After a moment of strained silence, Constantine lifted one hand to shoulder height and braced it against the door jamb. He leaned the opposite shoulder against the other side, and his arm hung slack across the way. He had all the bearing of a panther stretched out on a tree limb and sunning itself as his eyes lingered on Vica, who had yet to move. "So how is this going to work?" he asked, and though he didn't turn his head, it was clear he was speaking to Yezia now.
"Depends on you," she said. The tip of her sword remained angled toward the ground.
Constantine nodded. "That's fair. Vica, come here."
"Well, maybe -"
"- Constantine, wait."
Vica and Yezia looked at each other, both surprised that the other had spoken. A lingering glance passed between them.
Constantine missed nothing. A
