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F urious, Thorn wanted to tear the wings off every demon in Azmodea.

“The Malachai?!”

Misery, his demon assistant, shrank away. “Are you all right, my lord?”

Of course not. He was vibrating with fury.

“Get out of my sight.”

She vanished instantly.

Pain lacerated his heart. He hadn’t held this much raw agony since he’d been forced to lock Cadegan away. How could this have happened?

He wanted to rip the head off Acheron particularly. How many times had he told the Atlantean to watch Simi?

But no …

Ash knew best. He listened to no one.

Imbecile!

As Thorn threw his glass into the roaring fire, he felt that familiar presence behind him. The one that normally comforted him, but today …

He winced in excruciating pain. “What are you doing here, Simi?”

“I felt your achy heart, Thorny, and the Simi was worried. Has something happened to hurts you again?”

“Yes.” He couldn’t bring himself to look at her right now. Although they should be thanking her.

She’d caused Acheron to uncover and eliminate the new Malachai. At least until Artemis ignorantly brought the Malachai back to life because she thought she was doing Acheron a favor.

Oh the humanity.

Nick Gautier.

It explained so much. Why Acheron had always held such an affinity for the kid. Why no one could see Nick’s future.

Damn you, Cam. She was the reason this had happened. Normally, the Malachai was a monster, easily spotted. One everyone knew to avoid and run from.

Nick was a good kid who hid the most frightening powers in the universe. Who would have ever suspected?

Cam had succeeded in one thing she’d set out to do. Nick was unlike any of his predecessors. Because of his innocent and loving mother, Nick understood love. Compassion.

Decency.

He wasn’t a ruthless killing machine out to spread as much misery on others as he could.

But it didn’t change the fact that Nick Gautier was the Ambrose Malachai.

The Malachai.

Simi walked up to Thorn and put her hand on his shoulder. “Can the Simi help you?”

Her touch broke him. It reached far beyond the physical and brought out the demon inside. The transition was so powerful and unexpected that it shocked them both.

“Why did you do it, Sim? What possessed you?”

She paled at his question. “Not you, too, Thorny. The Simi’s already heard it all from akri. I was just curious. That’s all. My sissy has gone on and on about how the Simi in’t an itsy girl any mores. The Simi’s all grown now.”

Yes, she was. And like Acheron, he hated it. He missed that innocent little Simi who’d laughed when he tried to scare her.

In a life of brutality and agony, Simi had been the only pure angel to cull the misery of his life. The balm he and Acheron relied on.

But she was no longer that innocent little girl.

Simi stepped around him so that she could look up into his eyes. “Akri has been so upset at his Simi. Please don’t be mads, too. The Simi didn’t means to hurts so many ‘cause she was curious about it.”

Nodding, Thorn pulled her into his arms for a hug. “I would never hurt you, Simi. I’m sorry. It’s selfish of me and isn’t any of my business.” The gods knew he hadn’t been celibate.

But for some reason, this cut him to his bones. No one was supposed to touch their Simi. Never.

She hugged him close. “All good, Thorny-man. The Simi still loves you.”

And he still loved her. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Simi. You’ve been with me for so long … My best friend.”

She pulled back to smile up at him. “You’re mine, too. I don’t ever want to lose my Thorny-man. So are we still on to sees our movie this weekend?”

Thorn laughed at her question. He hated movies. They bored him to tears, and yet he watched them at least twice a month with Simi because she loved them so much. “Sure. I’ll start taking up a collection for the popcorn. Is Xirena coming?”

“Probably. Sissy likes to comes if there’s free eats.”

“Then I shall look forward to it.” After all, those excursions were the highlight of his dreary existence.

Simi left and Thorn felt her absence like a physical ache in his chest.

She was a woman now. He still wasn’t sure what to think about that. While she seemed the same, she wasn’t.

Things always changed.

And he hated it.

His only comfort was that Nick was banished to Savitar’s island. Because right now, Malachai or not, if Thorn had to look at the boy, he’d probably beat the crap out of that Cajun. Score one for Acheron for beating him to it.

