Page 79 of Cheater Slicks

“Why would he borrow them?”I thought back to the smoky-voiced man.“Wouldn’t he have others at his disposal?”

“It is no small thing to control the Viduus. Dis Pater is not what he once was, and your consort’s loyalty to you will test their bonds. The wisest course of action would be to use others’ servants so that he can pour his strength into one vessel rather than splitting it among many.”

“That sounds like a good-news/bad-news situation.”

The good news was Kierce was the greatest threat. The bad news was…Kierce was the greatest threat.

“I do not know what that means.”

“Never mind.”Head on a swivel, I padded out into the street.“It’s not important.”

We jogged to the corner then crept through a side yard to check Kierce’s position. I crouched low to use the boxy hedges as cover, and Anunit pressed against a brick wall to conceal herself, dimming her glow in case one or both of the other god bloods could see spirits too.

Kierce stood with electricity coating his hands like gloves, his eyes as silver as the moon and just as distant.

The powers of the two men flanking him were harder to peg from a distance. One scented the air, giving shifter vibes. The other rolled a crystal wand the size of a pencil between his palms. A witch maybe?

Warm lips brushed my ear as a low voice whispered, “What are we doing?”

Panic kicked my heart into overdrive as I whipped my head toward the voice to find Ankou leaning over my shoulder. “What areyoudoing here?”

“Saving the day, obviously.”

“You’re not the hero. You’re not even the villain.” I awarded Dis Pater that title. “You’re just an extra.”

“First of all, I didn’t know you were casting a superhero movie. Secondly, I am solid villain material. I’ve got that dark and sexy thing happening. And thirdly, that hurts my feelings, Bijou. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m the guy standing beside you and asking how I can help.”

“Help stab me in the back? Do you want me to draw you a diagram to make it easier since you missed the mark last time?”

“I will kill him,”Anunit decided, curling her lip over her very sharp teeth.

“We’re on the same side.” Ankou spread his hands, proving he understood her fine. “Team Frankie, if you will.”

“Prove it.” I smiled inwardly. “Provide a distraction so I can get to Kierce and talk sense into him.”

“That sounds like a terrible idea with zero chance of success.” He grinned, pumped for the chance to start trouble. “Let’s do it.”

Straightening to his full height, he swaggered out into the street in clear view of the god bloods. “Hello, boys.”

A bolt of lightning as thick as my torso struck him in the skull, and pavement exploded at his feet, leaving him standing in a crater the morning rush wouldn’t appreciate.

“You have no business here,” Kierce thundered, his voice low and terrible. “Leave.”

“Frankie is what you call a passion project for my boss,” Ankou countered. “I can’t let you spoil his fun.”

“A passion project?” That…did not sound good. For my past or my future. “What does that mean?”

Ankou made it sound like his god was invested in me, but gods hadn’t been a problem for me until Kierce showed up in Bonaventure. Even my god parent, whoever they were, couldn’t have been all that concerned about my welfare since they let me grow up at St. Mary’s, preyed upon by the children-eating Perchten who had disguised themselves as nuns and acted as our caretakers.

“Perhaps we can ask him if he survives.”She appeared thoughtful.“And then I will kill him.”

With a death god for a patron, Ankou didn’t tend to stay dead, but I was willing to let her try.“Okay.”

Her eyes flashed with delight at me endorsing her murderous tendencies.

“You.”

The single word snapped across the distance, stunning everyone into silence as my sister locked on her target.

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