Probably because they believed they’d be smote if they said no.
The Drake vampire snapped a selfie with the werewolves behind him.
Well…except for the Drake vampire. He probably legitimately thinks this is a good time.
“No, no, no. We’re fixing this.” I grabbed Considine’s wrist and towed him back to the werewolves. “Excuse me.” I stood straight as I addressed the trio of vampires, who turned toward me. “Thank you very much for your assistance, but it is no longer needed.”
The female vamp in the suit and the male vamp in the Manchu riding coat turned to Considine, apparently knowing who really held the power.
Considine shrugged. “She said it. Go away.”
“Thank you,” I called after the duo, who ran so fast they had to be using their top speed.
“You already thanked them,” Considine said.
“I was trying to be polite since you forcibly conscripted them into work,” I said.
“It wasn’t forcibly,” the Drake vampire assured. “Smile!” I heard the clicking noise his cellphone produced when he took a picture. He lowered his phone and looked at the screen. “Nice!” He put the phone away and bowed to me, then Considine. “Slayer. Elder Maledictus.” He slunk down the street, heading toward a black car.
“Send me that photo,” Considine called after him.
“Understood, sir!” the Drake vampire yelled back before he got into his car.
“Considine.” I tugged on his wrist to get his attention. “Youcannotuse your command ability to get other vampires to do your work for you.”
Considine tilted his head. “What about in case of an emergency?”
“This wasn’t an emergency!”
“Maybe not, but I want to know the boundaries,” Considine said.
“You want to know the boundaries because you want to know how much you can get away with,” I said.
“Luncheon, you know me so well,” Considine purred. “I thought I was the only devoted one in our relationship.”
“We’re partners, not in a relationship.” I dropped his wrist, then squeaked in surprise when he grabbed my hand.
“Don’t deny this chemistry between us, it’s smoldering,” Considine raised my glove covered hand to his lips and smirked at me.
I sighed. “Secure the wolves.Don’tuse commands to force vampires to help you.”
“Understood!” Considine brightly said.
I tugged my hand free from Considine’s grasp, then returned to Hoder. “I apologize for the delay. There was…” I paused, not knowing how to describe the make-work project that was Considine. “Trouble,” I concluded.
Hoder chuckled.
I cleared my throat and did my best to speak clearly. “Are you traveling with anyone?” I asked.
“My brother and nephew—but they aren’t with me for this leg of the journey. They headed north to hit up three smaller markets. We’re meeting up in two days,” Hoder said.
So no women who could be the she the wolves referred to…although they mentioned she said no one was supposed to be patrolling. That indicates an insider within Magiford, maybe even the Department of Supernatural Law Enforcement, since they knew our scheduled patrols instead of someone Hoder knows betraying him.
That was a dark possibility—and something I’d have to bring up to Sarge in addition to putting it in my notes.
“Besides ransom money, is there any other reason someone would seek to kidnap you?” I asked.
“I’m not developing any new techniques, if that’s what you’re asking,” Hoder said. “I’m a craftsman—I’m famous for doing what my people have done for centuries.”