It probably saved Thorn’s life.

Simi headed back to the temple in Katateros. Xirena was still watching QVC while akra-Danger and akri-Lexi lay on the couch with each other.

Akri wasn’t here, and for once, she was glad. While she still loved her akri more than anything, he’d been in a terrible mood since he found out about her and Nick.

It made no logical sense.

And honestly, she was perturbed or preturbed or whatever turbed it was by his actions.

After all, the problem with Charonte was that they could take any form they wanted. It wasn’t until her sissy came that Simi had realized she wasn’t a little girl and allowed herself to show her real Charonte age. She’d been trapped in that form longer than she should have because no one had been around to remind her that she wasn’t a girl demon anymore.

Because it made akri happy for her to be his little girly demon. And while she loved to make akri happy, she didn’t want to sacrifice herself for it, either.

Why couldn’t everybody be happy? Growing up was supposed to be a good thing. No one had ever warned her just how hard it was.

How confusing.

Most of all, they’s never told the Simi that growing up would be harder on those around her than it was on her herself.

“Akra-Danger?”

The beautiful red-headed ghosty looked at her. “You want something to eat?”

Simi shook her head. “Do you think the Simi’s selfish?”

Gasping, akra-Danger stood up immediately. “What? No! Why would you ask such a thing? Of course you’re not selfish!”

Simi wasn’t so sure about that. Because akri’s pain made her feel like she’d put herself first over him. She’d never meant to do that. Had she any idea how akri would overreact, she’d have never slept with Nicky.

She’d not even thought about him being the Malachai. Just that he a longtime friend. That had made him seem safe.

But boy had she angered everyone around her.

What a giant mess.

“Is akri still mad at me?”

Akra-Danger wrapped her in a hug. “He’s not mad at you, ma petite . He’s afraid.”

That only confused her more. “Afraid of what?”

“That you’ll succumb to the curse his aunt put on him when he was born human. Acheron is terrified you won’t be able to resist him now and that you’ll want to sleep with him too.”

Simi screwed her face up and bared her fangs at the very gross thought. “That’s disgusting! Ew!” Jumping around the room, she made all kinds of noises as she visibly cringed. “The Simi would never find her akri attractive. I mean … he cute. Not Travis Fimmel or demon cute. But he’s cuter than most. People tend to notice and watch him. But not the Simi! Not ever! Ew!” She was so grossed out, she might never eat again.

Okies, that was not trued at all. She could always eat, but still.

Ew! Ew! Ew! She couldn’t stop saying that one word at the thought of being attracted to akri.

Laughing, akri-Lexi shook his head. “Remind me to tell that to Ash when he comes back. He definitely doesn’t need to worry about Simi chasing him around the sofa.”

Leave it to her akri to be so stupid about stupid things. Though she understood. It’d happened to him before when a little girl he loved grewd up and had made a pass at him. That had traumatized her akri. But those were with human people.

Not Charonte. They were different beasts entirely and the last thing she’d ever want to do is bed down with her akri.

Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!

Still grossed out, Simi left them and went to her room so that she could be alone for a bit and try to do something to get the awful thought of out her mind before it made her vomit.

Pulling her cat to her, she kissed its head and sighed. “The Simi is so sad, Cat. I don’t like being sad.” Most people didn’t. She’d hurt those she loved and hadn’t meant to do it.

No wonder akri-Savitar stayed on his island. That way, he knew he’d never cause harm to anyone. She’d just wanted a new experience.

Akri was right.

Growing up sucked, and she wished she never had. Why couldn’t she stay a little demon? What was the point of being an adult?

When she’d been little, she’d thought it would give her more freedom.

It didn’t. Just more responsibilities and more people to watch out for. As a child, others were quick to help.

That stopped with adultness. No one was eager to step in anymore. They wanted her to handle it on her own and then got mad at her when she did.

Yet she still felt as confuzzled by life as she always had.

For the first time ever, Simi wasn’t looking forward to anything. She just wanted peace.

The only problem was, she didn’t know how to get it.