Gisila smiled and ducked her head. “Perhaps I do share a little responsibility there in that I should have been more informed on what my employees choose to do with their down time.” She flicked her eyes up at me, the pupils sharpening. “It seems that I have you to thank for correcting his actions. Based on your appearance, you must be the vampire mentioned in whispers that haunts downtown and helped the slayer kill the snake.” She smiled, flashing her teeth like a predator.
Now that was a very feeble attempt to intimidate me.
“You’re welcome,” I generously said as I tilted my head listening for any signs that the mercenaries had caught Jade or her teammates.
“I didn’t take you to be the good citizen type,” Gisila said.
“I’m not,” I said. “I just dislike things getting in my way.”
Gisila narrowed her eyes. “Your way? What did Orrin do that could have been construed as being in your way?”
Ahh yes, she was trying to sniff out my weakness—in the most obvious and inefficient way possible. She was seriously giving the Curia Cloisters this much trouble? She had the subtlety of Vìgì!
Not only does she have a grudge on the task force, her obsession with whatever it is she’s trying to get from Tutu’s has reached such heights she’s considering attacking me? I rubbed the sheath of one of my daggers and idly wondered… How big of an annoyance would it be to eliminate her?
Dragon shifters were strong, but she’d be an easy mark for a vampire of my caliber.
The real irritant would be her family line. Dragons were solo creatures—they were too selfish to be otherwise—and they weren’t particularly loyal…except… all her relatives would pop out of the woodwork for a chance to claim whatever treasure hoard she left behind, and they would attempt to come after me—her executioner—as a way to stake their claim on her hoard unless she’d managed to disgrace her line. Her actions so far weren’t enough to warrant that.
Taking out a single dragon shifter is a minor nuisance. Having to stamp out any lizards who have more greed than self-preservation is a long-term project I don’t want to take on when I’m already picking up after the snake-brats.
I exhaled in irritation, then glanced at the dragon. “He was in my way because I said he was. Just as you are in my way right now with… this.” I gestured to the wolves, then slipped my hands into my pockets. “Not only is it loud and sure to attract human attention, but it is so painfully obvious one can’t even pretend not to notice your raid on your sister’s business—which is a level of amateurism that suits you, I suppose.” I shook my head. “Either the dragon shifters have fallen low or in my old age I am misremembering what your kind are actually capable of.”
A guttural growl erupted from Gisila. “Watch your words, Considine Maledictus.”
I straightened up, hopeful. “Was that a warning? Do you mean to threaten me, Lady Gisila?”
If she attacked first, I could hardly be faulted if I ended up accidentally-on-purpose maiming her. As an added bonus, it would also make me feel infinitely better and likely get rid of the sick feeling in my gut.
As quickly as Gisila’s bravery had come, it burned out. She took a step away from me. “I apologize if my words sounded harsh. I meant to say that I have no connection to this display.”
“Right,” I said, annoyed once again. “If that’s the case, go away. You annoy me.”
“How so?” Gisila asked.
I thoughtfully rubbed my chin. “By breathing. And existing. Go—before I make you.”
Gisila visibly shivered, but before she could do anything more an eruption of gunshots had us turning towards the alleyway.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Jade
Islunk down the sidewalk towards the alleyway my team had taken—opting for stealth over speed. I passed under a fire escape—this particular apartment building had ladders that stretched between platforms outside the apartment windows—then pressed my back against the building’s brick wall and peered around the corner to look down the opening of the alleyway.
It took a moment for my night vision to sharpen before I spotted the four mercenaries searching the area, but I still didn’t see Tetiana, Brody, or April.
At least it doesn’t seem like there are any more reinforcements. For now.
Based on the way one of the mercenaries had his head tilted, I was pretty sure he was scenting a trail.
I backed away from the corner and again looked up and down the street, scanning for any sign of my teammates.