My heart crawled up in my throat as I scratched behind her ears, trying to take it all in.
I glanced up at Orrin, who had started this whole thing.
“It is only since meeting your family and seeing where your mindset came from that I understand why you are so oblivious to the effect you have on others,” Orrin dryly said. “And you don’t understand how you can feel like safety and reassurance to supernaturals who don’t often get to experience it, and certainly not with such regularity as your presence brings.”
Orrin paused, then continued. “During my employment with Gisila I was forced to do what she bid because of the power difference between us. You, despite having a great deal of power over me, saw to it that I learned where the tea in the break room was, and were insistent that as I proved myself trustworthy enough I was allowed more ways to defend myself instead of seeking to keep the power imbalance.”
Brody—jealous, apparently, of Binx—pressed in on my open side and nosed my leg until I set my hand on his head.
He made a growling/wheezing noise that I think was his attempt to purr like Binx, but wolves weren’t made for the noiseso instead he sounded both scary and asthmatic at the same time.
Sarge’s phone buzzed, and he glanced down at it. “I hate to switch to work discussion when this is a topic that means a lot, but I’m afraid despite that fight, our night is far from over.”
I snapped to attention—but I kept my hands on Binx and Brody. “Yes, sir,” I said.
“Vale—the hired consultant—has confirmed your suspicions, Blood, and tracked the oracle back to House Tellier,” Sarge said. “You were right—all the outside visitors they were getting were clients coming to get prophecies, and their sudden influx of cash came from those illegal dealings.”
I scratched Binx behind her ear. “Really?”
“That surprises you, even though it was your idea?” Orrin asked.
“It seemed unlikely they’d be competent enough to hold onto an oracle,” I said.
Although, the more I thought about it the more it made sense. Hazel offered to let me stay at her wizard House because Gisila wouldn’t be able to breach its defenses. House Tellier was likely why they still had the oracle.
“Somehow they managed it,” Sarge said. “We were going to muster at the Cloisters and then travel to House Tellier and launch an attack to free the oracle, but that plan changed when Team Blood intercepted Gisila.”
Brody pricked his ears, and he looked in the direction of the broken window. “Aroo?”
“Yes, the cars you’re likely hearing are the cleanup crew here to handle Gisila’s body,” Sarge said. “The Cloisters has already reached out to Tutu about the bow. She has dispatched several of her employees who know how to handle it. They will package it and place it back in the vault.”
Sarge narrowed his silvery eyes as he scanned each squad member. “If none of us require medical attention, we will be moving on to House Tellier—Captain Reese is already there with the morning task force who was called in to help us.”
“Blood needs to take another potion,” Tetiana said. “Gisila really threw her around.”
“I will handle it!” Grove managed to both stick his nose up in the air and rummage around in his satchel without looking. “I am the team medic, after all. There is no reason for her to be seen by anoutsider.” He pulled out a potion bottle that was an unsettling brown color and was bubbling for some reason, then hastily shoved it back in his satchel.
“Really? Because I can think of more than a couple of reasons why she might not want any of your potions,” Juggernaut said.
“Pipe down, inferior wizard,” Grove said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Juggernaut asked.
“It means there is a reason why April is trusted with a gun and you are not,” Grove snorted as he pulled out a heart shaped bottle filled with a pearly white potion. He sashayed over to Orrin and me and made a show of presenting the bottle to me.
I took the bottle with a nod of thanks, then shifted my attention back to Sarge. “I don’t think I can come with you to House Tellier.” I held up my phone. “The slayers found Considine. Sunshine is supposed to call me with the address—hopefully any minute.”
“Ah, yes, Orrin did announce he was found. I’m glad—especially since Gisila chose death.” Sarge glanced down at his phone. “You’re cleared to go as soon as you get word. The cleanup crew is parking, so we won’t need your help here. We should send one of us to go with you, in case Cloisters backup is needed.”
“I’ll go,” Orrin said before anyone else could volunteer.
Sarge typed something out on his phone. “Excellent. Blood, you drove your team tonight?”
I nodded.
“Good. Take the Cloisters car, then,” Sarge said.
“Thank you,” I said.
