Page 67 of Midnight Auto Parts

“Bymortal, I assume you meannon-god.” I puffed out my cheeks. “You can’t have Carter.”

“I know.”

“You can’t have the others either.”

“I know.” The shadow of a smile darkened his features. “That’s one of the many reasons why I…” A blush tipped his ears red. “I respect you.”

“You’re cute when you get all flustered.” I pinched his cheek. “I respect you too.”

Had he been a different sort of man, say, one like Ankou, he wouldn’t have warned me. He would have let the 514 help him achieve his goals then killed anyone who held enough information to be a threat to his mission. But even Kierce only had so much room for interpretation of his orders. I would have to remember that and prepare my own contingencies.

“There are witches who can wipe minds.” I mulled over that option, aware it meant I had to consort with black witches because of its taboo nature. “Maybe Aretha will have a less illegal—and invasive—idea.”

A few weeks ago, I would have called Harrow and gotten his opinion. But that wasn’t an option now.

“The 514 might have someone on staff,” he offered, thinking along the same lines as me.

“True, I considered that, but it would leave a paper trail. And I don’t want Leer to have any clue what the 514 has stumbled across. We can tell Carter, to help her protect her people, but that’s it. Leer strikes me as the kind of man who would leverage a find like that to his advantage. Especially since he’s expanding his reach. He could get himself, and innocents, killed for it.”

“We’ll find a way,” he promised me, tilting his head. “Badb says Carter is here.”

While we waited for her to park, Kierce and I exited the wagon and began examining the barrier.

“This is the same as what Dis Pater uses at his home.” I held a hand several inches away from it. “Right?”

“If multiple bones were used in its creation, which seems to be the case, it’s far more powerful. Unless it’s meant to stand against gods, one is enough. Two is an excess. More than that is…” He struck me as being at a loss, which told me he had never come across such protections. “It makes me wonder what’s worth so much risk to protect.”

I was starting to suspect I knew the answer, but I wanted to see it for myself first.

“Dis Pater told me you can’t just appear in his living room. How do you get inside his ward?”

“He has made an exception for me. The magic recognizes me.”

“Hmm.” I wet my lips. “I’m going to try something.”

I touched the curtain of magic, tasted the spark of creation, and darkness flooded my vision.

Ash and smokefilled my mouth as I coughed and spat on the grass next to me.

“Frankie.” Kierce framed my face with his hands. “What possessed you to do that?”

“I can astral project inside Dis Pater’s protections.” I pounded a fist into my chest. “It was worth a try.”

“It wasn’t worth the risk.” His silver eyes reflected me back at myself. “You could have…”

“…died?” I injected humor into my voice. “Been there, done that.”

“Death is multifaceted.” He brought his forehead down to mine. “Don’t tempt fate.”

“I’m sorry.” I thought back to the seconds before contact. “I felt called to it.”

“You were mumbling.” He withdrew, his hold on me never wavering. “What did you dream?”

“Wouldn’t I have to be asleep to dream?” I focused on those moments before my eyes opened, but the wisps of recollection failed me. “If I was talking, I don’t remember what I was saying.” A shiver chased down my spine. “Do you think it was Ankou?”

Now would be a great time to confess he had visited my dreams, but I couldn’t form the words.

“I don’t know, but I promise we’ll find out.” He released me when footsteps pounded toward us. “She’s awake, Carter.”

---