact that he was a member of the ušumgallu.

This was very different.

And very scary.

“Nick called you Xev?”

He nodded. “I’m Xevikan.”

Absolute horror filled her at the name of a creature who was only half a step less deadly to the world’s future than a Malachai.

Please, please, let me be wrong .

“Xevikan,” she repeatedly slowly. “Or is it Daraxerxes?”

His gaze snapped to hers and held it prisoner. “How do you know my title?”

Kody stumbled back, away from the creature on the floor. Dear gods, Nick, what have you done while I was gone?

Her boyfriend had not only opened the gates of hell, he’d just unleashed the most dangerous ancient god of all time.