Page 103 of Midnight Auto Parts

As I sprinkled amethyst and citrine chips between me and the energy barrier, I started getting twitchy.

Examining my design, Kierce made his own calculations before confirming the mechanism with me. “The energy will gather left to right, running along the candles, gaining momentum to strike the ward?”

Clicking my lighter open and shut, I faked bravado. “Like falling dominos.”

This was a brand-new application of my magic. I wasn’t in the business of smashing wards. I set them as a precaution, but that was it. I had no offensive magic. Or I hadn’t before. Death might have changed that.

Brimming with energies harvested from Bonaventure, I was ready as I would ever be to try something new.

“You’re sure it won’t hit the ward, ricochet, and knock you unconscious?”

“That’s what happened to the witches.” I utterly failed at sounding certain. “But I’m a god?”

“A demigoddess, yes.” He dusted a leaf off my arm. “Which might mean you only hit yourself harder.”

“There is that.” I sucked in my bottom lip then popped it out again. “What do you think?”

“That I would rather do that for you.”

“Test the ward ram?”

“Taste your lip.”

A flush tingled across my nape, and I chuckled, shoving him back gently.

“Well?” Carter’s voice rang out from behind us. “Are we ready for round two?”

Kierce and I turned as one, and I offered her a smile. “Maybe?”

“Love the confidence.” She wiped orange stains across her pants. “When do we start?”

The volunteers toddled after Carter like cautious ducklings trailing their impatient mother.

“Now is good.” I stepped into the half circle, and Kierce joined me. “Any last-minute suggestions?”

“Yeah,” Carter said, though I had meant Kierce. “Don’t die.”

After shooting her a thumbs-up, I faced the ward, leaning in close to Kierce. “Ready?”

Indecision rippled across his features, but he wiped his expression clear. “Ready.”

Humming softly, I crouched and began lighting the individual candles.

Magic swept along the wicks, igniting in the air around us, setting off the expected chain reaction.

The true test would be when it reached the end, striking the ward. I faced it head-on, watching as the energies I set loose rammed the barrier with teeth-jarring power that sent me stumbling back.

“Hold,” Kierce barked, a general on a battlefield. “Look.”

A hole the size of my foot wobbled in the glimmering wall like a bubble blown from a child’s toy.

“Allow me.” Kierce shoved his fingers in, gripping each side of the opening, straining to expand it. “It won’t budge.”

Wedging myself in beside him, I slid my hands between his palms and into the hole. As I thrust my forearms wide, the gap expanded with a whisper of pressure against the resistance of my skin.

“It’s working,” I panted, contorting myself around him. “We’re doing it.”

“You’re doing it,” he corrected, withdrawing when his efforts made no difference. “Can you hold it?”

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