Page 136 of Bones

I thought that could cause a potential explosion—though maybe it’s worth the risk.

But the man didn’t turn to dust like the others Denny had touched at the nasty house.

They disappeared completely.

That would’ve been an effective way, but it was unlikely Absolve would line up in a single file, lift their sleeves, and patiently wait their turn to vanish.

Even if they all really did look like people I’d see in line at the market or bank.

It’s seriously disconcerting how normal they look—minus the hatred aimed at us, of course.

If only we could reason with them, but they’re gone. Empty.

I moved as the vision of Deke filling the apartment hit me. As it played, I tried to force it into his head, too.

“Explode them by filling them with furnishings?” Deke asked back in my head, catching a fist and twisting the arm back to break it.

In multiple places.

“No. Well, maybe? You said you can fill empty things. Can you return their souls?” I asked.

He shook his head and then froze.

Not in thought.

In a vision.

I wasn’t a fighter. I didn’t have smoke or magicks.

But I did have Deke.

And I’d be damned if anyone was going to take him from me.

Launching myself to where he stood, I guarded his prone body. I kicked out. I swung my arms like windmills. I… I wasn’t sure what the move would be called, but it probably resembled a rabid opossum trying to fight off a moose.

And then I had actual rodent help.

Mice scurried across the floor, helping me attack my target with vicious squeals and sharp teeth.

Right until some monster kept fireballing them to explode.

If we could get that door open, maybe there’s a less explosive animal around. I bet a bear would help a moose kick their asses.

Arms wrapped around my chest from behind, and I jabbed my elbow back.Hard.

The grunt in my ear was a familiar one.

“Like the night we met, my one,” Deke wheezed.

Only he could make that tackle in the woods sound romantic.

He reached over me, and the fiery sugar of his magicks filled my nose even before I saw the green smoke. It coated a guy, buthe didn’t even notice it, much less fall to the ground in a heap of pain.

“He’s a void. Fully and completely soulless,” Deke said.

I was out of ideas. And as we knocked them down just for them to rise back up, I was also running out of hope.

“Bald guy is less smudgy,” Lilith said before doing a flawless, graceful roll. She landed up on her knees behind a guy and slammed her fist up into his crotch.

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