Am I supposed to say something? But they haven’t asked me a question…
Grove pushed away from the table and sauntered up to me. “You’re still taking potions?” He asked, eyeing my smoothie.
“Yeah—my brothers told me to,” I said. “As a precaution.”
“Wow.” Grove pushed his eyebrows so far up his forehead they disappeared under the drape of his hair. “Your brothers are strong enough to boss you around? They must be terrifying.”
“Grove!” Medium-Sized Robert rumbled in disapproval.
“I’m just sayin’,” Grove complained.
The door opened, and Sarge slipped inside the meeting room. He nodded at me, but his silvery eyes lingered on the card game. “Take your seats, team.”
“Yessir.”
“You got it, Sarge!”
“I win!”
“No, no, no! The old maid card means you automatically lose.”
The team filled up their usual spaces—April and Juggernaut sitting together, with Clarence and Tetiana at a table in the back across from Grove and Medium-Sized Robert, Binx and Brody sitting in the front, leaving me by myself at my table in the center of the room.
I rested my hands on the table and waited with the rest of the team as Sarge organized his documents on the podium at the front of the room.
“Before we begin, I have an announcement.” Sarge folded his hands behind his back and studied us.
“Oh—pick me, pick me!” Grove stood up and held his hand up. “Did we nail Gisila?”
Sarge frowned. “No. The mercenaries’ geas is holding strong and despite additional questioning Orrin hasn’t been able to drop any additional hints besides what he told Blood.”
“Oh. Well. That’s disappointing.” Grove plopped back down in his chair with a massive sigh.
“Lay it on us, sir!” Brody pumped his arm in the air. “We’re ready.”
“I’m not sure you are.” Sarge frowned at the werewolf. “Regardless, this decision comes from upper management. We are adding a new member to the task force.”
The door to the meeting room opened. I glanced at it fully expecting Captain Reese to come in—if the announcement was from the higher ups, she’d want to be here.
Instead, a task force member—wearing the navy-blue uniform with the gold edging and task force patch—stepped inside. I took in the black hair and red eyes, then did a double take, my heart stopping.
“Considine?” My voice was deafeningly loud in the silence of the room.
Sarge glanced over at the elder vampire. “Precisely, yes. Please join me in welcoming Considine Maledictus to our team.”
I was too shocked. I couldn’t even register my teammates’ reaction. “What?” My voice was so squeaky it had to be hitting registers only shifters were capable of hearing.
Considine smiled—one that was too sneaky for my wellbeing—and prowled across the room, stopping directly next to my table. “Hello, teammate,” he purred. “I think we’re going to get along wonderfully.”
“This can’t—there’s no way—why would you—” I babbled, unable to finish a coherent thought.
“Didn't I warn you? One day a supernatural might sweep you off your feet.” I didn’t even notice when Considine scooped my hands up, tugging on them so I automatically stood up. “As for the why… I chose option two.”
“Option what?” I asked blankly. I’d recognized his reference to the conversation we’d had about dating after we’d passed out my poorly seasoned Party Mix, but the mention of options lost me beyond comprehension.
“I decided to go the protection route, which means accompanying you at all hours to watch your back as your team doesn’t seem to be particularly good at it.” Considine looked away from my face to scan the room.
I felt a shiver ripple across my teammates.
At least I’m not the only one thrown by his presence.
“But…but…what?” I said, still not able to mount any kind of verbal defense from the shock of it all.
Considine shifted his red eyes back to me, blessing me with a dangerous smile. “Don’t worry, it’s quite simple: I fancy you.”
“You fancy me,” I repeated after him, like a bewildered parrot.
“Yes.” He said casually.
“You, Considine Maledictus, elder vampire, fancy me,” I said.
“Precisely.” Considine gave me a smile that sounded off every internal danger bell I had, then he leaned into me.
“I don’t believe it,” I said.
“That’s acceptable,” he purred. “Since we’re working together, I’ll have plenty of time to prove it.”
He’d invaded my space so frequently as both his day and night persona that I didn’t back up, didn’t flinch, didn’t even realize what was happening, until it was too late, and Considine’s lips were against mine in a very public, very real kiss.
My brain ceased to function and all the thoughts bouncing around my head instantly perished as I struggled to connect with reality.
I barely registered more than the gentle but insistent feeling of his lips pressing into mine, his hand curling around the small of my back, and the choking inhale my entire team took in a synchronization that would have impressed me if I had the ability to think.
Considine’s arm around my waist kept me from tilting backwards and sitting on my rear in shock. He gently tipped me against his chest—still kissing me—as I automatically grabbed the shoulder of his uniform to balance myself.
After several long moments, Considine released my lips. But the fireworks weren’t over. Ooh, no.
He set his cheek against mine. “Thank you for that delightful welcome, partner,” he whispered in my hair before kissing the rim of my ear.
I stood, stunned, holding myself upright by my grip on his uniform. This went beyond every observation I’d made about him as both Connor and Considine. What was going on?
I turned my head to look at Sarge.
My boss merely nodded confirming Considine’s presence on our team. “Considine will be serving as Blood’s permanent partner.”
As Considine chuckled into my hair, I came to a very real conclusion.
I’m going to die, I realized. Of shock… or a heart attack.
THE END