The slayers efficiently cut down the guards, controlling the area with expertise and the use of tech.
“I take it back, Jade.” Considine tugged his hand from mine so he could throw his arm over my shoulder and tuck me against him. “I know I said I wanted to turn you into a vampire as soon as possible, but I might have to table that suggestion and prioritize producing a slayer family of our own. This isdelightful!”
“Allow me to inform you that both sets of my grandparents are in this fight, and within hearing range. That makes any mention of children particularly dangerous,” I said.
Considine gestured to my brothers, teaming up on a troll. “But imagine our own offspring—competent and ideally possessing your temperament instead of mine—running around. They could rip through other supernaturals like tissue paper! We could do whatever we wanted!”
“You’re already powerful enough to do whatever you want,” I reminded him.
Two of my O’Neil cousins—Molly and Mack—stormed the shipping area ahead of us. Two of my Carter uncles—James and Tim—followed behind them. They were our escort out—although it wasn’t necessary, most of the guards were down and the shipping bay was still empty.
When we emerged from the factory, stepping out onto the street, the sky was still dark with night.
Considine continued to hold me as my cousins and uncles walked us all the way back to an O’Neil van, which was parked a few blocks down.
“Do you need more blood?” I opened the cooler of blood pouches and stepped back.
“I do,” Considine sighed wistfully at the blood pouches, then put the lid back on the cooler. “But I don’t think my stomach can hold any more liquid. I need an hour or two to digest. You said Gisila is dead?”
“Yes…” I scanned him from head to toe, trying to judge how well he was doing. He appeared to have recovered remarkably fast—his voice had gotten some of his usual loftiness back. He had removed his arm from my back—though he was back to holding my hand. The maneuvering was so he could discreetly stretch, flexing his muscles.
“Are you sure you’re ready to hear everything? You just got out,” I said.
Considine snorted. “Believe me—Ineedto hear everything. The greatest danger in that stuffy coffin was my own boredom. I’m great company, but evenIcan get sick of me if left alone for so long.”
I shut my eyes, trying and failing to grasp just how hard the last few days must have been for Considine.
Considine squeezed my hand, drawing me back to him. “Don’t blame yourself,” he warned me.
I chewed my lip. “It’s not very just of me, but I’m glad Gisila’s dead,” I confessed.
“As am I,” Orrin piped up.
Considine glanced back at the fae and smiled. “Well, I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get to end that miserable lizard myself, but I can be content knowing she kicked the bucket. How did she go down?”
I told him a brief version of the fight at Tutu’s, while the street slowly filled with more slayers as the teams pulled out of the factory and retreated to our base.
When I finished the briefing, Considine must have felt he’d stretched himself out enough as he went back to wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “There is a certain amount of poeticjustice in that Gisila was killed by the very thing she desired,” he said, his expression thoughtful as he looked from me to the gathering slayers. “But I believe it’s time for you to address your slayer army.”
“It’s a slayer stake, but you’re right.” I turned to the team leaders, who had wandered to the front of the crowd. “Status?”
Dad spoke up, his bushy eyebrows moving up and down as he stared hard at Considine’s arm on my shoulders. “All the guards have been subdued. We administered potions to the injured, but tied ‘em all up and left ‘em in the shipping bay. Figured you’d want to call the Cloisters and have the lot of them picked up.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “The Department of Supernatural Law Enforcement will no doubt want to question them about Gisila’s activities.”
I made my gaze sweep across the slayers, and I sweated hardcore in my uniform, but my voice managed to be serviceably steady when I addressed the crowd. “The operation is complete. The stake freed and recovered Considine Maledictus. Thank you for your cooperation and assistance.” I awkwardly cleared my throat, then added on. “I am aware of what this mission cost you and am prepared to pay the price.”
Orrin stiffened. “Price?”
“Relax, fae-boy,” Jasper drawled. “This is no fae-bargain.”
“If we’re talking about money, name the amount and I’ll pay you all now,” Considine said, his eyes glittering.
“What would we do with more money?” The leader of the Cooper slayers asked, genuinely bewildered. “There’s only so much more equipment we could buy, and we don’t need another family jet.”
“I thought as much,” Considine grunted. “Slayers are always unnaturally loaded. But I figured it was worth a try.”
“Loaded? Slayers are well off?” Orrin turned to me, his face pinched. “Explain.”
