“Understood, sir,” I said.
Sarge snapped off a business-like nod to me. “Good. Consider it extra research—for your paper.” He turned his back to me and faced the fae representatives, exchanging murmured words with them.
Considine leaned into me. “Paper?”
“Don’t worry about it.” I waited until Sarge signed something for the fae noblewoman. “Are we dismissed then, sir? I’ll take Orrin back to the meeting room to review the paperwork.”
“Yes. Go ahead—the rest of the teams should be out on patrol by now.”
“Understood, sir,” I repeated. “Orrin, this way.”
I waited for Orrin to step across the gap between us before I headed away from the shifter part of the Curia Cloisters.
Considine sauntered at my side, and Orrin brought up the rear.
I looked back frequently to watch Orrin—trying to gauge his reactions to the hustle and bustle of the Cloisters.
The fae seemed to ignore everything around him and stared straight ahead—at Considine and me—whenever I looked.
I’m pretty sure it’s a front. Not that I think he’s plotting, but this is a tremendous change.
Considine seemed relaxed next to me, but I had no doubt if Orrin tried to take a step away, Considine would yank him back. Although he didn’t look at the fae, I could tell based on the tilt of his head he was listening to him—probably tuning in to Orrin’s heartbeat.
By the time we got back to the meeting room, it was empty, except for Captain Reese—who was standing in front of an outlet, an electrical cord running from it to her electronic prosthetic leg.
“Good evening!” Captain Reese beamed at us, her smile ferocious. “Ignore me standing here, if you don’t mind. I forgot to charge my leg, and now it’s dead.”
All the lights that usually glowed blue to match our uniforms were out, so her electronic prosthetic leg really did need to be charged, but there had to be an outlet in her office.
She’s keeping an eye on us, likely getting to know Orrin.
As a werewolf, Captain Reese would be able to remember Orrin’s scent, and between her ears and nose—even in her human form—she’d be able to smell chemical changes within him. For instance, if he had a spike of anxiety.
This is insurance.
I felt better knowing that.
It meant the department was working together on this. I’d been half afraid they were going to dump Orrin on Considine and let the fae sink or swim with the threat of Ghast Prison hanging over his head.
“Captain Reese,” Considine headed for our table, until he saw I was dragging a chair out from the table closest to the captain. He shooed me off and took the chair, carrying it up to the Captain. “Have you met our new volunteer?”
“Thank you, Maledictus. Yes, Orrin and I are quite acquainted.” Captain Reese carefully lowered herself into the chair, sitting angled on it so she didn’t yank the electrical cord from her prosthetic leg. “I am excited to welcome you to the department—even if it is only on a volunteer basis.” She smiled at Orrin, who gave her a stiff but polite bow.
I ambled over to my table, which had a stack of papers on it, along with a spiral bound copy of the department’s employee handbook.
Here we go. Again.
“Take a seat, Orrin.” I dropped into my chair, freezing when Considine pulled a chair up next to me and plopped down on it.
He beamed at me and leaned in. “I’m not too close, am I?”
“You are,” I said.
The smile wiped from his face, and he gave me a curious look that I couldn’t interpret, then scooted away, giving me more breathing room.
He is respectful—in his own way.
Orrin selected a chair from the table in front of us and turned it around to face our table before seating himself, sitting straight and proper with his folded hands resting on his knees.
