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“Any ideas what could break in here, under the noses of three demons, the protection of a goddess, and do this?”
    No. She had no idea. Kneeling on the bed, she cupped Nick’s terrified face in her hands. “Look at me.”
    He obeyed, even though he continued to tremble and sob in a way their Nick never would.
    It broke her heart to see the handsome face she knew so well, and not see recognition in those beautiful blue eyes. Her Nick was powerful and defiant in everything he did. Cocksure and sweet. The boy on this bed held none of the charisma or courage of her boyfriend and enemy.
    Kody bit her lip as she used her powers to scan him.
    To her horror, he was completely human. Not a drop of Malachai power or Nick’s true soul remained inside his body. That wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, except for the fact that he still had Malachai blood running through those veins. Even without the powers, the blood carried its own special properties that made Nick a very attractive trophy for those who wanted to use his blood for nefarious activities.
    For that matter, his heart, eyes, or any Malachai organ, bones, and skull were even more prized by those who practiced the darkest magick.
    A Malachai was the rarest and strongest of all demonkyn. Alive, they were lethal and hunted. Dead, they were priceless. It was one of the reasons a Malachai usually used the last of his powers to combust himself as he died. That ensured that no other creature could use any part of the Malachai to go after his son. To make sure nothing could ever enslave him once he was dead.
    The Malachai was the most loathed and pursued creature in existence. He lived a life fraught with enemies, danger, and battle.
    And this boy in front of her was in no way a fighter or a survivor.
    He was Kibble. And Nick’s enemies would tear this kid apart.
    Scared for them all, she met Caleb’s furious glower. “Could this have been done by whomever or whatever kidnapped his parents last night?”
    Nick gasped. “My parents were kidnapped?”
    She patted his cheeks. “No, Nick. Not your parents.”
    “I don’t understand.” He panicked even more. As soon as he pulled away from her and cringed against the wall, a blast shot past her, into him. One that sent Nick sprawling unconscious, onto the floor.
    Gaping, she arched a brow at Zavid as he lowered his hand.
    With a loud snort, he rolled his eyes at her. “Oh, like you didn’t want to knock him unconscious. He’s been whining like a brat for the last hour. I couldn’t take it anymore. Instead of looking offended, you should be glad I didn’t kill him for the headache he’s given me.”
    Kody scoffed at the idle threat. Because of the laws that governed demons, Zavid couldn’t harm his master. Not without causing himself an unbelievable level of agony for the rest of eternity. “You can’t kill him.”
    “You seriously underestimate my threshold for pain.”
    She felt a heavy desire to strangle him and test that boast. “I thought you said your powers were drained.”
    “They’re slowly coming back. Shall we see if I have enough yet for another blast?”
    “Stop,” Caleb growled. “Both of you. We don’t have time to fight among ourselves. We have to figure out why someone separated Nick’s body from his soul and who that creature is. Because, let’s face it, they didn’t do this for us. Or to make our lives easier.”
    He’d barely finished that sentence before the room went completely dark, as if someone had flipped the switch on the sun and washed the earth in night shadows.
    Kody cursed as a new fear wrapped itself around her heart. “Please, someone tell me that’s not an eclipse.”
    Caleb was the first one to the window. “I’m not saying it’s an eclipse. But this round moonlike object is completely covering the sun. And it’s really windy outside.”
    Of course it was. Kody groaned in agony of the portents.
    Still sitting on the floor, Zavid rubbed his hand against his chin.