“We’ve got two I.S. agents ahead of us, four behind, and the two on the right,” Jenks continued. “Trent has his staff on the stage, but it’s mixed up with I.S. people. I say we get our asses up there, and trust wonder ghost here to join us when he can.”

Pierce tried to look at us, failing. “I can get you across the street.”

He looked almost eager for a fight, and I became even more nervous. Damn it, if Pierce messed this up I was going to be pissed! “No black magic!” I demanded, and his jaw clenched. “I mean it! The coven is out there. No black magic! If you can’t do it the way I want, I’m not going to let you help me!”

“Let me help you?” he muttered, clearly upset. “I opine you wouldn’t know help if it smacked you in the face. Stubborn, bullheaded, wild fey thing of a woman.”

I frowned, teeth clenched. Clearly we had a few things to work out. But the crossing light had switched. I wobbled when Pierce took a step, and Jenks’s wings hummed, ready to snatch me if I fell. The pavement threw up a wave of heat, buoying Jenks up like a balloon, and he finally took to the air to maintain his balance. Ahead of us waited two more cops. Vamps by the looks of it.

“Steady, Rache,” Jenks said. “I’ll be with you the entire time.”

“Don’t you patronize me, too,” I said, heart beating fast. How did he survive being so small?

From the stage, Trent was saying, “My family has lived on this land for three generations. In that time, Cincinnati has grown to magnificence, but today she falters. We need to cull the programs that don’t work and foster the ones that do, throw out political agendas and instead give the power back to the people so that Cincinnati may regain her greatness! My record speaks for me, and I will speak for you!”

Head down, Pierce angled to get away from the cops, but it wasn’t going to happen.

“Hey, you with the hat!”

“I’ll get to the stage, Rachel. Don’t worry,” Pierce whispered, and I shrieked as Jenks snatched me around the waist and darted off. Pierce went the other way, gone in an instant.

“Get the pixy!” rang out, but Jenks and I were across the street and in the square, flying through a forest of polyester slacks.

“Up! Go up!” I shrilled, terrified he was going to run into something, but Jenks laughed.

“They can’t hit us down here,” he said, and I shrieked, my legs swinging when he darted suddenly to the right. I caught a whiff of ozone. There was an ugly splat, and a woman screamed in pain. Great, they were using spells.