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“Um.” Juggernaut squirmed. “Captain Reese said she wanted her to return to the Curia Cloisters—for debriefing purposes.”

“Fine,” Sarge said. “She can debrief after someone checks her over at the Cloisters. Binx, Juggernaut, you stay here and help April, Medium-Sized Robert, and Clarence with the cleanup crew. I’ll use your car to take Blood to the Curia Cloisters.”

“Yessir!” Juggernaut snapped off another salute.

Binx handed Sarge the keys and then trotted off, circling around the dead snake.

April, toting a rifle that was about half as tall as she was, stepped out of the shadows. “Better call in a truck—we’re gonna have to tow this thing away.”

Juggernaut galloped towards her. “Unless maybe we can burn it up?”

“Don’t do anything without the cleanup crew.” Sarge prowled towards the car Binx and Juggernaut had driven. “Blood! We’re going.”

I checked to make sure I hadn’t bled through the bandage and hurried after him, sliding into the passenger seat.

Sarge adjusted the car’s rearview mirror and rolled the seat back before he started the car.

I shifted in my seat so my spare set of cuffs would no longer stab my back, then I nearly jumped in my seat when Sarge abruptly started talking. “Blood, you have been an excellent addition to the Magical Response Task Force.” He pulled onto the street and waved to Medium-Sized Robert when we passed by him.

I straightened my shoulders. “Thank you, sir.”

Sarge didn’t acknowledge my comment—he kept his eyes glued on the road. “You’re the deadliest and most efficient combat member on the team, and you’re excellent at working within a team. It’s why I don’t ever patrol with you—you don’t need guidance.However. You need to recognize that you’re fighting with other supernaturals, not fellow slayers.”

I blinked. “Have I done something to make the team think I don’t value them?”

“No,” Sarge said. “It’s just that your greatest advantage—your slayer training and upbringing—is also your greatest weakness. Slayers have a very specific fighting style of sacrificingeverythingto get their target and help their team. The task force isn’t designed for that. There is a greater emphasis on protecting.”

An uncomfortable silence filled the car as Sarge turned off Main Street.

I rubbed my knees trying to sort through the evening to figure out what he could possibly be referring to. “I’m not sure what that difference has to do with everything that happened tonight.”

“You put yourself at a huge risk—from both the snakeandRuin given his history with attempting to fight you.”

“I knew Ruin was potentially dangerous, but he was the best choice I had to limit the amount of damage the snake would deal to Magiford infrastructure—”

“I don’tcarehow much damage buildings and roads take,” Sarge interrupted. “The task force’s greatest priority is protecting humans, and each other. You are included in that account. You were more than capable of getting the snake’s attention, and then hiding. It would have ruined a couple cars while looking for you, but you wouldn’t have been put in danger. That is the change in mindset you need to have: Yes, your team matters butyouare a vital part of that team!”

“Oh,” I said. “So… you’re upset because what I did was risky for my health?”

“Yes.”

I stared straight ahead hoping Sarge wouldn’t sense the rebellious thoughts floating through my head.But that’s how I fight—doing what needs to be done. I am admittedly more careful with anything that would make me bleed—which, would also possibly make Sarge mad if he knew. I try not to bleed not because it’s really dangerous, but because I don’t want to harm my team—

“Don’t think I can’t feel that mulish expression of yours even if I can’t see your face, Blood,” Sarge warned me.

“I’m not thinking anything mulish,” I said.

“Right,” Sarge sourly said. “Reese was right. We need to get you a partner—one who will keep an eye on you, so you don’t get yourself killed.”

“I work with a team,” I reminded him.

“A team that can’t keep up with you!”

“I am a slayer,” I said. “If you want someone with a similar level of agility, you’ll need to hire another slayer—”

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Sarge said. He heaved a big sigh. “Look. You were amazing tonight, Blood. If you hadn’t been there, it would have been a disaster. You’refantastic. I’m right proud of you—even though I want to shake you. The bottom line is, I refuse to let you risk yourself like this again.”

Something pinched in my lungs. “…Am I getting fired?”