Page 10 of Midnight Auto Parts

“Then I would say that’s very sweet.” I let him guide my head back until our gazes clashed. “But I have to own up to the fact my family—and most of our friends—are obnoxious. If you punished them every time they said or did something that ducked my goose, my social circle would be reduced to scorch marks.”

“It doesn’t bother you then?” He traced my features with hungry eyes. “When they tease you?”

“Mostly they’re teasing out of love, so no. I don’t mind. I know it’s coming from a good place. I even let them get away with it, to a certain extent.” I trembled when he traced my jaw with his fingertip. “If they were being cruel, or trying to cause real trouble, I would put my foot down.”

“You don’t need me to protect you.” He seemed to absorb my every detail. “That’s what you mean.”

“I can protect myself.” I booped his nose. “I’ve been doing it all my life.”

A whirring click prompted me to cut my gaze toward Carter only to discover she had photographed us.

Before I could demand she erase the photo, she yelped and stumbled back, flinging her hand.

And Badb flew away with the phone, rising up and up until she reached a height that appealed to her.

“Don’t you dare.” Carter held out her open palm. “You bring that phone back here this instant.”

“I wouldn’t threaten her if I were you.” Kierce released me with a sigh. “She takes those personally.”

Heart pounding in my ears, a flush burning my sensitive skin, I shut my eyes and counted down from ten while reminding myself of the reasons I was taking this slow. But when he lookedat me a certain way, or his fingers tangled in my hair, chills blasted down my spine in a rush of anticipation.

No sooner had I caged my hormones than Badb opened her beak, allowing the phone to plummet, smashing itself to bits on the road. Carter howled with rage, picked up a rock, and hurled it at her.

With a squawk, Badb zipped to the nearest tree, plucking small pinecones and tossing them at Carter.

“I would ask if we should stop them, but their aims are terrible. I don’t think we have to worry about them hurting each other.” I watched for a while, tempted to film it as payback, when a lavender haze hit the air in a swirling cloud that coalesced into a furious feminine figure. “Oh no.” I slid down into a crouch between Kierce and the wagon. “Hide me.”

Gripping his thighs, I braced my forehead on his knees, wishing with all my might that demigodhood came with a side order of invisibility.

Demigodhood, of course, had failed to provide me with the one superpower that would save me.

“Why would I…?” Kierce tensed as the purple haze finished solidifying before him. “Hello.”

“Don’t youhellome.” Madam Vionette Fontenot—mentor, friend, and force of nature—gave Kierce no consideration for his status or title. “Step back and let me see what she’s done to herself now.”

“Stay put, Kierce.” I kept my head down and eyes on the grass. “Don’t move.”

“Frankie Talbot, I hear you back there.” Vi drew closer. “I see you too.”

Still hiding behind Kierce’s knees, I yelped when she shoved her head through them to glare at me. “Hi.”

“No, ma’am.” She waggled a finger and sent her bangles clacking. “You have some explaining to do.”

“You okay over there, Frankie?” Carter grunted when a pinecone hit its mark. “Fucking bird.”

“One of her friends has come to visit,” Kierce explained to Carter, ignoring the woman with her head protruding through his knees. “Do you require assistance with Badb?”

“I donot.” She took off one boot and flung it with all her strength. “I have the situation under control.”

Ring-bedecked fingers snapping at the end of my nose brought my attention swinging back to Vi.

“I’m waiting.” A single dark braid escaped the floral wrap on her head. “Start talking.”

“Now isn’t the best time to have this conversation.” I cut my eyes toward Carter. “Call me later?”

“Ha.”She sat back on her haunches, still half in/half out of Kierce. “You wouldn’t answer.”

Unscheduled calls from her, which were as rare as rain in the desert, always quenched my worries. But not this time. I had been trying to avoid trapping myself under her speculative gaze until…I don’t know…our monthly video chat? I couldn’t push it out further without this happening. An in-person scolding.

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