“Sure,” Petra said, and pulled off a glove. “Hold out your hand, palm up.”
It made me smile that our brave and muscled shifter hesitated before offering his right hand.
She put her ungloved fingers over his, then blew out a slow breath. And a brilliant blue spark sizzled between their hands.
“Shit,”Connor said, eyes widening as he was literally shocked by power.
“How cool is that?” Theo asked enthusiastically.
“It’s pretty fucking cool,” Connor said, looking at the palm of his hand, then rubbing the skin.
“Injuries?” Petra asked, putting her glove back on.
“No, not at all,” he said, lifting his gaze to hers. “It was a little like shifting—the same sizzling power. But concentrated.”
“And that’s one of the reasons why Dearborn hired her,” Theo said. “She’s also an Assistant Ombudsman. Head of the tech crew.”
“Small world,” I said. Although it had been a long time since I’d known Petra, she’d been smart, funny, and kind. That sheworked for the OMB, as Theo called it, made me feel a lot better about Dearborn being in charge.
“Speaking of small worlds,” Theo said, “did you get a load of the panther?” He gestured toward the woman currently draped on William Dearborn. “Or maybe a cougar would have been more accurate.”
I just managed not to choke, given the woman was Tabby. “That’s Connor’s date,” I said with a very forced smile.
“Well, she seems...” Theo faltered, obviously grasping for a compliment. Then he shook his head, apparently giving up. “Like something you could improve upon?” he offered to Connor.
“She’s vivacious.”
“She’s vivating all over the Ombudsman,” Petra said dryly.
“It’s fine,” Connor said. His voice had tightened, and I wasn’t sure if that was because he was irritated by the activity, or our questions about it. And it wasn’t, frankly, any of our business—any more than Tabby’s sex life was.
“You’re a good-looking man,” Theo said appraisingly. “I go for chicks, but I’m sure there are plenty of ladies who’d be interested in you and have a little more to offer in terms of loyalty.” He looked at me speculatively. “You’re single, aren’t you, Elisa?”
“No,”Connor and I said simultaneously, and with just as much emphasis. Which wasn’t flattering to either of us.
“Not my type,” I said with a mirthless smile.
“Not even in the same universe,” Connor agreed. “And I have a girlfriend.” He sipped his drink.
“Oh, okay,” Theo said. “Your protestations are totally convincing.” He looked at me with a grin. “Do you have any hobbies, Elisa? What do you do for fun?”
“She doesn’t,” Connor said.
“Sick burn, puppy,” I said. “Just because I don’t party twenty-four/seven doesn’t mean I don’t have hobbies.”
“Is it stamp collecting?”
“No.”
“Do you literally watch grass grow?”
As my irritation grew, my eyes silvered, and I let him see it.
“Come at me, brat.”
“Seriously,” Petra said with a nod, “you two are very cute.”
Connor actually growled.