Page 33 of Midnight Auto Parts

“Frankie,” he breathed and then turned a venomous glare on Dis Pater. “What is she doing here?”

“I didn’t invite her.” He put his shoe back on. “Are you sureyoudidn’t bring her?”

“She’s astrally projecting herself,” Kierce determined. “You can’t be outside your body for long, Frankie.”

Luckily, Carter was with said body, so it would be safe.

Unluckily, Vi would murder me if she found out I had astral projected on a whim.

Not that I intended to end up here. There was no intent. Justpoof. Here I was.

Maybe the summoning token had something to do with it? The tattoolike design on my forearm allowed me to call Kierce to me. The last time I smeared blood on it, it hadn’t worked. Kierce hadn’t been healed enough. Maybe this meant it was operational again and my newly minted godhood twisted it into a two-way street?

“Kierce,” Dis Pater spoke his name softly. “You’re focusing on the wrong thing.”

Shoulders snapping back, Kierce marched to the god then knelt at his feet.

I got the distinct impression none of those actions had been performed by choice.

“Master,” he rumbled in a warning growl. “What do you wish of me?”

“The Alcheyvaha have been disturbed, and I want you to find out who is responsible and their agenda.”

“Alcheyvaha?” He tasted the name but shook his head. “I don’t recall…”

“Oh. Right.” He flicked his wrist toward Kierce. “There you go. That should clear up things.”

Understanding flickered across Kierce’s features, and rage chased it, or so I thought. There and gone so fast, I couldn’t be certain I hadn’t misread him. But I didn’t think I had. “Kierce?”

Kierce, if he heard me, kept his full attention trained on his god.

“Now go.” Dis Pater poured himself a glass of amber fluid he drained in one gulp. “Take your little friend with you.”

A tight pinch in my midsection exploded into a full-body yank that jerked me into darkness.

“Josie is goingto murder me. I’ll never be able to step outside again. The oak tree will pulverize me.”

I opened my eyes to find Carter cradling me in her arms. She knelt on the tiles, rocking with me as a horrifying array of plant-based dooms spilled from her mind into the chaos of Mallow as the cashier paced next to us, chanting at herself to be calm, that paramedics were on the way.

“I’m good,” I croaked to Carter, then told the cashier, “Low blood sugar.”

The sound of my voice startled Carter, and she flung me off her. Skull bouncing off the floor, I grunted at the brief sting. The energy Kierce and I had consumed earlier must have worn off. Either that, or I had used it up after my spectacular crash landing at Bonaventure.

“Frankie.” Carter scooped me up again, dusting me off like the five-second rule applied to people. “Are you okay?”

“Depends.” Tense as a board in her arms, I had to ask, “Are you going to drop me again?”

Sirens blared a warning that coaxed a fresh burst of energy from the already frantic cashier.

As soon as they pulled in, the cashier rushed out to greet the paramedics, and Kierce materialized in a corner. He must have been waiting on her to leave so she wouldn’t remark on his sudden appearance. He strode over, let out a relieved exhale, and lifted me into his arms.

“Do you want to stay?” Concern warred across his features. “Let them examine you?”

“No.” I thumped my head against his chest. “I absolutely do not.”

More than likely, those were human paramedics, and I had no good excuses for the glitter in my veins.

“We better hurry then.” Carter rose and shoved us toward the counter. “Use the employee exit.”

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