"Can I get a play-by-play?"
"You're winning."
The track crossed a field and continued toward a patch of forest.
"Head in there," Adam said as if reading my thoughts.
"And Cody?"
"Trying valiantly to keep up, and battering the shit out of his fancy SUV."
I smiled.
"I don't think he has the four-wheel drive engaged," Adam said. "If he even knows how to engage it."
I floored it when we hit an open patch. We sailed over a streambed and came down with a crunch that made Adam clasp the grab bars.
I eased off the gas as we hit the forest--a spotty stand of trees with another field visible on the far side. Branches scraped the Jeep and Adam winced, but said nothing.
"I'll cover the damage," I said. "Even throw in a new top."
He didn't smile at that, just kept his gaze on the path behind us. "It's not the Jeep I'm worried about."
"You think I should have gone back to town?"
"And let him think he's spooked you? No. Whatever his problem is, it ends here." He glanced in the mirror. "And it ends now, apparently. Stop the Jeep. He's stuck."
I looked behind me. Cody's SUV was caught in that streambed we'd shot over.
"I'm guessing you want to take lead on this?" Adam said.
"Please."
"Just watch out," he said. "His truck could come free at any second."
I twisted in my seat and cast my internal fireball, igniting it under the Lexus's hood. A bang. The tires stopped spinning. Smoke curled from the grill.
Adam chuckled. "Or maybe not."
I got out. At first, Cody had his head down as he tried to get the engine running again. I was a few feet away when he saw me.
He threw open his door. I slowed, knockback spell at the ready. He slammed the door
and I saw that his hands were empty. I relaxed the spell, but stayed on alert.
"Where's your boyfriend?" he called as he advanced on me.
"Unconscious, thanks to that little stunt of yours."
Cody peered past me. When he didn't see Adam, he gave a humor-less smile. "He needs to be a little faster getting his seat belt on."
"Go to hell. If he's hurt--"
"Then that's his own damn fault for having a murdering bitch of a girlfriend. I hope he is hurt." He advanced on me as I stood my ground. "In fact, I hope he's dead. That won't bring Tiffany back, but it'll make me feel better. So will this."
He swung so fast I didn't see it coming until the last second. I tried to twist but his fist connected with my shoulder. I fell back, gasping in shock more than pain. Rage filled me and I lashed out with an energy bolt. As the last words left my mouth, I thought, Oh, shit!
I looked down at my fingertips, expecting to see the bolt flying from them. But they were just outstretched toward Cody, nothing happening. Launching that spell against a human had been reckless--I must have subconsciously sabotaged it.