“She didn’t look at me, Monty. She just got the hell out of there.”
The taillights of the car ahead flashed briefly, then it spun around and disappeared into another street. I reached for the seat belt and pulled it on.
“It’s okay,” Monty said. “The tracker spell has a very good range, so it’s unlikely we’ll lose her.”
“That may be so, but given the fact things keep happening in this reservation that shouldn’t, I’d still rather keep her in sight.”
I swung around the corner, the tires squealing in protest. The street ahead was all but empty.
“She took the next right,” Monty said.
I grunted and swung into it. Something flashed toward us—something that was round and sunlight bright. I swore and automatically wrenched at the steering wheel in an effort to avoid it. As the car slewed sideways, the bright ball hit the back of the wagon, and we were sent spinning in the opposite direction. Around and around we went, the speed of our turns gut-wrenching. I swore again and fought for control, trying to stop—or at least slow—our spinning. Then smoke began to curl through the cabin—thick black smoke—and panic surged.
It wasn’t smoke from the tires. It was much worse than that.
The car was on fire.
“Get out,” Monty said. “Now.”
“We’re still moving—”
“Yes, but the fire is supernatural in origin, and it’ll take too long to craft a spell to stop it. We’ll die if we don’t jump.” He unclipped his belt, did the same for me, then reached across and thrust my door open. “Go.”
I hesitated and, in that moment, the choice was taken from me. Magic hit me, thrusting me into the air and away from the car. I hit the ground hard, scraping my arms and hands as I rolled along the verge for several meters before coming to a sudden stop against the thick trunk of a tree. My breath left in a gigantic whoosh, and for several seconds I saw nothing but stars.
What the fuck is happening out there? Belle’s mental tones were filled with urgency. Do you need help? Are you okay?
I am, but I have no idea if Monty is as yet. You’d better call in Aiden and an ambulance, just in case. Give him Alice’s address and then tell him to follow the smoke trail.
Why the hell is there smoke?
We were supernaturally firebombed. I pushed onto hands and knees and looked around. Saw our car still spinning down the road. Saw one door flapping open, the other still closed. Saw the smoke and fire burning inside as well as out. It’s not looking good for the old wagon, let me tell you.
I couldn’t give two hoots about the damn wagon. It can be replaced—you can’t. Are you sure you don’t want me out—
Yes. And yes, I’ll also be careful.
Heard that before, and I’m still not believing it.
There were faces peering out of windows in the houses opposite but no familiar figure anywhere nearby.
“Monty?” I croaked. “Where are you?”
He didn’t answer. I twisted around and called louder. Still nothing. I returned my gaze to the car.
At that precise moment, it exploded.
Five
“Monty!” I screamed, as a huge cloud of thick black smoke, metal, and unnaturally bright fire that plumed toward the brightening skies.
He couldn't have been trapped in the car; he was too damn strong magically to have let something as simple as a jammed door stop him from escaping.
He had to be here. Had to be alive.
I pushed upright, ignored the dozen different hurts that instantly assaulted me, and staggered toward the blazing car. I didn’t get far. The heat was too damn intense.
I flung one hand up to protect my face, hastily created a grasping spell around the other, and then flung it at the remains of the car. Once it had locked onto the front passenger door, I took a deep breath then wrenched the spell back to me. Such was the power of my desperation that the remains of the door were ripped from its hinges.