“You can have this back.” I pressed the hair into the daemon’s hand. “I’m getting in the SUV.”
Still chuckling, Clay leaned over to inspect the windshield, cursed, then punched his fingers through both ends and lifted it clear out of the frame. He stowed it in the trunk for disposal, solving the problem of how we planned on getting back to the hotel. Waiting for a tow truck in the yard of a grieving and violent parent must have appealed about as much to him as it did to me. Even if the modification to the SUV meant we arrived with bugs in our teeth.
With that task done, Clay climbed in while the daemon stood pouting with his hair in hand.
“You’re playing with fire,” Clay warned in a low voice. “That behavior ain’t natural for Ace.”
“It ain’t natural for me either.”
“I know,” he sighed, settling back. “That’s what worries me.”
Leaning forward, I stuck my head through the windshield. “Are you driving or…?”
The transformation swept over Asa, flames racing across his body, leaving him standing in his pants.
There must be an elastic waistband in them that allowed the material to expand and contract. His shirts were fitted, though, and they never survived the transition. Not that I minded the view of the aftermath.
The noise drew the homeowner’s attention, easy to do with his front door gone, and Asa stared at him.
“I have spare clothes,” Asa said, eyes on the man in the doorway, “but I don’t think it would be wise to linger.”
“I’m inclined to agree with you.” I didn’t like the way Olsen was looking at us. “We should go.”
Before he decided that a black witch on his property was the straw that broke…well…my back.
“Ace can handle driving with the windows down.” Clay chuckled evilly. “Right, Ace?”
Asa got behind the wheel, cranked up the battered SUV, and started down the driveway.
A bird called out overhead, and white splattered across the hood of the SUV, missing the dash by inches.
“I’m so glad I’m not shotgun right now.” Clay chortled. “Sucks to be you.”
Twisting in my seat, I shot him a bird so he wouldn’t feel left out, but he only laughed louder.
As we picked up speed, Asa’s beautiful hair caught the wind and blew into my eyes, his eyes, and possibly Clay’s too.
There was so much of it. And it smelled fantastic as it whipped my cheeks until they stung.
“I have a hairband.” I reached in my pocket. “I always carry a spare.”
Without slowing, Ace turned onto the main road and switched on the emergency blinkers.
“Would you mind?” His eyes were burnt crimson when he glanced over at me. “I can’t braid and drive.”
None of us wanted to hang around on Olsen’s property longer than necessary, but come on.
“I’m only agreeing to this because none of us can see through your hairnado.”
And because I really, really wanted to play with it.
But he didn’t need to know that last part.