Paddy winked at me as he strode off, ambling toward the seats reserved for the O’Neils.
A long sigh leaked out of Dad. “You better get used to fielding a lot of inappropriate questions,” he said.
I turned my phone over in my hands. “Considine will think the whole thing is hysterical.”
“Of course he will,” Dad grumbled. “We don’t have enough nuts in the family tree, let’s start importing them now.” He finally looked up at me. “Are you ready?”
I nodded.
Dad scratched at his beard. “You gonna be okay?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice hardening.
Dad’s thick eyebrows rose as he studied me.
“I won’t leave them any room for misinterpreting the mission,” I said. “It’s too dangerous not to.”
Dad looked back at Jasper and Peri—who would be standing guard with Dad at the base of the dais for intimidation purposes—then peered up at me again. “You’ve grown here in Magiford,” he said. “I’m proud of you, Jade.”
I opened my mouth to argue his fact, when I happened to catch a glimpse of my task force in the balcony.
Clarence was leaning over Sarge to point out to Orrin something on one of the city maps projected on the back wall. Grove was attempting to push a bubble gum pink potion on April who planted a hand on the fae’s face and forced him back into his seat.
I hadn’t wanted to be a leader, but my team had decided it for me.
I might not appreciate the moniker, but Team Blood’s name alone was proof that even Sarge considered me a leader among my squadmates, and that didn’t even touch the way it always fell on me to give orders to my team.
If not for them, I wouldn’t be able to stand in front of a slayer stake and take control. It was going to be hard for me, and I had no doubt I was going to force it only because Considine’s life was on the line, but if not for my teammates’ persistent respect—and belief in me—I wouldn’t be capable of this.
“I’ve learned a lot,” I finally said. “But I’m still a slayer, and I’m going to get my vampire.”
Dad’s craggy face cracked into a smile. “You will,” he agreed. “You always will. You’re an O’Neil, after all.” He gave me a small nod—the kind he only gave to Paddy, Mom, or other slayer family leaders—then turned his back to me so he could take up a spot at the bottom of the stairs with Peri and Jasper.
I cleared my throat as I approached the microphone stand that was adjusted to my height.
The shakes were threatening to come back, so I was grateful I wouldn’t have to hold the microphone to my mouth.
“You’ve got this, my precious jewel,” Sunshine whispered to me as she settled into place next to me. “You areBloodof the night shift Magical Response Task Force, partner of Ruin—an elder vampire. You’re going to own it.”
The reminder added steel to my bones as I made myself raise my head and stare out across the assembly hall.
This is it. Hold on, Considine. We’re coming.
“Thank you all for answering this Slayer Stake.” I said into the microphone.
The vampire slayers immediately settled into silence, all eyes on me.
I stared at some decorative woodwork that adorned one of the balconies—it was easier to stare at it than try to meet anyone’s gaze, including my own family. “I’m Jade O’Neil, of the Midwest Carters and O’Neil slayers.”
My dad’s family, the O’Neils—including all my aunts, uncles, great aunts and great uncles, cousins, every last one of them even if they were technically reserve slayers—erupted into thunderous applause.
Meanwhile my mother’s family, the Carters—consisting of my many uncles who were technically retired, a few of their wives who were also slayers, and all their kids—slammed their booted feet on the ground, creating a pulsating beat until they finished with whistles.
I used the moments their verbal support bought me to glance back at the projected screen synced to my phone.
“I’ve called a slayer stake, requesting your help to find and locate a vampire.” I spoke slowly and paused too long between sentences, but I was managing to get everything out. “He’s afriend, so I want him unharmed and uninjured—you’re to treat him as an ally.”
That made my audience break out into humming murmurs of disbelief.
