“What’s the demon have to do with this?” I asked.
“Nothing if I have any say over it. But he has more contacts in Texas and likes doing business there.”
“Brogan.” Lula pointed.
A figure strode our way. She was at least six feet tall, wore overalls and a tank top. Her bare bronze skin absolutely glowed with tattoos.
Magic tattoos, because she was a Crossroads.
“Lula, Brogan,” Ricky called out from a distance. “Would you like me to forcefully uninvite that god off my property?”
She rested the sledgehammer she carried on her shoulder. It glowed too.
“Ricky,” Raven shouted. “Is that any way to say hello to an old friend?”
“Nope,” she said. “Offer stands.”
“It’s fine,” Lula said.
“We’re in Missouri?” My brain hadn’t caught up with reality. “Why are we in Missouri?”
“Are you hurt, Lula?” Ricky asked.
“She’s fine,” I yelled, “and so am I, thank you so much for asking.” Yes, I was annoyed.
Lula pressed her palm over her mouth, and I thought she might be smiling. I wanted to keep that smile there.
“Did you just snap us across an entire state?” I demanded.
Raven wiggled his fingers. “Little bit of a rule breaker. You should see my dating profile. “Open the door, Brogan, the dog wants out.”
“Lula?” Ricky said again.
Lu dropped her hand. Yeah, she’d been smiling.
Good. If we could laugh about this, we could maybe get back to calm heads and making solid plans.
“I’m fine, Ricky,” Lu’s voice was tinged with laughter. “Please tell me you have tea on.”
Ricky hesitated, but only for a second. She was used to supernaturals showing up at her property at all hours asking for refuge.
She was one of the few supernatural neutral zones on Route 66. Being a Crossroads meant her home was a place where monsters and gods and mortals all played by the same rules.
Her rules.
She had a massive supply of magic and magical items stuffed into her near-sentient house, and usually spent her time negotiating peace between creatures that desperately needed it.
She was also Lu’s best friend and someone I had been working hard not to think of as a rival for her affection.
While I sat there scowling, Lula opened her door.
Lorde took that as an invitation to jump up on my lap, then walk across a chuckling Raven and bolt out of the truck. She ran around Ricky’s yard, dodging between Lula and Ricky, and getting pats as she zoomed by.
“All right then,” Raven said. “This is our stop.” He scooted across the seat to the driver’s door.
“Why?” I asked. “Why here?”
“You trust her. Well, Lula trusts her. They’re friends.” He tapped the steering wheel, looking out into the darkness as if he could see universes. “I think she needs a friend right now. Especially if you two are going to do what has to be done.”
