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“Holy shit,” he muttered.
“Yeah.” She let him adjust to this revelation before adding, “There’s more. Darien didn’t want anyone visiting me when I was laid up at the cottage because I was badly injured but healing quickly. Much faster than a normal human. It would have alarmed Michael and Lisette. You too, perhaps.”
He nodded. “I always sensed there was something different about you. Walker did too. That’s why we often deferred to you—as if you knew things the rest of us didn’t.”
“Unfortunately, I’ve acted mostly on instinct. And with a hot head. I need to think more strategically going forward.”
“You did precisely that when we confronted the rogue demons.”
She considered her tactical moves and felt at peace with the decisions she’d made. “Thank you, Tanner. I appreciate your support.” She added, “I also want to continue the goodwill effort recently set into motion. We’ll work with the general, as my father once did. He’ll have to be the conduit to Darien, not me.”
The other slayer eyed her speculatively. “You’re taking this change in direction well.” He was kind enough not to call it a breakup or otherwise jibe about her being dumped by the Demon King.
“On the outside, Tanner. On the outside.” She stood. “We also need to work on more training. We never got to wraiths. I had no idea what to do with that menacing, fiery one.”
He snickered. “You never made it past the chicken, Jade. You’re still on shifters. I told you, a raccoon is next.”
She blanched. “You weren’t serious about that?”
With a chuckle, he said, “We’ll figure it out.”
Her stomach churned. “Make sure it’s already dead, please. I can’t practice on an animal that’s still breathing.” Not that she could practice on one if rigor mortis had set in, either… Damn it.
He shook his head at her, as though to call her the slacker slayer. Apparently, his congeniality only went so far.
Jade marched out of the meeting hall and headed to the tavern, where she found Mich
ael prepping for the evening ahead.
“Came to see if I’m still alive?” he mocked as he raised his arms for her to inspect him from head to toe.
“Ha, ha.” She slid onto a barstool. “Seriously, though, thank you for listening to me and not getting yourself into trouble.”
“Well, except for that shifter,” he said in a contrite tone.
Jade didn’t want him to feel even an ounce of guilt—he’d done an excellent job when the enemy had attacked. “It engaged you. And by the way, nice swing and aim.” She considered how quickly Michael had reacted to her instruction and how solidly he’d delivered a blow to the wolf, stabbing it in the chest and momentarily incapacitating it so Morgan could move in for the kill. “You did a great job, actually.”
He said, “I didn’t particularly like seeing the wolf’s throat ripped out.”
“Me either, but that’s how you defeat shifters. Tanner made me practice on a chicken.”
“That’s disgusting, Jade.”
“Yes it is.” She paused then, ventured, “Maybe you’d like to join us for some lessons? Tanner is still training me.”
He gave her a curious look. “Really, you’d allow that?”
“Doesn’t hurt to know how to properly defend yourself.”
“Interesting offer, especially coming from you.” If she wasn’t mistaken, his chest puffed a bit, as though he was proud of himself that he’d won her approval. “I’ll take you up on that.”
“Good. Now there’s something else. I need to quit my job. It’s been hell juggling my work here and slayer duties. I barely sleep.”
His delight dimmed significantly. “Sure, I understand. Besides, you can’t serve up beers at a tavern when you’re the Demon Queen.”
Her heart sank even further. “I won’t be crowned in the near future, if ever, so stop looking glum. I have sufficiently pissed off Darien. For the last time, I suspect.”
Michael seemed to debate whether he wanted to continue this topic but finally asked, “How’d you manage that?”
