I wanted to relax—a huge threat was finally gone. But there was a part of me that couldn’t help but worry.
Gisila was holding Considine…even if the slayer stake has figured out where he is…can we get him back without her?
“We should retreat to the lobby area and radio the Cloisters,” Sarge said. “I’m not risking our safety for a weapon—even if it belongs to Tutu.”
Tetiana backed away, rubbing her arms. “No complaints here. That entire experience gave me the heebie-jeebies.”
Brody sauntered out of the viewing room, and I started to follow him until my slayer professionalism caught me.
“Orrin, phone?” I called.
Orrin trotted up. “Should I take a photo of Gisila?”
I wanted to say no and rip my phone out of his hands so I could see what the text that Dad sent said, but Orrin did say they found Considine, so I made myself nod.
Orrin snapped a quick picture of his fallen, ex-employer. “It seems the prophecy was right,” he said. “She laid her hands on the weapon. It just didn’t go down the way she assumed it would.”
“Yeah.” I agreed.
There was no denying it: Gisila had been killed by her own greed. Not only because she coveted the weapon, but because she had given in and tried to use it—an impulse Tutu evidentlyhad not fallen prey to given that she kept the recurve bow locked up.
“A fitting end for a dragon shifter who couldn’t master her baser instincts,” Sarge said. “Are you two coming?”
Orrin and I were the last two of our team to cross the loading station.
I owe everyone my gratitude—for breaking protocol when the department wouldn’t have wanted them engaging Gisila, and for saving me. But I especially owe Orrin.
Feeling all kinds of awkward, I clasped the fae on the shoulder—to get his attention and because my various communication books said that kind of action could build rapport. “Thank you. For coming and stalling.”
Orrin handed me my phone.
I removed my hand from his shoulder—I didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable—and swiped at my phone’s screen. It was hard to see with my shattered screen protector, but I could still read the text from Dad.
Dad
We found him. Checking out the location in person—Sunshine will call you with the address once we’re ready, everyone else is leaving headquarters to convene on the location.
I experienced a weird twist of soul deep relief and heightened anxiety all at once.They found him. Considine…we’ll get him back. It’s okay…I hope he’s okay.
My heartbeat was all over the place, and I clutched my phone like it was a lifeline.
They found Considine.I repeated the thought in my mind like a mantra of hope, and I was lightheaded with relief.
The joy lasted a few moments, before the meaning sunk in, and all my slayer instincts roared that it was time for a raid.
I considered myself to be a patient person—impatience was more likely to create mistakes. But it took everything I had not to bombard Sunshine with phone calls and demand to know where Considine was, and what the slayers had to get ‘ready’ for.
“I was loyal to you,” Orrin said, bringing me back to the present.
I stared at him, lost.
“I said my loyalty hasn’t changed from the night I was released into Considine Maledictus’s custody,” Orrin said.
“When Gisila asked,” I said, forcing myself to focus on Orrin. “Yes.”
“It’s because I’m loyal toyou,” he said. “And perhaps to Considine as well.”
“Why?” I asked, baffled. “I didn’t do anything special.”
