Considine patted her back. “Naturally.”
Amée sniffed as she stepped back, her usual mask of icy indifference returning to her face, though when our eyes met she softened enough to offer me a small tip of the head—which was, frankly, a lot more than I ever expected from her.
Killian and Vìgì were the last to approach, strolling down the sidewalk with much more decorum. Both of them chose to ignore Considine—for the moment.
Killian—every moment controlled and measured—nodded to me.
Vìgì knelt before me like a knight bowing to a noblewoman. “Thank you, Jade, for saving the leader of our Family.”
I awkwardly cleared my throat. “He…he was captured because of me.”
“No.” Killian stabbed a finger at me. “Idea rejected. He got captured because he got cocky and complacent with the two of you being a dynamic duo.”
Vìgì studied me, then abruptly popped to his feet. “You found him, when all of us failed to do so. You need to rejoice in the wins, so you don’t live in regret.”
“Oh, nowthatis ironic coming from you,” Considine snorted.
Vìgì ignored Considine and opened his arms wide. “Might I embrace you as Margarida has?”
Feeling shy, my cheeks burned with a blush. “Yes.”
Vìgì swept me up in a bear hug equal to Dad’s, and I couldn’t help but smile when he set me back down.
Killian pivoted on his heels so he could face Considine. “Still think you’re too good to join me and my family in a bit of shooting practice?”
Considine sighed. “As much as it pains me, I admit I shall have to get whatever certification is required so I am allowed to carry a firearm while on duty with the task force. It would have made things a great deal easier if I’d been carrying a handgun.”
“Mmhmm.” The sound dripped with judgment, but Killian relaxed. “I’m glad you realize it. Welcome back.”
“Yes, congratulations on your freedom, Elder Maledictus.” Vìgì bowed to Considine. “We are all glad you stood strong and didn’t become ravenous—or sleep.”
“I knew you’d be fine,” Killian said, his tone smug.
Considine eyed him over Amée’s head. “Oh,didyou?” he asked, snark returning to his voice.
“I did,” Killian said. “Just as I knew it was likely you were headed here, next.”
Considine narrowed his eyes. “Your wife was called in to help deal with the House, wasn’t she?”
“Yes!” Margarida happily said, tattling on Killian. “She heard from the task force herself that Jade was coming, and Killian figured if Jade was coming then you were sure to follow her!”
“How very true,” Considine said. “I’m touched you understand me so well, Killian.”
“More like I’m aware of your obsession,” Killian said.
I slowly backed out of the circle so I could watch the vampires, all with a smile.
For all their petty schemes and cutting words, they really do love one another.
It would be important to keep trying with the Dracos in the future—they were significant to Considine, no matter how much he complained about them.
I would have to come up with a strategy: I couldn’t use baked goods on them as I had with my apartment-building-neighbors.
Orrin sidled up to me, also watching the family conversation. “Considine is right,” he said. “Vampiresareweirder than slayers.”
I chuckled as I glanced further down the street—I could see the task force gathered at the edge of the wooden fence thatmarked out House Tellier’s property line. “I hope you’re not regretting Considine’s offer to take you on?”
Orrin was quiet for a moment as he stared at his feet. “Weird is fine.”
