Page 59 of Midnight Auto Parts

“Take your little friend with you.” He flicked his wrist in my direction. “If she’s going to keep sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong, she might as well be useful. Besides, with the two of you working together to find the bones, you can return them to their resting place that much faster.”

“You’re going to put them back?” I heard my doubt. “You don’t want to use them?”

“Listen, mouthy girl, some things are sacred even to gods.”

“Gods killed the Alcheyvaha, who were also gods, so…” I watched for his reaction. “What’s the difference?”

“Kierce, your puppy is yapping.” He exhaled. “Take it on a walksie, or I’m driving it to the pound.”

The next flick of his fingers clenched my torso in an invisible fist and flung me away.

Clampinga hand to the side of my aching head, I cracked open an eye to find Carter’s face an inch away.

“Don’t eat me,” I breathed, heart rattling against my ribs.

“I’m not a fucking vulture,” she snarled at me. “I don’t go around eating people who look dead.”

“I fainted again?” I groped the seatback then decided lying down was good. “Ugh.”

“You slumped over midsentence.” She inspected my temple. “You need to get a handle on this.”

Pressure caused my ears to pop, and then Kierce was there, leaning over me. “Are you all right?”

“If I don’t figure this out, and soon, I’ll have to wear a helmet twenty-four-seven.” I groaned at the brush of his fingers across my cheek. “It’s that or risk brain damage.”

“I don’t understand how he’s summoning you.” Kierce drew me against him. “We’ll figure it out.”

Withdrawing from the cab, Carter jumped down from the running board. “Should I take you home?”

“I’m good.” Kierce, and me too, I guess, had our marching orders. “I’ll see if I can’t get through to Vi. She would know if it’s possible to block the connection to Kierce that’s causing this.” I curled a protective hand over the summoning token inked onto my forearm, the one resembling a tattoo of Badb in flight. “She might know a way to give me a warning anyway.”

A heads-up I was about to go bye-bye would allow me precious seconds to get flat on my back. That could prevent future head injuries. But the idea of leaving my body behind, without protection, was terrifying. I had seen the worstalmosthappen to women who passed out drunk on crowded streets. I had given up on filling my pockets to call the cops when someone was in danger. That didnotendear me to the other kids who had to ditch their plays to avoid being spotted by officers who recognized them or their tricks.

So far, I had been lucky with my blackouts. Carter had been there both times to guard my body. Eventually, luck had a way of running out.

A call distracted Carter, who walked away from the truck wearing a scowl that morphed into a snarl.

Before I could ask what was wrong, she slammed my door then climbed behind the wheel. “Carter?”

“There’s been another abduction.” Her laugh was manic. “A bean sidhe from Florida in a sedan.”

“Then we’ve got witnesses.” I leaned forward then groaned as my head swam. “What did the officers see?”

“Nothing.” She screwed her eyes shut tight. “They’re gone too.”

Eight patrol cars lined the road ahead, forcing Carter to drive farther down to find an opening. As soon as she threw the truck into park, she was out the door and prowling toward the scene, leaving us in our seats.

“At least she parked,” Kierce said dryly, “before jumping out and leaving her passengers behind.”

“Aww.” I poked him in the cheek then fed his earlier words back to him. “You’re adorable when you pout.”

“I must begin tracking the missing bones.” He peered out the rear window. “I can’t help Carter.”

“Don’t beat yourself up over it.” I reached for the door handle. “She’ll understand.”

These events and victims were connected in ways we had yet to determine. With us pulling on one end, and Carter on the other, we would unravel the case that much quicker.

With that hope in mind, we set out into the woods, following the flow of officers to find our way.

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