“Ah.” Sunshine didn’t deflate, but she settled down, folding her arms across her chest while she looked Considine over. “So Gisila might not be done with Magiford.”
“Most likely,” I said.
“So Sarge paired you up with someone who can guard your back,” Sunshine continued.
“That’s what he claimed,” I said.
Sunshine played with a lock of her thick brown hair. “You don’t believe him?”
I shrugged. “He mentioned trying to find me a partner before. But this all feels very…”
“Romantic?” Considine suggested. “If you are so dissatisfied with that adjective, I suppose I could be convinced to say epic. I’d happily say criminal, but as much as criminal activity would certainly end the issue of Gisila a lot faster, I get the feeling that is not a method you’d approve of.”
“Rushed,” I said. “It feels very rushed.”
“Yes,” Considine said. “It should. Queen Leila’s little donation wasexpensive. I wasn’t going to hand over that much money for a mere hope.”
“What are you going to tell your family?” Sunshine asked.
Considine stopped his friendly smile he’d been aiming at Sunshine and turned to me with interest. “You haven’t told them about me?”
That is a dangerous revelation.
“I’ll have to tell them that Considine is my partner,” I said. “Hopefully they won’t interfere and jet out to Magiford.”
Considine strolled past us, his eyes lingering on a box Sunshine must have been in the process of filing. “Doesn’t matter to me. I’ll just follow you if you leave Magiford.”
Sunshine squinted up at Considine. “My Jewel…are yousurehe’s as old and powerful as you think?”
“Yes,” I said. “I’ve seen his abilities firsthand.”
“Pray tell, why are you not convinced?” Considine approached me so casually, his movement didn’t kick up my instincts until he was next to me, too close and too…space-taking. I felt hyper aware of his nearness.
Sunshine folded her arms across her chest. “I’m not convinced because you’re coming off as a lovesick, vampiric Romeo—except smarter and a lot more charismatic.”
Considine scratched his jaw. “Hmm. I was hoping to seem more ‘insanely devoted’ to the point where I might seem unstable and scare others off.”
“You do that and she’ll run,” Sunshine said. “You’d be better off shooting for competent.”
“Stop, please,” I said. “Sunshine, you can’t advise him.”
“I’m not,” Sunshine said. “Believe me, I’m on your side. I trust him about as far as I can throw him.” She eyed Considine up and down. “But between an insane vampire who is weirdly obsessed with you, and a dragon shifter who would like to erase your existence, I’ll take the vampire.”
Considine cocked his head, taking in Sunshine’s words with no offense.
This is why old vampires are dangerous—they’re unpredictable.
I set my shoulders, building my resolve. “I actually brought Considine here because I’m showing him around the department. Are you available to explain how to check things in and out of storage, or do you want us to come back later?”
Sunshine tucked her hands in the pockets of her white lab coat. “You’re really training him to be a task force member?”
“Yes,” I said. “He might have bought himself a spot, but I’m going to make sure he can do his job just as well as the rest of us.”
Sunshine tapped a foot on the ground—she was wearing a pair of cute black ballet slippers. “You really expect Considine Maledictus, vampire elder, to check out evidence?”
I glanced at Considine and gulped a little.
Considine gave me a mild smile, and not a scrap of the power I knew swarmed his being escaped his control.
