Inferno Read Free

himself.
    But who?
    Knowing he wouldn’t have an answer today, he smirked at Grim, which probably wasn’t the brightest idea. But far be it from him to ever let his common sense stop his stupidity. “By all means, commence … Mr. Graves . The last thing I’d ever want to do is keep you from your business.”
    Death gave him a lopsided grin. “Wise, boy. I knew you could be taught.”
    Nick didn’t miss the sinister undertone and reference to the fact that Grim had been his tutor over this last year. The specter had taught him a lot of interesting things, but those powers had a bad habit, through no fault of Nick’s, of backfiring. Because of that, Grim thought him to be dense and stupid. But he was neither. He caught on quick and saw things other people missed.
    Including the fact that Grim had his own agenda where Nick was concerned. He definitely wasn’t tutoring Nick out of the goodness of his black heart.
    Nick had yet to uncover the truth of Grim’s motivation, but in time, he would.
    Still, this latest information about Nekoda rattled him. Did he dare believe it? Especially since he knew what a troublemaker Grim was. For that matter, Grim could easily be lying just to stir it up.
    Trust her over Death . Kody had fought by his side countless times and saved his life. And yet … he heard Ambrose’s voice in his head, warning him that he had yet to experience the betrayals that would one day kill him.
    And his mother.
    Sick to his stomach with that thought, Nick sat down between Nekoda and Caleb.
    Nekoda reached out to touch his hand. “Are you all right?”
    Nick slid his hand out from under hers. “Yeah, sure. Why wouldn’t I be?” He pulled his backpack open so that he could grab the books he needed for class, but paused as he saw her frowning from the corner of his eye.
    Are you really going to launch at my throat one day, Kody? After we’ve been through so much? That was the question he wanted to ask her. But there was no need to get into this while they were in class. His school rep was already so low he’d have to use a tractor full of dynamite just to blast it up to gutter level. The last thing he needed was to publicly accuse his girlfriend of being some evil demon sent to end his life.
    Bad enough they think I’m a criminal and trash. No need to make them think I’m crazy, too.
    He opened his book and tried to focus on words that had lost all meaning. You should just drop out and forget this crap . Not like school taught him anything he needed in real life. It definitely didn’t teach him how to survive the predators who kept coming after him. How to avoid all the preternatural traps waiting …
    Nick clenched his fist as an overwhelming urge to go tell his principal where to shove this useless curriculum went through him.
    I can’t do that .
    It would break his mother’s heart. And he’d be labeled a real loser by everyone else … even himself.
    If Caleb could suffer through all the indignities, hassles, and boredom of high school with only an hourly complaint or two, he could, too. And unlike Caleb, he hadn’t lived through the history and lessons that were being taught. To Nick, most of this was new.
    What’s going on, Nick? Why are you suddenly mad at me?
    He glanced over to Nekoda, who’d pushed her thoughts into his mind. He started not to respond, but she was the only one who could hear his telepathy.
    Who are you, Kody. This time it wasn’t a question, he demanded an answer.
    She glanced away. You know I can’t tell you.
    Yes, you can. You won’t and that’s the problem.
    She sighed wearily. Why are you on this again?
    Because I learned the truth a few minutes ago. You’re here to kill me.
    Her features blanched, confirming Grim’s dire prediction where she was concerned.
    Anger tore through him so fast and furiously that he could taste it. Are you not going to deny it?
    She hesitated before she answered. What do you want me to say?
    I want the truth, Kody.
    Tears