Brody nodded, while Grove fussed with his satchel, so it looked like nobody was going to argue against me.
I guess this is undeniable proof that Sunshine is right. They respect me, which is why I get stuck making decisions in situations like this. But why does respect mean they won’t talk to me?!
“April, would you go help the firemen with the House Tellier wizards and use water on the flames?” I finally asked. “And…would you check for any foreign sparks of magic? I didn’t have time before House Tellier arrived.”
April’s expression tightened. “Understood.” She eyed House Tellier like a hungry tiger, then sauntered off in their direction.
Binx watched her with a thoughtful expression. “Was it just two years ago that there was a clash between House Medeis and House Tellier, or three?”
Shoot. I forgot about that—that was before my time.
“Doesn’t matter,” Brody said. “April can outmaneuver any of those dolts. If they pick a fight, she’ll handle it.”
“No fights,” I said. “Not in front of the humans.”
Grove gave me a thumbs up. “So, you’re saying we should drag them downtown and let Ruin beat them up for us. Got it.”
I’m not going to touch that.
“Brody, Binx, could you sniff around the library?” I asked. “I know it’s going to mostly smell like smoke and wizard magic now, but if you can find anything odd that would be helpful.”
“You think there’s something more to this fire?” Tetiana pushed her blonde hair—which was more of a golden color from the orange light cast by the fire—up into a ponytail. “Maybe a magical aspect?”
“I don’t know enough about the fire to know for certain,” I said honestly. “The fact that the blaze didn’t subside until the wizards helped with less water and manpower than the fire department has is… odd. Regardless, we’ll need to write a report up on what we witnessed, and Sarge will want us to look into it using all our available resources.”
“Excellent! So, I should test for poison!” Grove declared.
“No,” I said. “You need to see if you can sense any other kind of magic, too.”
Grove made a face. “Can’t you do that?”
“I’m not good enough,” I said plainly. “My senses are more homed in on vampires. You’re a better choice.”
Grove pressed his lips together, then nodded. “You’ll come with me?”
“Yes,” I said. “Tetiana, I want you with April so we’re all in pairs despite being scattered.”
Brody frowned. “Why? You think someone might attack us?”
“No.” I shifted uncomfortably. “It’s just a standard operation within my family.”
I thought this revelation would make Tetiana grimace or make everyone uncomfortable, but my teammates just nodded.
“We’re off,” Binx announced before she sauntered towards the edge of the parking lot, probably planning to walk the perimeter.
“Hey, Binx, wait up!” Brody called as he hurried after her.
“I’ll hang with April and scare those House Tellier wizards if any of them say anything to her.” Tetiana smiled extra wide, flashing her pointed fang teeth.
Grove looked up at me. “You’re not worried she’ll pick a fight?”
I’d turned away from the shrinking fire—I’d intended to lead Grove behind the library to begin our search back there—but I paused and looked back at the blaze.
The House Tellier wizards were still laughing cheesily as they pumped water onto the fire.
“No, I don’t think there will be any problems,” I said. “House Tellier is too occupied with their own bravery.”
“Accurate.” Grove said. “So, are you gonna try and sense magic, too?”
“Yes.” We made it around the edge of the building, which took us out of reach of the heat from the fire and left me so cold my teeth almost chattered. “After I radio Sarge.”
“Understood, Ma’am!”
I stared at Connor’s door, and debated whether I should try texting him instead of knocking.
It’s good practice for approaching the neighbors. Here I go!
I gave a business-like rap on the door, which made my knuckles smart, then took a step back and waited.
I couldn’t hear anything from within the apartment and enough time passed that I wondered if it was possible to knock in a friendly manner, and if that was a skill I should pursue in my spare time.
The door opened, and I stood straighter locking my arms behind my back. “Connor, Hi. You’re here.”
Connor ran a hand through his dark hair and raised an eyebrow. “Why would you knock at a door and not expect an answer?”
“I kind of assumed you’d be gone,” I said. “But on the chance you were here, I was hoping to invite you over for coffee or tea.”
Connor braced his forearm against the door frame and looked back. “Unfortunately, I have a few things I need to take care of…” He trailed off, and his face was expressionless for a moment, until a decadent smile twitched on his lips. “How about you bring your coffee or what have you over to my apartment?”
Why did he use such weird inflection?
I stared at him while trying to sort through possible social patterns and explanations, but I was coming up with nothing.
Must be something I don’t get.
“Okay,” I agreed. “Let me go grab my mug. I’ll be right back.”
I shuffled down the hallway to my apartment and darted in, leaving the door open behind me.
“The door will be unlocked,” Connor called after me.
“Got it,” I called as I picked up my steaming mug of coffee. The mug was a gift from my older brother, Alex, and had a cartoon tabby cat with fur the same red color as my hair and a little cartoon bat—who had x’s for eyes—hanging from her mouth painted on the side. (Slayer humor is weird.)
I started for the door, paused, then backtracked and grabbed the communication book I’d purchased from Book Nookery when Connor and I visited the bookstore in October.
If Connor’s busy, I’ll need something to do or it could feel awkward.
I tucked the book under my arm, grabbed my keys—my phone was already in my jeans pocket—and locked my door before heading over to Connor’s apartment and hesitantly nudging the door open.
“I’m back,” I called, pausing in the doorway. An awkward feeling that I hadn’t ever felt before with Connor sat on my chest, and I was pretty sure a blush was heating up my pale complexion.
Connor hadn’t invited me over to his place before. In fact, Sunshine was my only Magiford friend whose house I’d seen. Since the invitation was so rare, it felt extra personal.
“Welcome.” Connor stood by a fancy, wooden table, smirking into a wineglass of red liquid, which the prickling feeling in my teeth told me was blood.
His smirk returned my sense of normalcy, so while I bumped his apartment door shut with my hip and looked around, the awkwardness started to fade.