“We happen to be present for several of Gisila’s stooges, and we don’t even get to question them since they wereinsideTutu’s.” Considine held out his hand.
I was considering his words, so I took it without thinking and didn’t notice until he led us over to the brick wall, putting our backs to it.
He probably had taken my hand because he was Considine and he never missed a chance to ‘seduce’ me, but maybe it was to re-establish our front? But our cover was obviously broken…
Focus on work.
“You’re right,” I agreed. “But I think we can still make a lot of inferences based on the experience.”
Considine raised an eyebrow. “Inferences like?”
“Gisila has humans as well as supernaturals on her payroll,” I said.
“Perhaps they were contractors,” Considine suggested. “Hired because she thought they wouldn’t be noticed by Cloisters guards or security personnel?”
“We could ask Orrin,” I said.
“We could, and we shall.” Considine leaned against the wall. “Though before we make our exit, I assume we need to notify the werewolf and half frozen wizard outside?”
“Yes.” I pulled my gloves out of my pocket with my free hand. “They’ll call it in to the department. With luck, maybe they’ll get someone out here before the human police show up.”
“Very well.” Considine noticed I was holding my gloves, so he released my hand and let me put them on.
When I pulled out my hat, he took it from me, and carefully slipped it on my head for me. He was gentler than I would bother to be, tucking loose strands of my red hair out of my face.
I held my breath, expecting that he’d say something flirtatious, or at least invade my space some more.
However, when he finished, he nodded in satisfaction and took a step back, giving me space.
I stood there like an idiot, surprised.
“What?” Considine asked.
“I…I thought you’d take this opportunity to enact your seduction,” I reluctantly admitted.
“Oh, I’dloveto,” Considine said with relish. “But I did tell you in the car I wouldn’t push you anymore today.”
“I see,” I said. I was relieved, but there was also a shred of disappointment.
Disappointment? Fantastic—that will mix wonderfully in this already complex situation.
I mulishly tucked my emotions away for further contemplation—ideally after a training session, when I was most clear minded.
The important thing right now was that I understood precisely how careful and respectful Considine was being. I knew from the many books I’d read about communication and relationships since moving to Magiford, that the give and take in our relationship was key to maintaining emotional health.
Considine had just given me a lot—more than he knew. Books aside, I wanted to give him something in return.
“You should know,” I said, fast, before I could lose my nerve. “For the sake of the seduction, that having my back—like you did just now when you stopped the male human—means a lot to me.”
Considine straightened up, a frown twitching on his lips. “Backup is the minimum of what a seduction entails. Even if I wasn’t seducing you, as your partner I should be backup. Remember—you praised me previously as excellentbackup!”
“I think backup at work is important, too, but that’s not how the task force is structured,” I said.
Considine responded to me in a language I didn’t recognize at all, which ruled out a lot of modern languages—although it was possible he was using some ancient dialect of one I didn’t recognize.
When he finished his string of impolite words, he shook his head. “Whenever I warm to your task force, I am reminded of how incompetent it is, and it makes me inclined to find out if a Curia Cloisters can be bought and owned by a single person.”
“It can’t be. It’s a government, not a business,” I said. “Either way, I appreciate good backup—in my professional and personal life.” I started for the door, eager to end this moment—even though it had been entirely my doing.
