Sherrilyn Kenyon - Invincible

“All right. I’ll do it.”

“Great.” The coach grinned. “I’ll bring a jersey to you and see you after school today.”

Nick opened his mouth to tell him he was supposed to work, but the coach was gone before he could do more than gape. He met Caleb’s gaze. “Kyrian’s going to kill me.”

“Nah, he won’t. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

Nick wished he had that kind of confidence. In anything. But he didn’t. Life and jerks had basically kicked it out of him about the time he was two … maybe three. Sighing, he started up the stairs with Caleb one step behind him. As they entered the building, it seemed like everyone was chattering about items that had been stolen while the school was closed.

There were times when being poor was a blessing. Since he didn’t have anything to steal …

Even so, he remembered once a few years ago when his mom had splurged and bought them two five-dollar lawn chairs at Walmart. Dang if someone hadn’t stolen them off the back porch of their run-down condo. His mom had cried for a week, and if he could lay hands on the thief, they’d spend eternity limping. What kind of human being would steal plastic lawn chairs from someone who was so obviously poor? Surely there was a special corner of hell waiting with their name engraved on a plaque.

“Hey, Nick.”

He froze at his locker as Nekoda came up to him. “Hi, Kody. How you doing?”

She gave him that smile that never failed to heat his body up to an equatorial level. “Better now that I get to see you. I tried to call last night, but you didn’t answer. Did you get my message?”

Nick scowled. “My phone didn’t ring.” Pulling it out, he checked the log. “See.” He held it out for her inspection.

“Weird. I rang it three times.”

That was odd. Then again … “There might be something with our condo.” Other than the fact that it lived under a perpetual dismal cloud and was infested with roaches the size of his fist. It was probably over a hellmouth, too, that didn’t allow for any kind of reception other than two cans joined by a lengthy string. “Sorry I missed it. Did you need anything?”

“Just wanted to talk to you.”

He didn’t know why, but those words made his face heat up. Even though he kept having nightmares about her, there was something that drew him to her. She was irresistible, and the taste of her kiss was perpetually branded on his lips. He’d give anything to have another one.

“Nick! I just heard!”

Before he could identify who was speaking, Casey threw herself into his arm and slammed him against the lockers.

“You’re on the football team again! I’m so happy for you. Now you can be my escort at homecoming. Won’t that be great?”

He felt like a mouse caught between two cats as he saw the look of anger on Nekoda’s face.

Casey paid her no attention. “When do you get your jersey? You’ll be so hot in it.”

Help me. His voice sounded like a fly in his head.

Without a word, Nekoda spun around and headed down the hallway.

“Kody!” He tried to follow after her, but Casey cut him off.

“You don’t want to talk to her, Nick. She’s a loser.”

Yeah, right. She was also the only person from his school who’d visited him when he’d been in the hospital. Yeah, okay, so she volunteered there, but she had made it a point to come to his room every day and cheer him up. That she hadn’t had to do.

He tried to get around Casey. She was like a Velcro spider. Everywhere he moved, she was there, clinging to him. He didn’t know how to escape her without hurting her.

Frustrated, he gave her a vicious glare. “What is up with you?”

“Nothing. I only want to spend time with you, Nick.”

“Since when?”

“You’re working for Kyrian Hunter now. You’re one of us.”

He wasn’t so sure he wanted to be one of them. Because of the way they’d treated him, he’d learned a long time ago not to want to be part of the in-crowd. He didn’t like the way they operated. If being one of them meant being cruel to someone else, he’d rather be a social outcast.

“Look, I’m not some teen movie. I’m not going to get so caught up with being popular that I forget my friends. You can’t undo years of ignoring me with one act of kindness. Now, excuse me.” He finally pushed past her to go after Kody.

But it was too late. There was no sign of her anywhere.

Fantastic. He felt like an even bigger heel. Gah, I’m such an idiot. …

“Nick?” Casey took his hand, shocking him completely that she’d dare touch him, the unwashed. “I’m sorry if I treated you wrong in the past or hurt your feelings. Like anyone else, I can be self-absorbed at times and not see what’s in front of my face. Maybe my mom’s right, and I need to look up from my phone once in a while.” She peered at him from underneath her lashes in what had to be the hottest expression he’d ever seen on a living girl’s face. “You’re right. I didn’t see you then. My bad. But I see you now. Can you not forgive me for being stupid?”

Those unexpected words touched a part of him that was foreign and strange. Then he remembered what Ambrose had said. Casey would be a good girlfriend to him while he was in high school.

And yet he wanted Kody for that role. She was the one who’d been kind when he needed it. She was the one he really enjoyed talking to.

Fourteen years, and I can’t get the time of day from a single female. Now I’m torn between two of them. …

The most popular girl he’d been pining for since he was a kid and another one who’d only just entered his world and sent it reeling.

Life wasn’t right. And he had no idea what he should do. Listen to Ambrose, or listen to his gut.…

“C’mon,” Casey said, tugging at his arm. “I’ll walk you to class.”

Grim paused as he felt a slight breeze kiss his cold skin. It was a presence he’d known since before the dawn of time. Vicious and callous, she was his best friend.

And his worst enemy.

Together they’d wreaked more destruction than an F5 tornado on a week-long bender.

That was just on their good days. On their bad ones … Well, scientists claimed an F6 was impossible. With their combined powers, it was not only possible, but even that category was petulant compared to the damage he and Wynter Laguerre could do.

“Laguerre … what brings you here?”

Lithe, sexy, and vibrant, she came into his private domain like she owned it. With an abundance of dark brown curls that fell to her waist, she was exquisitely formed. As always, her lips were a bright blood red that was matched by her pants and blazer. The moment she flashed herself to his side, the fire in his black marble hearth flared, shooting embers across the ebony wood floor.

She had that effect on most things.

“I wanted you to know that I’m facilitating things.”

Those words laced him with foreboding. Whenever Laguerre facilitated something, it was never good. Not for him and especially not for her target. “How do you mean?”

She screwed her face up. “There’s too much good in Nick Gautier. No matter how much abuse we heap on him, he won’t turn. Therefore we need to do something to purge it from him.”

“You can’t kill his mother.” They all knew that was the only surefire way to unleash the darkest parts of Gautier’s powers and soul. If Cherise Gautier died, he’d be beyond redemption and easy to turn. But …

“She’s off-limits to us.” Whoever killed her was guaranteed a brutal demise, and not even he, Death itself, was immune.

Wynter ran her long red fingernail down his jawbone. “Yes, but there are other ways to turn him and make sure he sides with us in this battle.”