Captain Reese rubbed the back of her neck, and Sarge gave me a stare that said if I stretched myself too thin, he was going to make me rewrite the entire employee handbook.
I glanced back at Iris, taking in the hunted look to her eyes.
“If we accompany you back to the Cloisters, will you go?” Considine asked her.
Iris nodded.
I paused.
It’s okay to ask for help. They’ve already shown they’ll respond.
“April,” I called to the middle-aged wizard. “Will you drive us?”
Sarge’s expression calmed, and he gave me an approving nod as Captain Reese visibly relaxed.
“A good idea,” Considine said. “Jade and I aren’t in any shape to drive, and I’d prefer not to serve as Orrin’s teacher at this early hour.”
“I can drive,” Orrin argued.
“Yes, but howwellcan you drive?” Considine asked.
April hopped off the sidewalk. “Did you drive a car that can fit you all?”
“We’ve got one of my family vans.” I pulled the keys out and held them out to her.
“Rejoice, wizard,” Considine said. “You’re about to drive a vehicle that’s likely carrying more firepower than the entire Cloisters boasts.”
“It’s notthatarmed,” I said.
Orrin started wandering in the direction of our parked car. “Maybe it’s just as well I don’t drive.”
I glanced at Iris as we walked. She still hadn’t let go of her sleeping bag, but as she listened to Considine’s ribbing, she seemed to relax.
When she glanced at me, her brown eyes seemed big in the morning light.
I offered her the best smile I could muster—which was probably still a little weak.
She smiled back at me and settled into stride, walking next to me.
I scanned the street, staying watchful—just in case.
This was possibly the most illuminating night of my life.
However…all the same, I’d rather not try to ever top it, or I might develop stomach problems from stress.
I woke up abruptly,adrenaline shooting through my system as I orientated myself to reality and tried to figure out where I was.
I was leaning against Considine’s chest—his arms folded around me like a blanket tucked about me, and his legs stretched out on either side of me.
We were on the ground, pressed against the back wall of the Curia Cloister’s assembly hall.
Sunshine was perched on a chair about six feet away from us, working on a crossword puzzle. Orrin was near her, passed out on a cot with one of his hands draped over the edge. Beyond them, slayers milled around—disassembling the command center we’d built over the past few days.
“Good morning.” Considine murmured into my ear. Since he was tucked around me, I couldn’t see his face, but his muscles were relaxed despite all the slayers present, which I took as a good sign.
“How long was I out of it?” I asked.
“Only about two hours,” Considine said. “You could try sleeping some more.”
