Considine stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “There must be more I can do than that,” he said.
I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved he hadn’t caught onto just how important backup was to me, or nervous that he considered it foundational and thus would be even better equipped in the future.
“Backup is a necessity,” I said. “That’s why I’ve only dated slayers.”
“Yes, and?” he prodded. “You also said you were never very serious with those slayers.”
“Because they weren’t very competent,” I said. “And they didn’t practice nearly as much as they should have given their skill level. But you don’t need to worry about that.”
“So what else might I do to tickle your curiosity?” Considine asked.
This conversation was fast approaching topics I didn’t want to consider, which irritated me. I thought I’d been doing so much to work on my weaknesses in Magiford, but Considine was unearthing every single one of them.
“I don’t think I want to arm you with that knowledge,” I said.
“You don’t know, do you?” Considine guessed.
His insightfulness is scary.
But! Relationships were about giving and taking. Considine was attempting to take a mile when I’d given him an inch. That meant I could push back.
“I’d like to know more about you,” I decided.
“What, precisely, do you mean by that?”
“Your history,” I said. “Your past, your likes and dislikes.”
He looked pained. “You mean you want me to dither on about my sad past like a stereotypical vamp?”
“No, just the things—the people and places—that are important to you,” I said. “They make you what you are today. That’s why I’m willing to go to the gala, because even if you’re doing it to make a statement, I know Killian and the rest of the Dracos Family line are important to you,” I said.
Considine straightened up, pulling away from me. “I see,” he said.
I studied him, taking in his physical retreat.
Normally I think this could be viewed as emotionally distancing himself, but I’m pretty sure he’s just considering what I said. Connor would have put a wall up, but Considine is what lies beyond Connor.
There was that realization, again, that I’d become fonder of Considine than I had of Connor.
I rolled my shoulders back. “We need to go tell the task force members outside,” I said, fully aware I was using work as a mental shield.
“Very well.” Considine reached past me and pushed the door open. “After you, partner.”
I tried to judge his expression, but I wasn’t emotionally intelligent enough to see past the slight smile he wore.
“Thank you,” I said, bracing myself before we stepped outside into the chilly wind.
“This isthe general process for updating an investigation report. If you have any questions, please stop us and ask. Okay?” I waited for Orrin’s nod before I picked up a black colored dry erase marker.
“Are you pleased, trainee? You’re moving up in the department work force.” Considine relaxed in the chair he’d wheeled to the front of the room so he could sit near where I stood.
We were in the process of updating the whiteboard—which was actually a very expensive, mobile smartboard—that had all the investigation notes on Gisila and her attempts to break into Tutu’s.
Orrin had proven himself compliant enough that he was allowed to view the file, but he hadn’t been granted the clearance to see anything else, so we were working in one of the department’s meeting rooms instead of in the office area where we typically kept the whiteboards with all our active cases.
I studied the blond fae, who had a yellow notepad in front of him, along with a steaming cup of tea, and was wearing his typical blank expression.
Showing him this is a risk. If he’s still working for Gisila he could tell her what we’ve pieced together. However, it also serves as a very effective test. If he passes, I’m almost certain the department will bring him even further into the fold, and his days of folding pamphlets with the department secretary will be over.
