“Yes.”
Their lips flattened into an unimpressed line. They pushed a displeased puff of air through their nose before making an annoyed gesture. “Fine. Lead the way. But I will be murdering you the moment you let your guard down.”
Relief was like a bucket of water drenching me, washingaway the scents of guts and gore as I gripped Kirby’s hand and yanked them forward. Silas paved the way, causing curious nurses, interns, and the waiting room full of patients to hop to the side without fully understanding why they’d felt the impulse to move. I didn’t ask him how he knew which car was Kirby’s, keeping my eyes trained on him as he scanned the parking lot for the metallic glint of swords or the same golden glitter that radiated from him where I knew his wings to be.
We slid into Kirby’s battered Jeep. I was grateful for the crop top tank given the September heat, but I had to lean forward so my skin didn’t sizzle against the baking leather seats. Clicks cut through the uncomfortable silence as we buckled our seatbelts and set off toward Nia’s without another word. They kept both hands on the wheel in white-knuckled displeasure. While Nia had been ready to love me unconditionally when I’d asked her to summon demons by name, Kirby was clearly dealing with my dishonest methods a little differently. I didn’t care. They could be mad, as long as they were safe.
I looked over my shoulder to where Silas leaned forward from the back seat. His enormous frame took up enough of the car that I was glad Kirby couldn’t see him. I was confident they wouldn’t want a hulking man in their car.
“Can you keep us safe for the drive?” I asked him.
Kirby looked between me and the rearview mirror but said nothing.
He dipped his chin. “Yes, but not through casting protection. We’re working with invisibility. The heavenly host can’t smite us if they can’t find us. I’d guess Caliban and Azrames have already set up wards around Nia’s home.”
“Why did he never do that for my apartment?” I asked. Eventually, I’d have to explain the display of insanity to Kirby, but they’d have to wait a moment longer.
“Nia did as you asked. She invoked their protection and drew boundaries against Heaven. You’ve never done that, and he wasn’t about to take your free will. You did grow up in thechurch, after all.”
“That’s right,” I grumbled. “Yourclaimon me.”
“It was Heaven’s claim on you,” he corrected. “Though at this point, I’ve thrown my hat in the ring as a separate contender.”
My cheeks heated, though I wasn’t entirely sure why.
“Mar.” Kirby said my name carefully as they merged onto the highway. I scanned the road for signs of trouble but saw only the early signs of post-work traffic as people left their nine-to-fives. I looked beyond the distant collection of buildings that belonged to the downtown skyline. Kirby’s urban apartment was nestled between a tattoo shop and a laundromat. Mine hugged the city’s edge, riding the natural border crafted by the river that separated the bustle of horns and shops and life from quiet, green suburbia. Nia had been the first defector.
“We’re safe,” I said. “We just have to get to Nia’s.”
Kirby adjusted their grip on the steering wheel. They drummed their fingers anxiously before stealing a glance my way. “I need you to listen to what I’m about to say with love and an open heart.”
I stiffened. “What?”
It was as though they were fighting to swallow an apple. There was a steely calm to Kirby’s energy as they changed lanes that threw me off. Their nonverbal signs told me they were anxious, but every carefully chosen word conveyed a different message entirely.
“I think you might need help,” they said.
My eyebrows shot up as we passed Nia’s exit. I twisted in the passenger seat, looking at the rapidly shrinking exit behind us as we pushed forward. “Kirbs, you missed it! If we take the next one—”
“I think we should go to the hospital,” Kirby said slowly. “I’ll go with you. I’ll sit with you while we get checked in. I’ll—”
“Fuck!” I slammed my fist into the glove compartment.To Kirby’s credit, they didn’t flinch. Blues, reds, and silvers blurred behind them as they wove through traffic. The resolution on their face left little room for argument. I spun toward Silas. “You have to do something.”
“Do what?” he asked, voice churning like gravel. “I can’t do anything without their consent.”
My eyes widened. “Reveal yourself. Angels did it in the Bible all the time. I know you can.”
His jaw ticked. He shook his head, denying my lone request.
“Can you do it or not?” I demanded, volume nearly rattling the windows as I approached hysterics.
“Marlow…” Kirby said my name as if they were speaking to an unbroken horse in the hospital barns. “I’ve known Lisbeth since we were little. I heard all the stories about Grandma Dagny. And I want you to know that you’re safe. That nothing is wrong with you. That you arenotto blame. Things run in families, and that’s—”
“My mom was right,” I snapped. My maternal line and its true sight had seen everything for years, and I’d let the world know they were insane.
“Silas!” I snarled his name. Kirby winced as the sound tore through the small space.
“They’ll crash,” he said through gritted teeth.
