Illusion: Chronicles of Nick (32 page)

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
Š
arru-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 u
š
umgallu.

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.

Also Available from #1 Bestselling Author Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Dark-Hunter Series

Fantasy Lover

Night Pleasures

Night Embrace

Dance with the Devil

Kiss of the Night

Night Play

Seize the Night

Sins of the Night

Unleash the Night

Dark Side of the Moon

Devil May Cry

Acheron

One Silent Night

Bad Moon Rising

No Mercy

Retribution

Time Untime

Styxx

The Dark-Hunter Companion

The Dream-Hunter Series

The Dream-Hunter

Upon the Midnight Clear

Dream Chaser

Dream Warrior

The Guardian

The Chronicles of Nick

Infinity

Invincible

Infamous

Inferno

The League

Born of Night

Born of Fire

Born of Ice

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times
bestselling author
S
HERRILYN
K
ENYON
is a regular in the #1 spot. This extraordinary bestseller continues to top every genre in which she writes. With more than 40 million copies of her books in print in more than one hundred countries, her current series include: The Dark-Hunters, The League, and Chronicles of Nick. Her Chronicles of Nick and Dark-Hunter series are soon to be major motion pictures.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

ILLUSION.
Copyright © 2014 by Sherrilyn Kenyon. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover designed by Elsie Lyons

Cover art by Cliff Nielson

Cover photograph © Miroslav Georgijevic/Getty Images

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN 978-1-250-00284-6 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-4668-4727-9 (e-book)

e-ISBN 9781466847279

First Edition: April 2014