Free Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon Page B

our secret.”
    She smiled at his sincerity. He was so different from the Malachai she’d once battled. How could this generous boy have come from the most evil of all powers? It was inconceivable, and yet there he sat.…
    Caring. Joking. Precious.
    But for the fact she knew better, she’d swear they had identified the wrong person. And yet, somehow this boy in front of her would grow into a demon who would one day end the world.
    A demon she’d have to kill.
    If she had any brains, she’d do it right now, before those powers grew stronger. But she had protocols to follow. There was still a chance that he could be saved.
    A bargain made …
    She had to honor that bargain, even though it went against every part of her being. Like him, she’d been born a soldier. Her sole duty to protect the natural order and to put down any and all enemies.
    Including charming teenage boys.
    The wealth of a soul is measured by how much it can feel … its poverty by how little.
    Right now, in this time and place, Nick’s soul was rich and pure. If they could keep it this way, he wouldn’t be lost. A tool they could use and a power they could harness …
    That was the landscape they were painting, and failure wasn’t an option.
    Nick had the sudden feeling that Kody was dissecting him like some mutant lab experiment. “Did I sprout a new head?”
    She blinked. “What?”
    “You look like you’re trying to figure me out. I probably shouldn’t say anything, but it’s making me really uncomfortable.”
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just … Never mind. Some things a woman has to keep to herself.”
    “Hey, good quality people! What are you doing out and about in the daylight?”
    Nick grinned at the high-pitched, singsongy voice that belonged to Simi. Another newbie he’d met last night. She’d shown up to help them all out, and boy had she ever. “Hi, Simi. Want to join us?”
    Her hair was jet black with red streaks running through it. Today she had it pulled up in pigtails that were held with spiked bands that matched the spiked collar around her neck. A good six feet tall, she also wore stacked boots that added another four to five inches to her height. Her short skirt was a purple plaid that matched her purple fishnet top and black tank.
    She plopped down in the chair next to Kody and opened her coffin-shaped purse. Nick exchanged a frown with Kody as Simi pulled out a lobster bib and tied it around her neck. Next came a small bottle of hot sauce.
    Their waitress came up with a big smile on her face. “Hi, Simi. Your usual?”
    “Absolutely, Tracy. Keep ’em coming till the Simi pops.”
    The waitress laughed. “Girl, I don’t know where you put it. I swear you have hollow legs.”
    “Ooo, the Simi wishes. Then she could eat even more. Yum!”
    Laughing, the waitress headed back to kitchen.
    “How often you eat here?” Nick asked.
    Simi pulled out several napkins from the silver dispenser and put them in her lap. “Whenever we’re in town and Akri lets me.”
    Akri. She kept mentioning that name last night, too, but Nick had no idea who it was, even though Simi acted like he should. “Who’s Akri?”
    She huffed in irritation. “The Simi’s daddy. Silly partial human, don’t you know nothing?”
    Nick opened his mouth to respond, but the moment he did, he saw …
    He wasn’t sure. It was rapid-fire images. Him and Simi. Only it wasn’t him. It was … Another time and place.
    No, it was here. No … he saw her as a demon with wings and horns. His head spun as he tried to sort through the kaleidoscope that left him feeling sick to his stomach.
    “Nick?” Kody asked in a concerned tone. “Are you all right?”
    Simi answered for him. “He’s fine. Just freaking out ’cause the Simi’s a demon and he didn’t know until now. He’ll be all right in a few.” She held his glass of milk out to him. “This’ll help.”
    Nick blinked as he tried to calm down. “Am I