“You look good,” he finally says. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I say shyly. “Mind if I sit for a while?” I point to the window seat and he shakes his head.
“Not at all,” he replies and gets up to offer me a hand.
“It’s okay, I may look enormous, but I can still handle sitting down,” I say tartly.
He chuckles at me but holds his hands up and lets me sit down by myself. I curl my legs up and twist myself to the side to get comfortable.
He sits down next to me to my surprise.
“So how come you haven’t been around?” I ask him conversationally.
“I have,” he replies in surprise. “It’s you lot that haven’t been around.”
“Oh,” I say and fiddle with the hem of my dress. I guess he is right. We all just upped and left to go to the Underworld. “Not a fan of Hell?” I joke.
He gives me a sour look. “Someone had to take care of things up here,” he says seriously. It makes me wonder what things he was taking care of.
“CK’s business?” I ask cautiously.
“Among other things,” he adds darkly.
I swallow and leave it at that. I really don’t want to go down that rabbit hole.
“He’s happy now,” Nico says after a long and awkward pause.
“Is he?” I ask lightly and not without a touch of sadness. It is a full-time job trying to make him and, more importantly, keep him happy, it seems.
Nico gives me a quizzical look but then he turns away with a sigh. “I know what you are really trying to ask me,” he says.
“And what is that?” I ask.
“You want to know if he has given up his…old ways,” Nico says shortly, still avoiding my gaze.
“And?” I whisper, wondering if I really want to know but also wondering if Nico will tell me the truth. He is nothing if not fiercely loyal to his boss.
“You should ask him,” Nico says with a tone of finality as he cuts his gaze back to mine. I feel the crushing disappointment but just nod and try to ignore the needling in my heart.
“As a former Hunter, did you ever see magick-users? Apart from the Romani backers?” I ask out of the blue to his utter surprise.
“Firstly, I was never a Hunter, remember,” he says, giving me a pointed look to let me know I am still alive and that he failed in his task. “Secondly, what do you mean?”
“The commotion outside before, apparently, it was the Hunters bringing in magickal backup. Rogue Clerics,” I explain.
“Hm,” he says, stroking his chin. “Like Battle Mages?” he asks. “I heard there were plans but it was all rumor and hearsay.”
“You knew?” I ask shrilly. “Why did you not tell CK?”
The look he gives me speaks volumes. “If I had gone to him with a rumor, he would have kicked my ass and told me to get back to him with cold, hard facts. I was trying to substantiate it.”
“Well, consider it substantiated,” I say sarcastically.
He just nods at me and turns his handsome face towards the window. “I am sorry for what you have been through today,” he says softly. “It must have been hard.”
“Yeah,” I say just as softly. “But I am more worried about Constantine. He will let this eat him alive.”
“He hasn’t confided in you?” Nico asks carefully.