The most obvious translation was ‘like,’ but that wasn’t a very precise term, and sloppiness caused accidents in my profession.
I stared wide-eyed at my boss, barely registering when Considine finally gave me some breathing room, but kept one hand settled on the small of my back.
“I think it’s crazy,” Juggernaut said. “He attacked Blood all the time, and now he’s suddenly on the team? It’s shady. Right?” He nudged April.
She tapped the deck of cards they’d been using for their go fish game on the table and shrugged. “I’ll buy it. I’ve already seen one powerful vampire fall for a wizard. What’s a second dramatic romance?”
Considine leaned close, his breath tickling my ear. “I always knew I liked the woman wizard.”
“Okay, except Blood is avampire slayer!” Juggernaut declared. “And he’s a vampire!”
Considine made a sound of displeasure in the back of his throat. “I’m less convinced about him.”
The impulse to hunch my shoulders won, and I shuddered a little from Considine’s…Considine-ness. “He’s also a wizard.”
“Hmm,” was Considine’s response.
“Considine,” Sarge said. “Perhaps you’d like to say a few words to the squad?”
I thought he’d snarkily refuse, but to my surprise, Considine smiled. “Of course.” He let his hand drop from my back and focused on our teammates, trailing his eyes over every task force member.
“I’m here for Jade. Remember that, and we won’t have any problems.” The tone of his voice was light and friendly, but his red eyes glittered with an unspoken warning. “I also happen to be an extreme supporter of backup, and I particularly despise those who fail at this duty. Keep that in mind.”
Finished, Considine tried to sling an arm around my waist, which I sidestepped. “What was that?” I whisper-hissed.
“That was me playing nice.”
“That wasn’t playing nice, that was threatening them,” I said.
Considine heaved his eyes heavenward. “Fine.” He put on the polite smile he’d worn as Connor whenever we were around the human residents of our apartment building. “I amsoexcited to work with each and every one of you.”
If he meant to be assuring, he’d failed. All the smile did was remind me that Connor and Ruin were the same being, and I’d never realized it.
My parents are going to be so disappointed when I explain this to them.
The squad didn’t look particularly reassured, either. Brody was practically green, and even April shifted awkwardly in her seat.
Giving up, I collapsed in my chair, a strangled noise escaping me when Considine sat down next to me and casually draped his arm over the back of my seat. This was the first time anyone was sitting with me during muster, and it wasConsidine Maledictus. Go figure.
“Thank you, Considine.” Sarge slightly inclined his head, as if Considine had just given a brilliant speech—which begged thequestion of whywas my boss so calm about havingConsidine Maledictuson the team?!
Sarge continued, “Considine will begin patrols in a couple of days. Until then, Blood will be going over task force protocols and practices with him.”
“I what?” The squawk erupted from me before I could silence myself.
The outburst was uncharacteristic of me, and my face turned red in my embarrassment. I was unbearably aware when Brody whispered something to Binx—who nodded—and Juggernaut wrote something out on a piece of paper that he showed to April, who shrugged.
“You’ll be reviewing task force protocol and practices with Considine,” Sarge repeated. The silvery scales on his cheekbones caught the overhead light just right, so they were more visible than usual. “It will be a good refresher for you and your paper.”
“Your what?” Considine asked. The tone of his voice was the same low and amused tone he’d used as Ruin.
“Nothing,” I whispered.
“It will also buy us time to do some additional investigations.” Sarge backed away from the podium and gestured to the whiteboard—which was actually a smartboard except none of the supernaturals could figure out how to use it as such, so it was a glorified whiteboard—which had pictures of Gisila taped to it.
Gisila was the purple-haired dragon shifter who’d been trying—and failing—to break into Tutu’s Crypta & Custodia. She’d taken offense at the Magical Response Task Force’s meddling with her attempted robberies, and in particular seemed to blame me for her losses.
Unfortunately, she’d seen my face and learned my name, so she now knew my daytime identity in addition to my slayer persona.
