Sarge braced his arms on the podium. “Upper management agreed that Orrin would have a limited role here in the department when he isn’t out on patrol with Blood and Considine,” he confirmed. “And he will wear magic canceling bracelets for the duration of his community service. For now, the werewolves will still house him inside the Cloisters when he isn’t fulfilling his community service quota until we can be sure of him. As such, Considine—and Blood—would do the heavy lifting by watching him during patrols.”
Considine didn’t sigh, didn’t react, he just shifted his gaze to me. “How important is it to you that this fae gets released?”
“I don’t want him to go to Ghast Prison.”
“Why?”
I shifted my weight between my feet and pointedly glanced from Considine to my team.
Considine leaned in. “It’ll be better for the team if they also know your reasoning, and while I don’t care about them, you do.” He was so close to me that his lips grazed my ear, but Brody and Binx were probably the only ones that heard.
I nodded miserably, then faced my team—though I looked down at the ground to make it easier to speak. “Orrin gave us hints the night we captured him—he mentioned the timing…between that and what other clues he’s given us, I, I think there’s a good chance Gisila forced him to attack.”
Everyone was silent, their expressions steely as they exchanged glances.
I gulped, aware of just how ridiculous my request was.
I’m asking them to accept a known enemy. There’s no way they’re going to—
“Okay,” Brody said.
April twisted the light brown ends of her fishtail hair braid. “Will he be joining us tonight?”
Medium-Sized Robert shifted in his oversized chair. “We should probably clear the whiteboard until we know for certain we can trust him.”
“A valid point,” Sarge looked up from his cellphone—I think he was texting someone. “Clarence, if you would.”
Clarence stood up and felt for his cravat. Back in September, he’d only worn big white ones—the type that was popular in the regency era. In October he’d started wearing cravats with blue and gold design that matched our uniforms. Today his silken blue and gold cravat was practically modern looking.
I stared in shock as Clarence started disassembling the whiteboard. When he realized Considine was studying the maps and photos he was piling on an empty desk, the quiet vampire paused long enough to salute him. “We have all of this recreated on a whiteboard in the office area.”
“I recall seeing it,” Considine acknowledged.
Clarence made quick work of the whiteboard, but he left up the photograph of the missing human woman.
I, meanwhile, gaped in shock.This is going a lot better than I thought it would.
“Wait a second,” Grove declared. “I want it formally noted thatIam filling the handsome and dashing fae slot on this team, so Orrin must play minion to me. Not the other way around. I’ve got seniority!”
“Grove, that’s not a thing. There can be multiple competent members of a supernatural race on the team,” Binx said.
“That’s not true, just look at April and Juggernaut, and Tetiana and Clarence,” Grove complained.
“Hey!” Juggernaut snarled.
“I’ve sent word to the Commissioner’s office so they’ve kicked off the paperwork, which means we can get him released. Captain Reese should be on her way over to give out patrol routes and teams. Blood, Considine, come with me.” Sarge nodded to us, then strode out of the room.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
Jade
Considine and I followed him, stepping into the department’s quiet hallways.
“Say, is it going to be a problem that you don’t wear your mask around the fae?” Considine asked.
Sarge stopped and turned to face us. “You’re not wearing your mask?” His eyes flicked to my hood settled on my shoulders.
