Faith began to bound after him, and I snatched her right out of the air with both hands. She hissed, but when I snapped, “Knock that off,” she did.
I tucked the kitten under my arm like a football and went after Luther. I caught him as he opened the passenger door and slapped my palm against it to keep it closed. “No,” I said. “I have to go alone.”
“Every Nephilim on earth is gunning for you.”
“They have been for a while now.”
“I can’t let you leave without me.” His kinky long hair fell over his face. “We’re partners. How will you know what’s coming at you and when?”
I took a breath, glanced up at the bright blue sky, then let it out. “I’ll manage.” Although I wasn’t sure how. “Besides, the new SOP appears to be sending well-informed humans. You won’t feel them coming, either.”
“Two is always better than one,” he insisted, then more quietly, “You wouldn’t let me go off alone.”
“I’m not sixteen.”
That brought his head up. His hair flew back. His eyes flared amber. “Neither am I.”
My head gave a low, painful thump. I was so not having this argument again. A distraction was in order.
I glanced over my shoulder conspiratorially. Jimmy was watching us, no expression on his face, but Summer was occupied digging through the rear end of the Hummer, probably searching for something that might kill me.
I turned back, lowered my voice. “I need someone I can trust, Luther.”
As his eyes widened, they slowly returned to hazel. “For what?”
“You know I can’t take Faith with me.”
His head tilted as he studied my face. “What are you planning on doing up there?”
I couldn’t help it. I glanced again at Jimmy, who lifted his eyebrows as if he’d heard. Though Luther and I had been speaking in a whisper, maybe he had. Sanducci’s ears were as supersonic as his eyes.
“Whatever I have to,” I answered, holding Jimmy’s gaze.
He knew what I’d done to raise the last ghost. Or should I say who? He also knew I might have to do the same thing again. No doubt another reason he’d been trying to stop me.
Thus far I’d only slept with two men for power. But sooner or later I’d need something that only a stranger could give. I wasn’t looking forward to it.
I forced myself to turn away from Sanducci and face Luther again. From the way the kid’s cheeks had darkened, he knew exactly what I’d meant. Good. I didn’t want to explain. Especially not to him.
“Ruthie thinks Faith would be safer with Jimmy,” I continued, “but he’s being . . .” I lifted one shoulder then lowered it. “Jimmy. And Summer—”
“Doesn’t like you.”
“Can’t say I blame her.” The feeling was oh, so mutual. “I doubt she’d hurt a baby, but—”
“You didn’t expect her to sell her soul to Satan in exchange for Sanducci’s life, either.”
“Right. If you’re there, I can do what I need to without worrying, and the quicker I go, the quicker I’ll get back. If we’re lucky I’ll find out from Sawyer not only who’s after Faith and why, but also who took the Key of Solomon.”
Luther nodded and stepped away from the car. “You can count on me,” he said.
I could. I trusted this kid as much as I’d once trusted Jimmy. As much as I’d still trust Jimmy—if he hadn’t gone soft on soul-selling fairies.
Luther held out his arms for Faith, and as I began to hand her over, there was a bright flash, and she was a baby again. I nearly dropped her at the unexpected increase in weight and wiggliness.
Luther snatched the child, and Faith giggled. “She’s messing with you,” he said.
I couldn’t help but smile. If I’d been a shape-shifting infant, I’d probably have messed with everyone, too. I wouldn’t have been able to help myself. Faith was growing on me—in both forms.
I headed around the rear of the Impala—a long trip, the car was a real beast—but I was distracted by outrageous kissy noises. Turning, I discovered Faith smooching out her lips and holding out her arms.
“Where did she get that?” I asked.
“Beats me.”
I studied the child for several seconds. “Have you noticed she’s maturing at the speed of . . .”
“What?” Luther asked.
“Not human, that’s for sure.”
“She isn’t.”
“I think you need to write down what she does differently every day. Weigh her, measure her. See how fast she’s growing.”
“What for?”
“I don’t know.” It wasn’t as if I was going to be able to do anything to stop Faith from becoming whatever it is she was.
“You better give her a kiss before she flips out,” Luther warned.
Faith had continued to make smoochy sounds, and the longer I ignored them, the louder and more insistent they’d become.
I wasn’t wild about kissing the kid. Her entire chin shone with spittle, and there was something that looked like dog-do on her knees. Her chubby hands were gray with dust; she had grass in her teeth. But really, what choice did I have?
I walked back, leaned over, and let her drool on me.
It wasn’t so bad.