“Don’t you see?” Vígí continued to storm. “We finally have an out! A path marked to freedom and peace. This is it!” Vígí waved his hands in my direction. “No more drained bank accounts, burned mansions, or valued possessions mysteriously showing up in museums. He’ll be too busy with his slayer! She’s not an insult.” Vígí was back, kneeling before me. “She’s the greatest miracle we’ve gotten in our long lives!”
None of my training or work experiences had prepared me for this, so I looked up at Considine again.
He studied Vígí, a slight furrow on his brow. “If you’re interested, I’m sure you could use Vígí’s warm feelings to your advantage,” he said.
“I’m not interested,” I flatly said.
“Figured,” Considine grumbled.
I glanced at the rest of the Family, awaiting their reaction.
To my surprise, Auberi took a few steps forward—his expression warring between curiosity and indignation as he flared his nostrils. He paused by his brother, and started to crouch, until his twin grabbed the collar of his suit coat and dragged him backwards.
“No, you don’t,” Amée growled. “We’re not prostrating ourselves before aslayer!”
“But Vígí may be right,” Auberi said. “If Considine is busy with his slayer, he won’t be plaguing us!”
Amée shook her head, her icy expression cracking. “No—it’s an insult.”
“It’s a potential vacation,” Auberi said, his voice the most casual I’d heard since arriving. “It’s worth playing along with, even if it’s merely a remote possibility.”
“She could kill him,” Amée said.
“We’re not that lucky,” Vígí said from the ground.
“Exactly,” Auberi agreed. “And avoiding Considine visiting us is worth a lot more than giving a slayer a few smiles.”
“No!” Amée said, her voice going higher. “You don’t see it—he’s being disloyal!”
“Interesting,” Considine said.
“What?” I asked.
“I’ve never seen the twins fight before. I didn’t even know it was possible.” Considine beamed down at me. “Entertainment just follows you everywhere!”
Something in me unwound.
I still wasn’t sure about Considine’s feelings, and I certainly wasn’t at ease facing down some of the oldest surviving vampires. But Considine playing around?
I knew how to handle that.
Baldwin massaged his temples. “I don’t even know what’s going on anymore,” he grumbled. “Blazes take it.”
Killian smirked. “I apologize, Baldwin. We should have avoided using all these big words. Do you want me to get some paper and draw it out for you?”
“Killian,” Hazel Medeis said, her voice sing-song. “Don’t make things worse.”
“I apologize, Hazel,” Margarida patted her on the shoulder. “We’re not giving you—or Slayer O’Neil—the best introduction to us.”
“It’s fine.” Hazel laughed airily. “This is tame as far as family conversations go.”
What on earth has she experienced that she thinks that?
Amée’s flashing eyes made me suspect she wouldn’t be won over anytime soon, but that was none of my concern. Considine could deal with his relatives, just as I had to deal with mine.
Thus, it was time for a tactical retreat.
I bowed at the waist. “It was an honor to meet the Dracos Family. Thank you for the introductions, May your own Families be well and prosper in your long future.”
